The Ministry of Defence has released detailed figures on the number of trained personnel in combat-ready roles within each branch of the UK Armed Forces for the past five years. Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe requested an inquiry about the Declining British military workforce. The data, provided by Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, reveals trends in the levels of combat readiness in the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force between 2020 and 2024.
The UK is experiencing an alarmingly high attrition rate in its armed forces,
Many soldiers continuing to leave the service despite a salary increase. The government increased salary last summer. Attrition in the military refers to the gradual loss of personnel due to factors such as retirement and resignation. It negatively impacts operational readiness and force strength.
Around 15,000 British troops left the military in the year to October 2024. More than half of these departures are categorized as “voluntary attrition. ” Notably, the UK armed forces only enlisted over 12,000 personnel in the same period, resulting in a net decrease in military strength. As of October, there are reportedly just two servicemen and women for every 1,000 people in Britain. This is the first time a declining British military workforce has happened on this scale.
Raising Salary, Government Solution?
In July, the British government announced a 6-percent salary increase for military personnel — the largest in over two decades. The raise aims to address recruitment and retention challenges, which have reportedly affected the military’s operational readiness. “Our new government’s first duty is keeping the British people safe. And the strength of our defence lies in our forces’ serving men and women,” Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
The Ministry of Defence’s latest quarterly service personnel statistics reveal a significant decline. It happened in the number of personnel in the British Army and other branches of Forces. The total strength of UK Forces service personnel is 183,230, marking a decrease of 5,590 personnel, or 3%.The combined full-time trained strength (FTTS) of the RN/RM and RAF, along with the full-time trade trained strength (FTTTS) of the Army, has decreased by 3,800 personnel (3%) to a total of 129,760.
Declining British military workforce, Is there any bright vision?
On 1 April 2024, the total size of the full-time UK armed forces (trained and untrained) was around 148,230 personnel. Over half of personnel were within the Army (56%). In April 2024, the Army fell below its target size for the first time since it was set. This means that all three service branches are currently below target: the Army by 1%, the RN/RM by 5%, and the RAF by 10%. Overall, the UK armed forces had 5,440 personnel (1%) below the target.
Between the financial years 1999/00 and 2023/24, there have only been six years when the number of personnel joining the UK Regular Forces was higher than the number leaving. In 2023/24, there was a fall in the overall number of personnel. 4,430 more personnel leaving the force than joining it. This compares with a net decrease of 5,420 personnel the previous year. The rate of personnel voluntarily leaving the armed forces before their agreed engagement or commission period end is currently at levels last seen in the 1990s. Declining British military workforce is at crisis level.
Labour will develop a workforce recruitment and retention strategy.
The current establishment wants to recruit 9,500 to solve the Declining British military workforce problem. Then, progress plans to recruit an additional 2,000 Defence Forces personnel within the lifetime of the next government. The UK is one of Europe’s preeminent military powers (along with France). The British armed forces are configured to provide ‘full spectrum capabilities’ from nuclear deterrence and combat-capable conventional forces. It has sophisticated intelligence gathering, cyber warfare capabilities, and a globally competitive defence industrial sector. However, over the last decade or more, growing problems have emerged. It has led to serious concerns about the ability of the armed forces to provide the capabilities and expertise required to contribute effectively to international security and European deterrence.
Over previous decades, the defence budget has steadily shrunk. There is a broad consensus that the UK armed forces have been ‘hollowed out.’ The defence budget decreased from 2.6% of GDP in 2010 (the last year of the previous Labour government) to 2.0% in 2015. The conservative government was slow to wake up to the need to reinvest in defence after 2014. It has failed to address the problem of declining military capabilities. The defence budget grew steadily after 2014. It did so at a much slower rate than the average for all other European NATO members, 20% as opposed to the European NATO average of 54%, according to the NATO definition of defense expenditure.
The new Labour government recognizes the urgency of defence and security policy.
The dire condition of the British economy constrains it. There is no great divide in defence policy between the Conservatives. It can expected to see a recalibration and reconfiguration of defence priorities, not a radical shift in direction. The best hope is a more competent and pragmatic approach to government. It is a less ‘ideological’ view of European cooperation. Early indications are promising. However, how the new government tackles the political and security challenges of the coming months will demonstrate whether Labour can successfully address the deep-seated problems facing British defence policy and the UK armed forces. Declining British military workforce is should be addressed by Labour.
Government data shows more people left the British military than signed up last year. It is further Depressing the British military workforce crisis. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported that 16,140 full-time personnel quit the armed forces in the past 12 months, while only 10,680 enlisted. Of those who left, more than half were considered early retirement. According to Labour Party shadow defence secretary John Healey, the numbers reflect a concerning “failure” in defence.
