Overview
- The Ministry of Defence will recruit about 150 participants for the first intake, offering a year of training across the Army, Royal Navy and RAF without deployment or any obligation to remain.
- Ministers aim to scale the programme to more than 1,000 places a year subject to demand once the pilot proves its value.
- Service models differ by branch, with the Army planning 13 weeks of basic training within a two‑year placement, the Royal Navy preparing a one‑year profession‑agnostic track, and the RAF still scoping its approach.
- The scheme is modelled on Australia’s ADF Gap Year, which enrolled 664 people in 2023 and saw just over half later move into permanent military roles.
- Salary levels, long‑term funding and the evaluation criteria for expansion have not been confirmed, as defence leaders link the initiative to recruitment shortfalls and rising hybrid threats.