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Recruitment age for Army raised Recruitment age for Army raised
(20 minutes later)
The maximum age for Army recruits has been raised from 26 to 33, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.The maximum age for Army recruits has been raised from 26 to 33, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.
A spokeswoman for the MoD denied this was due to a crisis in recruitment. The MoD denied there was a recruitment crisis, saying it was merely bringing the army into line with the maximum recruiting ages for other armed forces.
She said the rise was merely bringing the army into line with the existing maximum recruiting ages for the RAF, Navy and the Royal Marines. The change will mean servicemen and women could remain in uniform up until the age of 55.
On Friday, the MoD said it was spending more money to improve retention in the armed forces. Almost 14,500 personnel left the Army in 2006, it said. The MoD has said it will spend more to improve retention in the forces. Almost 14,500 left the Army in 2006, it said.
Serving until 55 More career options
"This brings the Army into line with the rest of the services, including the ultra-fit Royal Marines who have recruited 33-year-olds for some time," the spokeswoman said. "This brings the Army into line with the rest of the services, including the ultra-fit Royal Marines who have recruited 33-year-olds for some time," an MoD spokeswoman said.
The age limit also applies to the RAF and Navy.
The spokeswoman said there had been a 16% increase in recruitment to the services in the past year but acknowledged a buoyant economy meant young people had a number of career options open to them.The spokeswoman said there had been a 16% increase in recruitment to the services in the past year but acknowledged a buoyant economy meant young people had a number of career options open to them.
The change means servicemen and women could be in uniform until the age of 55 under the terms of a normal 22-year engagement. The spokeswoman said the 22-year period of service was likely to remain. Recruits would be able to stay in service until the age of 55, under the terms of a normal 22-year engagement. The spokeswoman said the 22-year period of service was likely to remain.
The MoD denies the Army is losing recruits 'hand over fist'The MoD denies the Army is losing recruits 'hand over fist'
The minimum age for recruits is unchanged at 16-and-a-half, but troops are not able to take part in operations until they turn 18.The minimum age for recruits is unchanged at 16-and-a-half, but troops are not able to take part in operations until they turn 18.
Army band musicians are exempt from the new rules - the maximum age for them is 36 years and 11 months.Army band musicians are exempt from the new rules - the maximum age for them is 36 years and 11 months.
News of the rise in recruitment came as the Conservatives warned of a "retention crisis" in the armed services over the more than 14,000 personnel leaving the Army last year.News of the rise in recruitment came as the Conservatives warned of a "retention crisis" in the armed services over the more than 14,000 personnel leaving the Army last year.
The MoD spokeswoman said it was a "myth" the recruitment age was being raised because the Army was losing people "hand over fist".The MoD spokeswoman said it was a "myth" the recruitment age was being raised because the Army was losing people "hand over fist".
She said the number of people leaving the service was normal turnover.She said the number of people leaving the service was normal turnover.
The ministry added that a recruitment of 12,000 personnel was "deliberate" and in line with announced policy.The ministry added that a recruitment of 12,000 personnel was "deliberate" and in line with announced policy.
"We are drawing down the size of the army by design over the next two or three years," a spokesperson said."We are drawing down the size of the army by design over the next two or three years," a spokesperson said.