Army Reserve

(asked on 4th September 2014) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the strength of the Regular Army A Reserve was in each year between 2010-11 and 2013-14.


Answered by
 Portrait
Julian Brazier
This question was answered on 11th September 2014

The Ministry of Defence does not recognise some of the specific terms used in these questions.

The Army Regular Reserve comprises ex-Regular Other Ranks and Officers who retain a liability to be called up for military service after they leave service. Other Ranks who have voluntarily left the Army with less than 18 years service retain a Reserve liability for up to six years or until they reach the 18 year point. The Army Regular Reserve also includes personnel who have applied to return to military service on fixed term reserve contracts. These include some mobilised and High Readiness Reserves, Full Time Reserve Service and Additional Duties Commitments. Officers retain a reserve liability until they are in receipt of their pension.

The Long Term Reserve consists of ex Regular Other Ranks who have completed their reserve liability or have no reserve liability on discharge but who can be recalled for service under Section 68 of the Reserve Forces Act. This would only happen under circumstances where national danger is imminent, an emergency has arisen or in the event of an attack on the United Kingdom. The Long Term Reserve liability includes the Regular Reserve liability and remains to age 55 or up to 18 years after leaving service, whichever is earlier.

The table provides the strengths of the Army Regular Reserve and Long Term Reserve. These figures are collated from internal Army manning data and are not classed as a national statistic.

April 2011April 2012April 2013February 2014
Regular Army Reserve – Officer & Other Ranks with Reserve Liability33,58333,75434,67034,735
Regular Army Reserve – Other Ranks Long Term Reserve19,71525,69930,98735,446
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