Britain has 77,000 former troops liable for call out

Britain has approximately 55,000 ex-Regular Army personnel liable for recall under the Reserve Forces Act.

In a recent parliamentary written question, former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace sought information from the current Secretary of State for Defence regarding the number of former regular Army members with regular reserve call-out liability as of April 1, 2024.

In response, Andrew Murrison, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, disclosed that as of January 1, 2024, there were 22,676 Army Regular Reservists with recall liability under Section 22 of the Reserve Forces Act (RFA) 1996.

Additionally, approximately 55,000 ex-Regular personnel, as of March 2024, are subject to recall under Section 68 of the RFA 1996.

“These figures include ex-Regular Officers who retain a recall liability in perpetuity,” Murrison clarified.

It’s important to note several caveats highlighted by Murrison:

• The number of Army Regular Reservists with recall liability is based on data as of January 1, 2024, in accordance with Published National Statistics.
• The Army Regular Reserve comprises ex-Regular Army personnel who maintain a commitment to be called up for service when required.
• The second figure of approximately 55,000 individuals is based on management information and includes ex-Regular Officers who retain a recall liability indefinitely.
• This data is not gathered for statistical purposes and is subject to a different level of scrutiny compared to official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. The most recent available data is as of March 2024.

These figures encompass a diverse range of individuals, including ex-Regular Army personnel who retain a workforce obligation to be called up for service in times of need. The data provided also includes those who have completed their military service but retain a liability to be recalled in the event of national danger, great emergency, or an actual or suspected attack on the UK.