Overview
- The Ministry of Defence is publishing legislation today to raise the strategic reserve call-up age from 55 to 65.
- The proposals replace the current requirement of "national danger, great emergency or attack in the UK" with a criterion of "warlike preparations" for mobilisation.
- If approved by MPs and peers, the measures would take effect next year.
- Government figures show just over 66,000 fully trained regular soldiers and about 95,000 in the strategic reserve, highlighting the push to widen the mobilisable pool.
- Media reports say the package would lower thresholds for activating volunteer reservists, making it easier to mobilise thousands in a major contingency.