Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the average time taken for a reservist to complete the Armed Forces recruitment process from initial application to enlistment.

The Ministry of Defence continually monitors and works to improve the Reserve recruitment process. While the average time from application to enlistment varies due to individual circumstances and medical requirements, the process is still too long overall. Initiatives are underway to streamline and shorten this timeline.

The tri-Service Armed Forces Recruiting Service (launching in 2027) will make the candidate process faster and more accessible. Streamlined single entry point for prospective recruits with a new digital platform are expected to reduce delays and improve candidate experience, ultimately decreasing the time taken for reservists to complete recruitment.