Reserve Forces
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current entry requirements for the armed forces reserve; and whether his Department plans to review entry requirements for the armed forces reserves.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continually assesses the entry requirements for Reserve recruitment and is actively streamlining joining processes, along with many other aspects of the Reserves, to ensure they support national resilience.
This Government has taken several actions to set conditions of growth and utility of the Reserves workforce such as the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Armed Forces Recruitment Service and the ZigZag career pilot. Through the Armed Forces Bill 2026, Reserves measures seek to significantly expand the UK's Strategic Reserve and modernise mobilisation.
The Strategic Defence Review has set a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and it will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces. We are committed to the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to increase the number of Active Reserves to increase by 20% when funding allows.
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