News story

Army reserves coming to a city centre near you

Territorial Army (TA) units will be visiting city centres across the UK this autumn to showcase the opportunities available to reservists.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 11 October 2013
• Last updated: 14 October 2013 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Army reservists in a Jackal vehicle in Newcastle city centre

Reservists and local communities are backing the Army Reserve’s nationwide recruitment campaign, putting on over 100 events up and down the country throughout the autumn to show the public what the TA is all about.

This Saturday, 12 October, chefs, drivers, medics, infantrymen, engineers, signallers and many more will come together at the Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham to showcase some of the 220 roles available. Members of the public will be able to speak with the soldiers and see the latest kit and equipment used by the British Army, including armoured vehicles and a range of weapons.

The events are part of a wider recruitment campaign to encourage people to join the Army Reserve.

Upcoming events

Events are happening around the country on the following Saturdays from 10am to 4pm:

• 12 October: Birmingham - Bullring Shopping Centre
• 19 October: Edinburgh - Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre
• 26 October: London - Horse Guard’s Parade
• 2 November: Reading - The Oracle Shopping Centre
• 9 November: Watford - Charter Place Shopping Centre
• 16 November: Cardiff - Cardiff Castle
• 23 November: Liverpool - Paradise Place, Liverpool ONE Shopping Centre

Revitalising the reserves

A reservist soldier from 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh fires a machine gun during an exercise in Cyprus (library image) [Picture: Sergeant Russ Nolan, Crown copyright]

Becoming a reservist is the ideal option if you want to combine the opportunities a role in the Army gives with your everyday civilian life. It offers the chance to travel to new places and learn new skills. The British Army training equips reservists with new competences and strengths that can be transferred back into civilian jobs. Reservist soldiers and officers are trained to be ready to serve and deploy alongside their regular Army counterparts.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is revitalising the TA and making some significant changes to dramatically improve what is on offer for those who choose to join. Under the plans, the TA will become the Army Reserve. MOD will be investing an additional £1.8 billion in high quality training, a paid annual leave entitlement, more modern equipment, and giving the TA better access to welfare support and health services.

Brigadier Andrew Jackson, Director of Army Recruiting and Training, said:

These events are intended to show people that, no matter what your skills or background, the Army has something to offer you and serving with the TA provides opportunities to learn much more beyond military skills. It will develop you and show you the strengths you didn’t know you had.

Serving as a professional with the TA is the ideal opportunity for promising individuals to do something extra with their time and benefit from a rewarding experience outside of normal working hours, and the Army prides itself on providing world-class training and development opportunities to enable them to do so.

An Army reservist, who works for East Midlands Trains, taking part in Uniform to Work Day (library image) [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown copyright]

Reservists typically meet for training 1 night per week with their units, train at weekends, and attend an annual 2-week training camp either in the UK or abroad. The minimum commitment is 27 days training per annum, though it is 19 days for some specialist units. From 2015 onwards, the commitment will rise to 40 days per annum.

The UK reserve forces play a vital part in our nation’s defence. Find out how you can get involved and what is on offer for reserves.

Published 11 October 2013
Last updated 14 October 2013 + show all updates

1. 14 October 2013

   Changed third photo to show a reservist in multi-terrain pattern uniform.

2. 11 October 2013

   First published.