- The UK will hold a major exercise next year to test its ability to recall and deploy former military personnel during a crisis.
- The exercise will involve the strategic reserve, a pool of up to 95,000 former service members who remain available for recall after leaving the armed forces.
- Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones stated that the strategic reserve would be activated on a scale not seen in recent years.
- Earlier this year, ministers raised the age limit for the strategic reserve from 55 to 65, allowing more veterans to be recalled.
- In January, the chief of the defence staff warned there was not an effective system of engaging veterans.
The UK is set to conduct a significant military exercise in 2027 aimed at testing its capacity to mobilize veterans from its strategic reserve, which comprises approximately 95,000 former service members. Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones emphasized that this activation will occur on a scale not witnessed in recent years.3
The exercise will evaluate the procedures for contacting, mobilizing, equipping, and employing retired personnel, reflecting a shift in military strategy amid rising global tensions, particularly concerning Russia's activities in Europe. Sandher-Jones noted that the strategic reserve is now viewed as a serious commitment, stating, “We are definitely no longer in that space - the strategic reserve is a real commitment for those who are in it, and they will be exercised as part of our exercise programme next year.”
This initiative is part of a broader assessment of the UK's military readiness, with the government reviewing its preparedness for potential national emergencies. The drill will also address concerns about the government's ability to locate and contact eligible veterans, as reports indicate that many former service members have been lost to the system.
Changes to existing legislation will allow for the recall of veterans up to the age of 65, expanding eligibility beyond traditional national emergencies to include “war-like preparations.” Sandher-Jones remarked that the exercise will challenge the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “on a scale that we haven't seen for a very long time.”
This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that the UK can effectively mobilize its military resources in times of crisis, enhancing national defense capabilities.
“The exercise will test procedures for contacting, mobilizing, equipping, and employing retired personnel, with the strategic reserve pool estimated at 95,000. Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones said the reserve is now a 'real commitment' and will be exercised as part of the programme next year.”
The Defense Post
bbc.com
