National statistics

Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 January 2024

Published 7 March 2024

This publication provides information on the number of Military Personnel (defined as the Strength), joining (Intake) and leaving (Outflow) the UK Armed Forces. Detail is provided for both the Full-Time Armed Forces (AF) and Reserves. Further statistics can be found in the Excel tables.

The historic trends in Reserve personnel numbers in this report relate to the targets outlined in the Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) programme.

Following the Integrated Review and Spending Review the department no longer releases future Armed Forces workforce requirements publicly. A Written Ministerial Statement to announce the introduction of an Indicative Projected Strength figure for the Armed Forces Regular Full-Time Trade Trained Strength is being prepared. The Indicative Projected Strength for each Service is being developed based on detailed workforce planning which has commenced since the publication of the Defence Command Paper. We expect the Indicative Projected Strength to be published shortly.

Some of the statistics previously published in the following publications can now be found in this release:

• Monthly Personnel Report
• Quarterly Personnel Report
• Annual Personnel Report
• UK Reserve Forces and Cadets
• Service Personnel Bulletin 2.01
• Service and Civilian Bulletin 2.03

1. Key Points and Trends

▼183,130	Strength of UK Forces Service Personnel at 1 January 2024 A decrease of 7,040 (4 per cent) since 1 January 2023
▼130,660	Full-Time Trained Strength (RN/RM & RAF) and Full-Time Trade Trained Strength (Army) at 1 January 2024 A decrease of 3,870 (3 per cent) since 1 January 2023
▼10,680	People joined the UK Regular Armed Forces in the past 12 months (1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023) A decrease of 890 (8 per cent) compared with the previous 12 month period
▼16,140	People left the UK Regular Armed Forces in the past 12 months (1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023) A decrease of 80 (1 per cent) compared with the previous 12 month period
▼29,630	Strength of the Trained Future Reserves 2020 at 1 January 2024 A decrease of 940 (3 per cent) since 1 January 2023
▲3,890	People joined the Future Reserves 2020 in the past 12 months (1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023) A increase of 300 (8 per cent) compared with the previous 12 month period
▼5,550	People left the Future Reserves 2020 in the past 12 months (1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023) A decrease of 350 (6 per cent) compared with the previous 12 month period

Responsible Statistician: Tri-Service Head of Branch

Email: Analysis-Tri-Hd@mod.gov.uk

Further information/mailing list: Analysis-Tri-Service@mod.gov.uk

Would you like to be added to our contact list, so that we can inform you about updates to these statistics and consult you if we are thinking of making changes? You can subscribe to updates by emailing Analysis-Tri-Service@mod.gov.uk.

Background Quality Report: Background Quality Report

2. Introduction

This publication contains information on the Strength, Intake, Outflow and Gains to Trained Strength (GTS) for the UK Armed Forces overall and each of the Services; Royal Navy/Royal Marines (RN/RM), Army and Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced on 29 June 2016 that it was changing the definition of Trained Strength for Army to include Phase 1 trained personnel, which affected some Tri-Service totals (see Army Trained Strength in the Policy Background section for more detail). The MOD held a public consultation on SDSR Resilience: Trained strength definition for the Army and resultant changes to Ministry of Defence Armed Forces personnel statistics, between 11 July and 21 August 2016. A consultation response was published on 7 November 2016. The changes outlined in the consultation and response have been incorporated into this publication from the 1 October 2016 edition onwards. This affects statistics in some of the accompanying Excel tables, specifically tables: 3a, 3e, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b and 7c. Terminology has also been updated in Excel tables 3c and 4.

Detailed statistics, including unrounded figures, and historic time series can be found in the Excel tables. These include quarterly statistics on the number of Service and Civilian Personnel, Separated Service (the proportion of personnel breaching harmony guidelines), Applications to each of the Services and Military Salaries. Historic statistics can be found in the following archived publications:

• Monthly Personnel Report
• Quarterly Personnel Report
• Annual Personnel Report
• UK Reserve Forces and Cadets
• Service Personnel Bulletin 2.01
• Service and Civilian Bulletin 2.03
• UK Armed Forces Maternity Report
• Diversity Dashboard
• Quarterly Location Statistics

The glossary contains definitions of terminology used in this publication.

A calendar of upcoming MOD statistical releases can be found on GOV.UK

Accredited Official Statistics publication

Accredited Official Statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

These Accredited Official Statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in 2013. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘Accredited Official Statistics’.” Accreditation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics: • meet identified user needs; • are well explained and readily accessible; • are produced according to sound methods; and • are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.

Further information on the accreditation process can be found here: Accreditation explanation web page Once statistics have been designated as Accredited Official Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed. Further details about how this report has been developed since its confirmation as an Accredited Official Statistic can be found in the Background Quality Report.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

3. Policy Background

The main factors affecting decisions about the size of the Armed Forces required by the MOD to achieve success in its military tasks include:

• An assessment of current and future threats to UK national security;
• The need for contingent / reactive capability – the requirement to be able to respond immediately to domestic or international crisis;
• Current operational and international obligations (e.g. NATO, UN);
• Changes in technology, the introduction of new equipment and restructuring that leads to equipment becoming obsolete or surplus to requirements;
• The need to deliver against the military tasks as efficiently as possible, maintaining a balanced, affordable defence budget.

The Service Personnel Statistics in previous versions of this publication are reported against the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), released in November 2015. Prior to SDSR 2015, publications reported against the planned Future Force 2020, as set out in the SDSR 2010 which planned to reduce the size of the Armed Forces.

3.1 Army Trained Strength

On 29 June 2016, the MOD announced that the Army planned to use Regular and Reserve Phase 1 Trained personnel in response to crises within the UK. Following this, the term ‘Trained Strength’ would include all Army personnel Trained in the core function of their Service (i.e. those who have completed Phase 1 Training). The MOD has consulted on these changes and the resultant impact they will have on this publication and a consultation response was published on 7 October 2016.

From the 1 October 2016 edition onwards, Army personnel who have completed Phase 1 Training (basic Service Training) but not Phase 2 Training (Trade Training), are considered Trained personnel. This change enabled the Army to meet the SDSR 15 commitment to improve support to UK resilience. The Trained Strength definition for the Royal Navy, RAF, Maritime Reserve and RAF Reserves has not changed, reflecting the requirement for their personnel to complete Phase 2 Training to be able to fulfil the core function of their respective Services.

Army personnel who have completed Phase 2 Training are now called ‘Trade Trained’. This population aligns with the old definition of Trained personnel, therefore maintaining the continuity of the statistical time series.

The Army have undertaken a review of training requirements and Royal Engineers Other Ranks personnel joining from 1 July 2019 will become Trade Trained after Initial Trade Training (ITT) and will join the Full-time Trade Trained Strength (FTTTS), and therefore we may see a change in the trend.

3.2 Full-Time Armed Forces Personnel

In order to meet the personnel reduction targets set out in SDSR 2010, the Three Month Exercise (3ME) and Army 2020 (A2020), a redundancy programme coupled with adjusted recruiting (Intake) and contract extensions, were set. The aforementioned redundancy programme is now complete.

On 23 November 2015, MOD published the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. SDSR 2015 outlined plans to uplift the size of the Regular Armed Forces, setting targets for a Strength of 82,000 for the Army, and increasing the Royal Navy/Royal Marines and Royal Air Force by a total of 700 personnel. The SDSR 2015 Defence Key Facts booklet announced new targets for 2020 for each of the Services.

3.3 Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) Programme

The Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) programme aimed to increase the size of the Reserve Forces. Further information on the growth of the Reserves can be found in the Policy Background section of previous Monthly Service Personnel Statistics publications.

As a result of the changes to Army Trained Strength (referred to above) and their impact on the Army Reserve, the MOD released a Written Ministerial Statement containing revised Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) Strength growth profiles on 8 November 2016. Reporting of the growth of the Reserves will be based on Strength profiles only.

There has been no formal announcement of new targets beyond 31 March 2019. However, the Ministry of Defence’s recruitment campaign is a long-term programme.

3.4 Reserves Forces 2030 (RF30) Programme

The Reserve Forces 2030 (RF30) Review does not include a target for additional personnel numbers beyond those in the Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) programme.

RF30 builds on the work carried out by FR20; the RF30 Review offers 18 recommendations grouped into four key areas in which the Reserves will need to continue to adapt in order to develop their utility.  These are: redefining the Reserves’ relationship with society; expanding the role of the Reserves; unlocking the potential of reservists; and transforming support to the Reserves.

The Ministry of Defence has established an implementation programme to consider the RF30 recommendations.  A formal response, or responses, to the RF30 Review will follow the RF30 implementation programme’s detailed analysis of the recommendations.

4. UK Service Personnel

Strength is the number of personnel.

UK Regulars are Full-Time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, excluding FTRS personnel, Gurkhas, mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guarding Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), and Non Regular Permanent Service (NRPS).

Volunteer Reserves voluntarily accept an annual training commitment and are liable to be mobilised to deploy on operations. They can be utilised on a part-time or Full-Time basis to provide support to the Regular Forces at home and overseas.

UK Service Personnel comprise the total Strength of the military personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence (Excel table, Table 1). The current Strength (as at 1 January 2024) of the UK Armed Forces is 183,130 which includes:

• All UK Regular personnel and all Gurkha personnel (which comprised 77.6 per cent of UK Service Personnel);
• Volunteer Reserve personnel (which comprised 17.8 per cent of UK Service Personnel);
• Other Personnel including the Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, Military Provost Guard Service, Locally Engaged Personnel and elements of the Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS) (which comprised 4.6 per cent of UK Service Personnel).

The total Strength of the UK Forces¹ has decreased between 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024 by 3.7 per cent (7,040 personnel), as shown in Table 1. Compared to 1 January 2023, the UK Regular Forces and Volunteer Reserves have decreased, Gurkhas remained stable and Other Personnel has increased.

Table 1: Trends in UK Forces Strength¹

	01-Jan-21	01-Jan-22	01-Jan-23	01-Jul-23	01-Oct-23	01-Jan-24	% Change since 1 Jan 23
UK Forces Personnel	196,140	197,140	190,170	185,980	184,860	183,130	-3.7%
UK Regular Forces	147,250	148,220	143,560	140,300	139,490	138,100	-3.8%
Gurkhas	3,720	3,950	4,060	4,140	4,100	4,060	0.0%
Volunteer Reserve	37,100	36,600	34,280	33,210	32,950	32,580	-5.0%
Other Personnel	8,060	8,370	8,260	8,330	8,320	8,390	1.5%
Royal Navy / Royal Marines	39,990	40,270	38,990	38,220	37,960	37,730	-3.2%
UK Regular Forces	33,520	33,920	33,010	32,360	32,130	31,910	-3.3%
Volunteer Reserve	4,020	3,920	3,540	3,370	3,360	3,310	-6.4%
Other Personnel	2,450	2,440	2,440	2,480	2,470	2,510	2.9%
Army	118,640	118,920	114,210	111,650	111,170	110,030	-3.7%
UK Regular Forces	80,810	80,980	78,060	76,220	75,980	75,170	-3.7%
Gurkhas	3,720	3,950	4,060	4,140	4,100	4,060	0.0%
Volunteer Reserve	29,790	29,400	27,570	26,760	26,550	26,240	-4.8%
Other Personnel	4,310	4,600	4,520	4,530	4,550	4,560	0.8%
Royal Air Force	37,510	37,940	36,970	36,110	35,730	35,380	-4.3%
UK Regular Forces	32,920	33,320	32,490	31,710	31,380	31,020	-4.5%
Volunteer Reserve	3,290	3,280	3,180	3,080	3,050	3,030	-4.7%
Other Personnel	1,300	1,340	1,300	1,320	1,310	1,320	1.8%

1. UK Forces comprises all UK Regular, Gurkha, Volunteer Reserve and Other personnel. The constituents of “Other personnel” are reported towards the top of this page.

5. Full-Time Trained Strength (RN/RM & RAF) and Full-Time Trade Trained Strength (Army)

The FTTS and FTTTS total has decreased between 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024 by 2.9 per cent (3,870 personnel). The RN/RM, Army and RAF decreased by 1.7, 3.3 and 2.9 per cent respectively as shown in Table 2.

Table 2: FTTS and FTTTS

	01-Jan-21	01-Jan-22	01-Jan-23	01-Jul-23	01-Oct-23	01-Jan-24	% Change since 1 Jan 23
FTTS (RN/RM & RAF) and FTTTS (Army)	135,440	137,070	134,530	132,350	131,310	130,660	-2.9%
RN/RM (FTTS)	29,140	29,720	29,410	29,220	29,040	28,920	-1.7%
Army (FTTTS)	76,350	77,380	75,710	74,110	73,520	73,190	-3.3%
RAF(FTTS)	29,960	29,970	29,410	29,010	28,750	28,550	-2.9%

FTTS and FTTTS includes all UK Regular personnel, Gurkhas and the relevant elements of the Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS) (see glossary for more detail).

Figure 1: FTTS and FTTTS

A line graph showing FTTS (RN/RM & RAF) & FTTTS (Army). FTTS & FTTTS decreased until October 2019, then increased until July 2021, after which it has decreased.

6. Full-Time Trained Strength (FTTS) and Full-Time Trade Trained Strength (FTTTS) - Army

Table 3: Comparison FTTS and FTTTS (Army)

	01-Jan-23	01-Apr-23	01-Jul-23	01-Oct-23	01-Jan-24
Full-Time Trained Strength	79,990	79,010	78,240	77,350	76,670
of which Trade Trained	75,710	74,830	74,110	73,520	73,190

Figure 2: FTTS & FTTTS in the Army since Trained Strength definition change in October 16

As can be seen from Figure 2 above, both Army FTTS and Army FTTTS saw an increase between 1 April 2019 and 1 October 2021, but both have gradually decreased since. The Army FTTS and Army FTTTS at 1 January 2024 are lower than at 1 January 2023 by 4.2 and 3.3 percent respectively.

Table 4: Army Officers and Other Ranks by Training Status

	01-Jan-21	01-Jan-22	01-Jan-23	01-Jul-23	01-Oct-23	01-Jan-24
Trained Officers	12,950	13,020	12,840	12,620	12,550	12,490
Trade Trained Officers	12,550	12,590	12,450	12,360	12,250	12,200
Trained Other Ranks	68,600	69,560	67,160	65,620	64,800	64,180
Trade Trained Other Ranks	63,800	64,790	63,260	61,760	61,260	60,980

Since 1 January 2023, the FTTS and FTTTS Officers have decreased by 2.7 and 1.9 per cent respectively. The FTTS and FTTTS Other Ranks have decreased by 4.4 and 3.6 per cent respectively since 1 January 2023, as can be seen from Table 4 above.

7. UK Regular Personnel

At 1 January 2024, the Trained and Untrained Strength of the UK Regular Forces was 138,100. The service split for this figure can be found in Table 5 below.

There are 8,570 Untrained personnel in the UK Regular Forces, of which 3,340 are in the RN/RM, 2,690 in the Army and 2,540 are in the RAF. The Untrained Strength reflects the number of personnel who can potentially join the Trained Strength.

Table 5: UK Regular Forces by Service and Training Status

	01-Jan-23		01-Jan-24
RN/RM	33,010		31,910
of which Trained	29,090	88.1%	28,560	89.5%
Army	78,060		75,170
of which Trained	75,770	97.1%	72,480	96.4%
of which Trade Trained	71,780	92.0%	69,190	92.0%
RAF	32,490		31,020
of which Trained	29,350	90.3%	28,490	91.8%

7.1 Intake and Outflow

In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, when comparing Intake and Outflow, there was a net decrease of 5,460 personnel in the UK Regular Forces. Comparing to the 12 months to 31 December 2022, there was a net decrease of 4,660 personnel. Outflow decreased by 0.5 per cent and Intake has decreased by 7.7 per cent since 31 December 2022.

7.2 Intake

• Untrained and direct Trained/Trade Trained Intake to the UK Regular Forces was 10,680 in the 12 months to 31 December 2023, compared to 11,570 in the 12 months to 31 December 2022.
• In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, Intake to the RN/RM and RAF decreased by 22.6 and 19.0 per cent respectively and increased for Army by 2.8 per cent compared to the 12 months to 31 December 2022.

Figure 3: Intake to and Outflow from the UK Regular Forces over rolling 12-month periods from 1 January 2017 - 31 December 2023

7.3 Outflow

Voluntary Outflow (VO) encompasses all Trained (RN/RM & RAF) and Trade Trained (Army) personnel who voluntarily exit before the end of their agreed engagement or commission period.

Time Expiry is a term used to describe those in the Armed Services who reach the end of their engagement or commission and then leave.

Other includes Outflow from the Trained (RN/RM & RAF) and Trade Trained (Army) Strength due to, amongst others, medical reasons, misconduct, compassionate, dismissals and death.

VO Rate is the number of personnel voluntarily Outflowing as a proportion of the average Trained Strength for the Outflow period.

• Outflow from the Trained and Untrained UK Regular Forces was 16,140 in the 12 months to 31 December 2023, down slightly from 16,230 in the 12 months to 31 December 2022.

• Across all Services, VO was the most common reason for Outflow from the Trained (RN/RM & RAF) and Trade Trained (Army), accounting for 61.0 per cent of Outflow in the 12 months to 31 December 2023 (See Figure 4).

• In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, 8,250 personnel left through VO; the VO rate was 6.4 per cent. The VO Rate for the RN/RM was 6.1 per cent, for the Army it was 6.6 per cent and for the RAF it was 6.5 per cent.

• In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, the VO rate amongst Other Ranks and Officers was 6.7 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively.

There is no single reason why personnel leave on Voluntary Outflow, but the personnel who completed the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey indicated reasons for leaving the Armed Forces included the impact of Service life on family and personal life and opportunities outside the Armed Forces.

Figure 4: Outflow of Trained (RN/RM & RAF) and Trade Trained (Army) UK Regulars by exit reason (12 months to 31 December 2023)

Gains to Trained Strength (GTS) figures comprise all Regular personnel who complete Phase 2 Training and those that enter directly into the Phase 2 Trained Strength. It excludes those returning to the Phase 2 Trained Strength from Long Term Absence (LTA).

Trained Outflow figures show Phase 2 Trained Outflow from UK Regular Forces, including personnel leaving the Services, deaths and recalled reservists on release. They do not include promotion from Ranks to Officers or flows between Services.

Gains to Trained Strength and Trained Outflow

In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, the number of personnel joining the Trained (RN/RM & RAF) and Trade Trained Strength (Army) UK Regular Forces was 3,650 lower than the number leaving. This represents a net loss to the Phase 2 Trained population of the Armed Forces. The overall Full-Time Trained/Trade Trained Strength as at 1 January 2024 (after accounting for other flows such as promotion from Ranks to Officers or flows between Services) was 3,870 lower than as at 1 January 2023.

• The number of Trained and Trade Trained direct entrants in the 12 months to 31 December 2023 was 450. This is an increase of 280 from the 12 months to 31 December 2022.
• 9,420 personnel completed Phase 2 Training in the 12 months to 31 December 2023. This has decreased by 10.5 per cent when compared to the previous 12 month period (10,530).
• The Gains to Trained Strength for the RN/RM and Army decreased by 17.9 and 5.3 per cent respectively, whereas the RAF gains remained stable compared to the previous 12 month period.
• Trained Outflow from the RN/RM decreased by 9.3 per cent, Army Trade Trained Outflow increased by 7.4 per cent and RAF Trained Outflow increased by 10.7 per cent compared to the previous 12 month period.

Figure 5: GTS and Outflow from the UK Trained Regular Forces 12 month ending across the Armed Forces from 1 January 2017 - 31 December 2023

8. Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) Programme Monitoring

Future Reserves 2020 includes Volunteer Reserves who are mobilised, High Readiness Reserves and those Volunteer Reserves serving on Full-time Reserve Service (FTRS) and Additional Duties Commitment (ADC). Sponsored Reserves who provide a more cost-effective solution than Volunteer Reserves are also included in the Army Reserve FR20.

Following consultation on changes to the Army Trained Strength definition and the removal of the FR20 Intake targets, the MOD released Future Reserves 2020 Trained Strength growth profiles in a Written Ministerial Statement on 8 November 2016. Reporting of the growth of the Reserves were based on Trained Strength profiles only.

Following initial plans to freeze FR20 data as at 1 April 2022, extensive consultation with internal stakeholders within MOD has identified an ongoing need to publish FR20 statistics. As a result, we will continue to publish tables on the FR20 population in Service Personnel Statistics until further notice.

8.1 Future Reserves 2020 Strength

Progress against FR20 population Trained Strength targets were reported in Table 6a of the Excel tables. The total Trained and Untrained Strength of the Tri-Service Future Reserves 2020 at 1 January 2024 was 32,650, a decrease of 1,660 personnel or 4.9 per cent since 1 January 2023.

8.2 Maritime Reserve

Figure 6 shows that the Maritime Reserve Trained Strength was 2,680 at 1 January 2024. This is a decrease of 80 personnel (2.9 per cent) since 1 January 2023.

The Maritime Reserve total Strength at 1 January 2024 was 3,310. This is a decrease of 230 personnel (6.4 per cent) since 1 January 2023.

Figure 6: Maritime Reserve Trained Strength

8.3 Army Reserve

Figure 7 shows that the Army Reserve Trained Strength was 24,130 at 1 January 2024. This is a decrease of 820 (3.3 per cent) since 1 January 2023.

The Army Reserve total Strength at 1 January 2024 was 26,310. This is a decrease of 1,290 (4.7 per cent) since 1 January 2023.

Figure 7: Army Reserve Trained Strength

8.4 RAF Reserve

Figure 8 shows that, at 1 January 2024, the RAF Reserve Trained Strength was 2,820. This is a decrease of 40 personnel (1.6 per cent) since 1 January 2023.

The RAF Reserve total Strength at 1 January 2024 was 3,030. This is a decrease of 150 personnel (4.7 per cent) since 1 January 2023.

Figure 8: RAF Reserve Trained Strength

8.5 FR20 Intake and Outflow statistics

Intake and Outflow statistics report how many people have left or joined the Trained or Untrained Strengths. As well as leavers and new recruits, this can include personnel transferring to or from the Regular Forces, other Reserve populations, or Reserve re-joiners.

The total proportion of Intake against 12 month average strength for each Service in the 12 months ending 31 December 2023 are as follows:

• The Maritime Reserve total Intake was 14.9 per cent, an increase of 5.6 percentage points since the 12 months to 31 December 2022.
• The Army Reserve total Intake was 10.6 per cent, an increase of 0.6 percentage points since the 12 months to 31 December 2022.
• The RAF Reserves total Intake was 17.3 per cent, an increase of 4.8 percentage points since the 12 months to 31 December 2022.

Figure 9: Total Proportion of Intake to the FR20 Reserves over rolling 12-month periods ending from 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2023 by Service

Intake proportions for all services have shown an upward trend since October 2022. Maritime and RAF Intake proportions have increased since last quarter, whilst Army’s has remained stable.

The total proportion of Outflow against 12 month average strength for each Service in the 12 months ending 31 December 2023 are as follows:

• The Maritime Reserve total Outflow was 21.5 per cent, an increase of 1.9 percentage points since the 12 months to 31 December 2022.
• The Army Reserve total Outflow was 15.4 per cent, a decrease of 1.0 percentage points since the 12 months to 31 December 2022.
• The RAF Reserves total Outflow was 22.2 per cent, an increase of 6.5 percentage points since the 12 months to 31 December 2022.

Figure 10: Total Proportion of Outflow from the FR20 Reserves over rolling 12-month periods ending from 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2023 by Service

The Outflow proportions in general have shown an increase since March 2021. Maritime and RAF Outflow proportions have increased since last quarter, whilst Army’s has decreased.

Figure 11: Intake to and Outflow from the FR20 Reserves over rolling 12-month periods ending from 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2023

For all three reserve services combined, outflow is currently higher than intake for the latest 12 month period.

9. Separated Service

Separated Service concerns personnel who are serving away from their usual place of duty or are unable to enjoy leisure at their normal place of duty or residence at place of duty.

Individual Harmony is the freedom to enjoy leisure at the normal place of duty or residence at place of duty; this includes leave and adventurous Training.

Separated service measures absence from normal place of duty. The time an individual experiences separated service is compared against each Service’s “Individual Harmony” guidelines to ensure a balance between duty and leisure for all Service personnel.

A breach of individual harmony guidelines occurs when Service personnel experience separated service for longer than the period outlined in individual harmony guidelines, which are based on the structures and organisation of that Service. The guidelines are measured over a 36 month period and the limits are:

• 660 days away for the RN/RM
• 498 days away for the Army
• 498 days away for the RAF (was 468 days prior to 1 April 2021)

Using 1 October 2023 as an example, the formula for the breach rate is as follows:

1. Count the number of Trained/Trade Trained UK Regular personnel breaching in the 36 months ending to 30 September 2023
2. Divide this by the Trained UK Regular Strength as at 1 October 2023

The percentage breaching harmony has remained stable for the RN/RM (0.4 per cent) and the RAF (0.3 per cent) and has increased for the Army (1.4 per cent) at 1 October 2023 compared to the previous quarter, 1 July 2023.

Separated service data can be found in Table 10 of the accompanying, Excel tables.

Figure 12: Percentage of UK Regular Forces breaching harmony (1 April 2014 - 30 September 2023)

10. Applications to the Armed Forces

The figures in this publication include applications to the UK Regular and Volunteer Reserve Forces. They are broken down by Service, and by Officers and Other Ranks.

In previous editions of the publication, Applications data since 1 January 2022 has not been available for the RN/RM and RAF, and since 1 April 2022 for the Army.

Whilst application counts for each service are based on online applications submitted by an individual and accepted by the service’s applications system, work is ongoing to verify that application processes and definitions are consistent and we would recommend that numbers should not be aggregated to show Armed Forces totals (hence separate tables and graphs are provided).

The number of applications received does not directly relate to Intake figures, since:

• Figures relate to the number of applications received and not the number of applicants, as one applicant may submit several applications;
• For successful applicants who accept an offer to join the Services, there is a substantial processing time between their application being received and the applicant joining the Services. Therefore, the Intake figures for Dec 19 are not comparable with the number of applications received in Dec 19 as the numbers apply to different cohorts of people;
• Applications will not result in Intake if, for example, they are withdrawn by the applicant during the recruitment process, rejected by the Services, or if an offer to join the Services is declined by the applicant. See below for further information.

There is a break in the time series between 30 September 2017 and 30 June 2019 due to the change in recruiting systems from the Training Administration and Financial Management Information System (TAFMIS) to DRS and due to the need to ensure consistency of the start date for reintroduced data between the single Services.

For Royal Navy and RAF, DRS closed in December 2021, the change over to the new application system (RITS) resulted in a loss of the system for 10-12 weeks. For Navy, the change over to the new application system may have resulted in some applications being double counted. For RAF only the applications being taken forward were migrated to the new system, and therefore there is a break in the time series where data is unavailable. Army continue to use DRS, however experienced a temporary loss of the application system from mid-March 2022 to late May 2022, which resulted in 10 weeks of applications lost (Army estimates are between 10,000-15,000 applications) which, when set against the backdrop of the national economic picture and challenging recruiting market for the public-sector, has had a real impact upon the recruiting pipeline.

There is a reporting lag of one quarter meaning 30 September 2023 application data has been provided in this SPS edition.

Applications that do not result in Intake

The main causes of applicant failure (i.e. no offer to join the Services given) include:

• Failing security clearance;
• Failing the medical scrutiny;
• Not having the required residency;
• Not achieving fitness entry standards;
• Not achieving the required recruiting test score for the desired branch/Trade;
• Applicants withdraw for their own reasons (e.g. change of mind) during the process

The main causes of application failure (i.e. the applicant declines an offer to join):

• Applicants may have submitted other applications for employment (including multiple applications to join the Armed Forces) and accept another offer;
• Applications may be submitted with no intention to join (e.g. to satisfy the requirements of job seeking).

NOTE: Application numbers cannot be added together across the Services to show total Armed Forces applications due to differences in definitions.

Figure 13: Applications to the RN/RM split by UK Regular Forces and Volunteer Reserves

Figures from 12 months ending 30 June 2019 onwards define an application as an online application submitted by an individual and accepted by Defence Recruitment System (DRS). The number of applications to the RN/RM Regular Forces in the 12 months to 30 Sep 2023 was 28,980, an increase of 16.4 per cent compared to the 12 months to 30 Sep 2022 (24,900). Over the same period, applications to the Volunteer Reserves have increased from 2,310 to 2,580 (11.8 per cent).

Figure 14: Applications to the Army split by UK Regular Forces and Volunteer Reserves

Figures from 12 months ending 30 June 2019 onwards define an application as an online application submitted by an individual and accepted by Defence Recruitment System (DRS). The number of applications to the British Army Regular Forces in the 12 months to 30 Sep 2023 was 87,840, an increase of 49.0 per cent compared to the 12 months to 30 Sep 2022 (58,960). Over the same period, applications to the Volunteer Reserves have decreased from 21,520 to 20,480 (4.8 per cent). Commonwealth Applicants are included in the number of applications. The Commonwealth entry numbers are closely controlled. Applications may be refused if no Commonwealth headroom is available. These applicants will then be withdrawn from the pipeline but the application number will still be counted in the overall volume of applications received.

Figure 15: Applications to the RAF split by UK Regular Forces and Volunteer Reserves

Note RAF application figures between 31 March 2022 to 31 December 2022 are unavailable. The RITS system was unavailable for online applications for the period 26 September to 4 October 2023, due to system updates.

The increase in RAF applications since the introduction of DRS is due to the previous recruitment system having a separate frontend, this was used to assist the initial application processing team in filtering out RAF ineligible applications and non-productive enquiries prior to an official application being recorded. The number of applications to the RAF Regular Forces in the 12 months to 30 Sep 2023 was 33,320, an increase of 25.0 per cent compared to the 12 months to 31 March 2023 (26,660). Over the same period, applications to the Volunteer Reserves have increased from 3,980 to 4,090 (2.8 per cent).

11. Further Information

11.1 Rounding

All figures in this publication have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. For example; a value of “25” would be rounded down to “20” and a value of “15” would be rounded up to “20”. Additionally, totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts.

Percentages are calculated from unrounded data and presented to one decimal place.

Due to percentages being rounded to one decimal place, sub-totals don’t always add up to 100%.

The MOD Disclosure Control and Rounding policy is published on GOV.UK and we have applied this policy to the statistics in the accompanying Excel tables. The policy is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-statistics-policies

11.2 Revisions

In Table 7a, Outflow from Trained Strength Maritime total and subtotals for 30 Sep 2023 has been revised due to a mis-categorisation.

In Table 8a, the Tri-Service UK Reserve Forces: Volunteer Reserve total for 1 Oct 2023 has been revised due to an inputting error. 

11.3 Symbols

Symbol	Description
||	discontinuity in time series
*	not applicable
..	not available
-	zero
~	5 or fewer
p	Provisional
e	Estimate
r	Revised

11.4 Contact Us

Analysis Tri-Service welcome feedback on our statistical products. If you have any comments or questions about this publication or about our statistics in general, you can contact us as follows:

Responsible statistician: Analysis Tri-Service
Email: Analysis-Tri-Service@mod.gov.uk

If you require information which is not available within this or other available publications, you may wish to submit a Request for Information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Ministry of Defence. For more information, see: https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/the-freedom-of-information-act

Other contact points within the Ministry of Defence for Statistics are listed below.

Defence Expenditure Analysis: Email: DefStrat-Econ-ESES-PQFOI@mod.gov.uk

Naval Service Workforce: Email: Analysis-Navy@mod.gov.uk

Army Workforce: Email: defstrat-stat-army-enquiries@mod.uk

RAF Workforce: Email: Analysis-Air@mod.uk

Tri-service Workforce: Email: Analysis-Tri-Service@mod.gov.uk

Civilian Workforce: Email: Analysis-Civilian-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk

Health Information: Email: Analysis-Health-PQ-FOI@mod.gov.uk

If you wish to correspond by mail, our postal address is:

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Floor 3 Zone M
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2HB

For general MOD enquiries, please call: 020 7218 9000