Overview
- The Ministry of Defence will open about 150 places across the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, with paid, service-tailored training.
- Participants are not planned to be sent on active deployments and have no obligation to continue service after the year.
- Officials say the pilot could expand to more than 1,000 places if interest is strong.
- Defence leaders cite a roughly 38% fall in Army recruits trained in 2022–23 versus 2019–20, with Army chief Richard Knighton warning of growing threats including from Russia.
- Germany’s newly approved voluntary Wehrdienst takes effect in January, underscoring a broader European shift toward expanded service options.