Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 80
80
Health of UK Reserve Forces poor and declining, with higher outflow than intake
Conclusion
As with the regular Forces, the Reserve Forces also saw a higher outflow than intake in the year up to October 2023.168 The External Scrutiny Team (mandated to report on the ‘state of the volunteer reserve forces’) found in their 2023 annual report that “the state, 165 Q47; Q108 166 Professor Vince Connolly (AFR0006) 167 Oral evidence taken on 5 September 2023, HC (2022–23) 1804, Q18–20 168 Ministry of Defence, Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 October 2023, 14 December 2023 34 Ready for War? or health, of the Reserve is poor and declining”.169 Despite this, they welcomed what they saw as a “strong narrative emerging which recognises the purpose of the Reserve” and a desire amongst the senior leadership of the Single Services and Strategic Command to make better use of the Reserve. In particular, they welcomed decisions by the newly established Army Reserve Executive Committee.170
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 25 April 2024. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗