Military recruitment and retention
Significant challenges in recruiting and retaining military personnel, mirroring issues faced by allied nations.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
91match
#11 - Increased armed forces visibility and engagement positively impacts military recruitment and preparedness.
This should also allow other departments, society and industry to be more aware of, and therefore more prepared for, the potential challenges ahead—relieving pressure on Defence to focus on its principal tasks during a national emergency or conflict. Greater visibility and engagement of the armed forces with society should also have a positive impact on military recruitment. (Recommendation,...
Matched on
terms: military, recruitment
Committee recommendation
91match
#17 - Department plans to fix F-35 personnel recruitment and retention, but full recovery takes time
The Department told us that it has plans in place to fix its recruitment and retention problems. The Department also told us that it has increased its recruitment of engineers significantly in the last two years. It has offered joining bonuses for certain professions and has increased the capacity of its technical training skills to enable more recruits...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
83match
#20 - Single Living Accommodation failing to meet recruit needs adversely affects recruitment and retention.
Single Living Accommodation (SLA) does not always meet the needs and expectations of today’s recruits, and this is having an adverse effect on recruitment and retention. (Conclusion, Paragraph 102)
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
81match
#6 - 5th Report - MoD follow-up Spring 2026
The Department does not know whether a recent improvement in recruitment and retention is a result of changes it has made, or whether it can sustain these improved trends. After many difficult years for both recruitment and retention, the latest public statistics for the year to October 2025 point to a corner being turned, with the number of...
Matched on
terms: military, recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
78match
#8 - UK Armed Forces face persistent capability shortfalls and an unresolved recruitment crisis
There are multiple capability shortfalls within the UK Armed Forces. For that reason, we welcome the decision to maintain the Albion-class vessels in operational service until their out of service dates in the 2030s. However, we are also increasingly concerned about the ability of the Armed Forces to attract and retain personnel. Whilst we welcome the Government’s recognition...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
74match
#76 - UK Armed Forces face significant recruitment challenges competing for national talent
The Chief of the Air Force highlighted the difficulty in recruitment presented by the UK labour market which had 1.3 million vacancies at the start of 2023.160 The First Sea Lord described the Armed Forces as being “in a battle for national talent” which required the Armed Forces to be “as attractive a place as it possibly can...
Matched on
terms: recruitment
Committee recommendation
74match
#15 - Ministry of Defence reviewing housing estate to address poor conditions and recruitment issues.
We raised concerns about the Ministry of Defence housing estate.26 The Chief Executive of the DIO told us that the Ministry is undertaking a review of the housing estate in order to address poor condition. As part of the review, it is considering maintenance, private funding, disposals and redevelopment.27 Prioritising this review will be important for addressing ongoing...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
73match
#11 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
The Armed Forces continue to face recruitment and retention challenges, which must be addressed urgently. We call on the new Government to set out what plans it has to address these, whether it will implement the recommendations of the Haythornthwaite Review and, if so, what the timetable would be.
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
70match
#75 - MOD acknowledges significant recruitment shortfall: five new personnel for every eight leaving.
The MOD publicly concedes that for every eight service personnel who leaves, it currently recruits five people, although we understand the situation may have deteriorated further.159
Matched on
terms: recruitment
Committee recommendation
70match
#20 - Poor quality accommodation significantly impacts defence personnel retention and engagement
The Department acknowledged that providing poor quality accommodation negatively impacts its personnel. Most significantly, it increases the risk that people leave the service earlier than they otherwise would.41 This is a serious risk given the problems with retention that the Department has set out and the length of time it takes to train specialist staff such as engineers.42...
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
69match
#20 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
The Defence Industrial Strategy called for a public conversation on the importance of defence. However, sufficient progress has not yet been made in developing this national conversation. Delivering such a conversation will be essential to supporting recruitment and retention in Scotland’s defence sector, and to building wider public understanding of it. Increased transparency regarding live threats and plans...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
69match
#22 - 5th Report - MoD follow-up Spring 2026
After many difficult years with both recruitment and retention, the latest public statistics for the year to October 2025 point to a corner being turned, with the number of people joining the Armed Forces exceeding the number leaving. All three services have recorded a reduction in the number of trained personnel leaving compared to the previous year, with...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
69match
#78 - Significant pinch-point shortages in technical trades severely limit UK Armed Forces capability
In November, the Secretary of State told us that recruitment and retention was an area of concern for him given that in September 2023 there had been “183 pinch points, of which 61 were assessed as having a significant or acute impact”.163 The Minister for the Armed Forces echoed this: The existence of these pinch-point trades where we...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
69match
#4 - Prioritise investment to complete RAF Marham accommodation improvements much earlier than 2034 timescale.
Accommodation at RAF Marham is substandard, exacerbating issues with recruitment and retention. Despite the urgent need to address this, upgrades will not be completed under current plans until 2034. RAF Marham has been the main F-35 operating base since 2013, with at least 1,500 people working there on the F-35, many of whom also live in accommodation at...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
66match
#28 - Mishandling Modernised Accommodation Offer caused personnel grievance, impacting morale and retention.
By mishandling the implementation of the Modernised Accommodation Offer (MAO), the MOD has created a situation in which groups of service personnel are now more likely to feel aggrieved, whatever form the scheme takes. With a limited supply of housing, some personnel will inevitably lose out. It is vital that the Government manages the morale and retention consequences....
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
65match
#13 - Implement a holistic approach to recruit and retain a skilled GCAP defence workforce.
Building and maintaining a skilled workforce will be crucial to GCAP’s success. With the defence industry facing fierce competition from other sectors for skilled workers, it is essential that a holistic approach is taken to recruitment and retention. GCAP offers a welcome opportunity to attract new talent into the UK’s combat air industry, but the focus cannot just...
Matched on
terms: recruitment, retention
Committee recommendation
61match
#18 - Operational demands create personnel retention issues and growing capability shortfalls in services.
Personnel need time to recover from operations, and time to train and develop new skills. But the demand of operations makes that harder to achieve. It is unsurprising that more people are leaving the Forces than joining them. All three services have growing capability shortfalls—these have been a feature of our inquiries over the course of this Parliament....
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
61match
#3 - Produce radical plan to recruit and retain highly skilled F-35 personnel, including accommodation and pay.
The F-35 programme faces an unacceptable shortage of several types of personnel, including engineers, cyber specialists, pilots and qualified flying instructors. The Department acknowledges that there are significant shortages of engineers in the F-35 programme, and that this is an impediment to operating the aircraft more often. This shortage reflects a shortage of engineers across the armed forces,...
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
60match
#5 - Third Report - Defence Space: through adversity to the stars?
Defence faces particular challenges in recruiting and retaining space specialists. We were encouraged by the Minister for the Armed Forces’ support for a more flexible approach to recruitment and career management within Defence, and we support the use of secondments to and from industry. But changes must be made at pace if we are not to fall further...
Matched on
terms: recruitment
PFD report
57match
Youngson Nkhoma
The coroner raised concerns regarding the absence of screening for sickle cell trait in non-UK military selection candidates, both before and after selection processes, given the increased risk of collapse or death during military exercise for those with the trait.
Matched on
terms: military
Committee recommendation
57match
#34 - Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding
The UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce’s report should identify the skills demands of the warship industry specifically, as well as steps that can be taken to meet those needs.
Matched on
terms: military
Committee recommendation
57match
#13 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
To increase recruitment numbers and enhance the efficiency of the process, the DRS should take a more balanced and risk-tolerant approach to its medical examinations and accelerate the process of resolving marginal cases.
Matched on
terms: recruitment
Committee recommendation
57match
#12 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
The Defence Recruitment System (DRS) is burdened by excessive bureaucracy, particularly in its medical evaluation process, which has become overly cautious and risk averse. This has led to unnecessary rejections and delays, discouraging many potential recruits.
Matched on
terms: recruitment
Committee recommendation
57match
#18 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
It is clear there will continue to be a role for international workers in Scotland’s defence sector for the foreseeable future, particularly given that demand for products from the defence sector has historically fluctuated. Current skills shortages have exacerbated this reliance as overseas recruitment is needed to meet immediate workforce needs. While international workers will remain an important...
Matched on
terms: recruitment
Committee recommendation
57match
#23 - 5th Report - MoD follow-up Spring 2026
Data indicates that the time taken to recruit new personnel has fallen. Overall, the average time between someone applying to join and them starting basic training reduced from 496 days in 2023 to 290 days in 2024, and the Department said that this needs to come down further.43 In 2024, to tackle long application waiting times the Secretary...
Matched on
terms: recruitment
Committee recommendation
57match
#14 - Prioritise retaining Typhoon workforce and securing export orders to bridge Tempest production gap.
Retention of the existing Typhoon manufacturing workforce, made more challenging by dwindling production runs and the gap until full-scale production of Tempest is underway, must be a priority; and securing further Typhoon export orders to ensure a consistent pipeline of production will be critical to achieving this goal. (Recommendation, Paragraph 92) 31
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
53match
#17 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
By June 2027, the UK Government should provide the Committee with a progress update on the implementation of the DUA, including early indicators of its effectiveness in supporting Scottish graduates and institutions. The UK Government should then publish annual reports on the DUA’s performance, including data on the impact it is having on the retention of graduates in...
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
53match
#24 - 5th Report - MoD follow-up Spring 2026
Initiatives that have helped improve retention include a new housing strategy, wraparound childcare and improved pay, and the Department particularly flagged the importance of housing.46 Day-to-day maintenance and servicing of the estate has begun to improve, albeit from a very poor starting point, with satisfaction with repairs increasing from 23% in January 2023 to 66% by the end...
Matched on
terms: retention
Committee recommendation
52match
#1 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
Scotland remains central to the UK’s defence sector at a time when maintaining a resilient industrial base is more critical than ever. The context of increased defence spending presents a significant opportunity for Scotland. Meeting rising demand for defence capability, particularly in shipbuilding, aerospace and advanced technologies, offers the prospect of expanding the number of highly skilled, well-paid...
Matched on
terms: retention
PFD report
49match
Dean Hutchinson
The Fire Diary's wording for fire risk assessment reviews did not prioritise them before changes in use or structure. Junior Fire NCOs also lacked specific training to identify significant electrical overloading in appliances.
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classifier match
PFD report
49match
Neil McDougall
The coroner raised concerns about post-tour debriefing for serving personnel, which lacks 1-to-1 sessions. There is also no mandatory mental health assessment during the Army resettlement process for those leaving service.
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classifier match
PFD report
49match
Jonathan Cole
The coroner raised concerns regarding the insufficient number and availability of psychiatrists and psychologists within the Ministry of Defence, impacting serving personnel's access to appropriate treatment and diagnosis. This shortage was noted particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, affecting timely care.
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classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#16 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
Recruiting Scotland’s talented graduates and keeping that talent in Scotland is a clear challenge for the defence industry and is particularly difficult for SMEs. We welcome the creation of the Defence Universities Alliance as a positive step to promote the uptake of defence-related careers and create closer ties between academic institutions and the defence sector. However, it is...
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classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#73 - UK Armed Forces suffer significant net outflow and critical skill shortages in key areas.
The Haythornthwaite Review (examined in the section below) found that in 2022 there was a net outflow (the difference between the number of people leaving and those joining) of 4,660 from the UK Armed Forces with the “overall voluntary outflow rate increasing to 6.0%, up 1.7% from the previous year”. In the past decade the forces’ proportion of...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#16 - Resolving F-35 engineering personnel shortages will take three to four years
The Department acknowledged that the shortages across all these roles were very important, with the Chief of the Defence Staff stating that personnel had been one of his top two priorities in his previous role as Chief of the Air Staff. The Department told us that the training time required for engineers meant that it would take three...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#15 - F-35 programme plagued by critical shortages of engineers, pilots, and flying instructors
The F-35 programme suffers from personnel shortages across a range of occupations. A 2024 review of the programme, by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA, formerly the Infrastructure and Projects Authority), stated that shortages of suitably qualified engineers represented the biggest threat to delivering F-35 capability. These shortages have been exacerbated by the Department miscalculating how...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#14 - F-35 aircraft availability compromised by persistent personnel shortages and global support solution reset
The Department also set out the reasons for poor availability of aircraft. It accepted that shortages of personnel, particularly engineers, impacted aircraft availability, and would continue to do so until they were resolved.30 Furthermore, the Department told us that the Global Support Solution, which supplies spare parts, is being reset by the United States so that it 22...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
48match
#15 - 8th Report - AUKUS
The development of new SSN facilities in Adelaide and Perth could pose a risk to workforce retention at the UK’s equivalent facilities in Barrow-in- Furness and Plymouth. The MOD must closely monitor workforce flow as the design and build of SSN-AUKUS progresses, and should ensure that efforts to streamline workforce movements do not inadvertently create a detriment to...
Matched on
terms: retention
PFD report
45match
William Savage
The coroner identified that intelligence on the nature and duration of pistol hits was not accurately circulated, leading to commanders being misinformed. Greater consideration may be needed before clearing threat warnings from routes.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Mark Foley
The coroner noted the driver had insufficient experience in controlling the vehicle during difficulties, despite being qualified. There was also a practice of commanders not wearing safety harnesses and a lack of enforcement of standing orders by senior officers.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
David Efemena
The coroner identified a lack of defibrillator (AED) availability at the training site and insufficient AED training. Concerns were also raised about inadequate communication checks between staff and cadets after nightfall due to unclear policy guidance.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
Darren Neilson
The coroner identified soldiers' unclear understanding of a specific gun drill, the Range Conducting Officer's insufficient knowledge of tank status, and inadequate risk assessments by BAE and MOD failing to identify a gun could fire without a safety assembly.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
Alexander Tostevin
The coroner noted that the lack of independence in DCMH care risks under-reporting of mental health symptoms, and the primacy of DCMH views in risk assessment meetings may lead to inadequate risk management plans. There is also no single composite risk assessment and care plan.
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Inquiry recommendation
45match
BAHA-73 - Retaining Detention Expertise
In reducing the number of firm base unit custody facilities, the MoD should be careful not to erode the unit level operational detention expertise which is provided to a Battlegroup by the attendance of unit provost staff on the AAUCSC, unless the equivalent expertise can be provided to each Battlegroup by the MPS.
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classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#16 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
A reduction in Reserve workforce numbers confirms that the capability of the Reserves has declined over the last few years. To reverse this, a co-ordinated response is needed that includes incentives for joining and provides clarity of purpose for all units. The new Government should also re-assess its funding for the Reserves to ensure it delivers on demanding...
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classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#15 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
The new Government should prioritise reinvigorating the Reserves. It should respond to General Sir Nick Carter’s review, clearly articulating what role(s) it expects the Reserves to undertake and how they should be organised to effectively supplement and support our Armed Forces.
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classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#21 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
In its response to this report, the UK Government must set out how it plans to deliver this national conversation on defence in Scotland, in order to support awareness of the wide range of roles available within the sector. Both the UK and Scottish Governments have a part to play 42 in building public understanding, reducing negativity and...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#14 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
The UK Government must work proactively with the Scottish Government to expand apprenticeship provision for the defence industry in Scotland, given the vital role apprenticeships play in developing skilled workers and supporting the UK’s national security. For the same reasons, we hope to see the Scottish Government match the UK Government’s funding for the two proposed DTECs. However,...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#13 - 3rd Report – Securing Scotland's future: Defence skills and jobs
The availability of a skilled workforce will be a key factor in determining whether Scotland can realise the opportunities presented by growth in the defence sector. Apprenticeships play a vital role in developing these skills and, by extension, in ensuring the UK’s national security. With expected growth in the sector driven by new international orders and increased demand,...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#13 - Shortage of adult volunteers hinders cadet expansion, requiring improved support and remuneration.
The Council explained that each of the armed forces would decide how to accommodate more cadets, through a combination of increasing the size and number of cadet units. The RFCAs would then support the chosen approach.18 The Department said that there was no lack of interest in young people wanting to join the cadets. However, the Department stressed...
Matched on
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