Armed Forces: Length of Service
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there is a formal target for the length of service for personnel in the (a) British Army, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines.
Answered by Mr Calvin Bailey
There is no formal length of service target for personnel in the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines or the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The British Army has minimum service periods for officers (three years) and soldiers (four years).
For Ratings, the Royal Navy has a Return of Service of three and a half years post joining the Training Strength. For Officers, Returns of Service are for periods between three and seven years depending on their branch.
RAF initial engagements or commissions normally start at six or 12 years.
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