Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel are enrolled on the Army Officer Internship programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since 2021, the Gap Year Commission has been integrated into the Army Internship Programme, which has provided individuals with the opportunity to experience a challenging and rewarding year with the Army in the role of an Army Officer for 12 months before, during or after University.
The Army offers up to 30 places per year on the Internship programme. 52 different opportunities are provided to allow applicants their choice of role.
Whilst we do not hold data for the entire period requested, below are the number of completions for each academic year since 2017-18. Courses start in September and conclude the following year.
Year | Internship completions |
2017-2018 | 11 |
2018-2019 | 14 |
2019-2020 | 14 |
2020-2021 | 16 |
2021-2022 | 10 |
2022-2023 | 10 |
2023-2024 | 11 |
There are currently fewer than 10 active Service personnel enrolled on an internship for the 2024-25 scheme.
Those awarded an internship are paid a spot rate at Pre-Career officer rates and are non-pensionable. These rates are reviewed annually on the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Internship officers are also provided with an accommodation solution in accordance with Joint Service Policy. Furthermore, any internship officers who become ill or are injured are eligible to receive benefits from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
There have been no recent discussions or proposed changes to the Internship scheme.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Army Officer Internship has replaced the Gap Year Commission.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since 2021, the Gap Year Commission has been integrated into the Army Internship Programme, which has provided individuals with the opportunity to experience a challenging and rewarding year with the Army in the role of an Army Officer for 12 months before, during or after University.
The Army offers up to 30 places per year on the Internship programme. 52 different opportunities are provided to allow applicants their choice of role.
Whilst we do not hold data for the entire period requested, below are the number of completions for each academic year since 2017-18. Courses start in September and conclude the following year.
Year | Internship completions |
2017-2018 | 11 |
2018-2019 | 14 |
2019-2020 | 14 |
2020-2021 | 16 |
2021-2022 | 10 |
2022-2023 | 10 |
2023-2024 | 11 |
There are currently fewer than 10 active Service personnel enrolled on an internship for the 2024-25 scheme.
Those awarded an internship are paid a spot rate at Pre-Career officer rates and are non-pensionable. These rates are reviewed annually on the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Internship officers are also provided with an accommodation solution in accordance with Joint Service Policy. Furthermore, any internship officers who become ill or are injured are eligible to receive benefits from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
There have been no recent discussions or proposed changes to the Internship scheme.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Army still offers a Gap Year Commission.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since 2021, the Gap Year Commission has been integrated into the Army Internship Programme, which has provided individuals with the opportunity to experience a challenging and rewarding year with the Army in the role of an Army Officer for 12 months before, during or after University.
The Army offers up to 30 places per year on the Internship programme. 52 different opportunities are provided to allow applicants their choice of role.
Whilst we do not hold data for the entire period requested, below are the number of completions for each academic year since 2017-18. Courses start in September and conclude the following year.
Year | Internship completions |
2017-2018 | 11 |
2018-2019 | 14 |
2019-2020 | 14 |
2020-2021 | 16 |
2021-2022 | 10 |
2022-2023 | 10 |
2023-2024 | 11 |
There are currently fewer than 10 active Service personnel enrolled on an internship for the 2024-25 scheme.
Those awarded an internship are paid a spot rate at Pre-Career officer rates and are non-pensionable. These rates are reviewed annually on the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Internship officers are also provided with an accommodation solution in accordance with Joint Service Policy. Furthermore, any internship officers who become ill or are injured are eligible to receive benefits from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
There have been no recent discussions or proposed changes to the Internship scheme.
Written Evidence May. 13 2025
Inquiry: Home-based WorkingFound: HBW0062 - Home-based Working Army Families Federation Written Evidence
Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 35639 on Army: Food, if he will he publish the results of the Army Messing Survey 2021.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Army Messing Survey 2021 document was developed for an internal audience and there are no current plans to publish the results. The Department incorporated the feedback of this survey into the Army Exploring the Appetites of Today Soldiers (EATS) proposition, trialled across a series of 14-18 month pilots. The results of the pilots led to a final report published in 2023 and informed the development of the Defence Catering Strategy (DCS) - the implementation of which began in May in early 2024.
There are no plans for another wholesale review in the near term and, as referred to in my answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 35639, the DCS provides personnel with the opportunity to provide regular feedback through a wide variety of existing means so that we can continually improve food quality across Defence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with (a) the Chief of Defence People, (b) the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and (c) other military representatives on changing elements of the Army Officer Internship scheme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since 2021, the Gap Year Commission has been integrated into the Army Internship Programme, which has provided individuals with the opportunity to experience a challenging and rewarding year with the Army in the role of an Army Officer for 12 months before, during or after University.
The Army offers up to 30 places per year on the Internship programme. 52 different opportunities are provided to allow applicants their choice of role.
Whilst we do not hold data for the entire period requested, below are the number of completions for each academic year since 2017-18. Courses start in September and conclude the following year.
Year | Internship completions |
2017-2018 | 11 |
2018-2019 | 14 |
2019-2020 | 14 |
2020-2021 | 16 |
2021-2022 | 10 |
2022-2023 | 10 |
2023-2024 | 11 |
There are currently fewer than 10 active Service personnel enrolled on an internship for the 2024-25 scheme.
Those awarded an internship are paid a spot rate at Pre-Career officer rates and are non-pensionable. These rates are reviewed annually on the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Internship officers are also provided with an accommodation solution in accordance with Joint Service Policy. Furthermore, any internship officers who become ill or are injured are eligible to receive benefits from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
There have been no recent discussions or proposed changes to the Internship scheme.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the cost of increasing the number of full-time trained regular Army personnel by 3,000.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century, including for the British Army. The Review has been considering all aspects of Defence, such as the future force design of the British Army.
It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate due to the number of variables involved in the calculation, for example the role(s) any additional personnel would be undertaking.
Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many engineers there were in the Army on 1 April 2024; and what the requirement was.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As of 1 April 2024, there were 26,030 Army Trade Trained Regular, Gurkha and Trained Reserve Engineers.
We do not routinely release the workforce requirement figures of Army regiments for reasons of operational security.
The Trade Trained Regular Army only exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from Gurkha Trained Army Personnel (GURTAP) to UK Trained Army Personnel (UKTAP).
Reserve figures are for Trained Army Group A Reservists for Army. Group A includes Volunteer Reserves, Mobilised Volunteer Reserves, High Readiness Reserves and University Officer Training Course (OTC) Support & training staff.
The 'Engineering' trades listed above are defined in line with the agreed definition from the Defence Engineer Remuneration Review (DERR).
Jun. 05 2025
Source Page: British Army to increase lethality over the next decade while Royal Navy steps up innovation in NATOFound: British Army to increase lethality over the next decade while Royal Navy steps up innovation in NATO
Nov. 18 2008
Source Page: Director General of Army Medical Services (DGAMS): policy letter 62/03 dated 01/05/2003 regarding guidelines for medical officers on the army suicide prevention policy. 6 p.Found: Director General of Army Medical Services (DGAMS): policy letter 62/03 dated 01/05/2003 regarding guidelines