 |
|
| Up-to-the-minute perspectives on defence, security and peace issues from and for policy makers and opinion leaders. |
|
On the 23rd February Parliament set the maximum numbers of personnel to be maintained for service with the Armed Forces during the year ending 31st March 2011. The figures break down accordingly:
| Service | Regular | Reserves | Total |
| Royal Navy/Marines | 42,550 | 19,205 | 61,755 |
| Army | 124,030 | 97,355 | 221,385 |
| Royal Air Force | 47,400 | 13,680 | 61,080 |
The total combined number of Armed Forces personnel expected to be in service during the financial year ending 2011 stands at 344,020.
A number of observations can be made from these figures. In terms of the regular Armed Forces, the combined total represents an extremely modest increase in personnel compared to the previous year. By 2011, it is anticipated that 213,980 regular personnel will be serving in the Armed Forces, compared with 212,430 in 2010.
By comparison, the number of reserves anticipated to be serving with the Armed Forces is much more alarming. The combined total of reserves anticipated to be in service for the year ending 2011 is 130,240. This figure represents a continuation of the decline of reserves since the beginning of the 21st Century. According to The Military Balance, the number of reserves within the Armed Forces throughout the decade was:
| Year | Total |
| 2000 | 302,850 |
| 2001 | 247,100 |
| 2002 | 256,750 |
| 2003 | 272,550 |
| 2004 | 272,550 |
| 2005 | 272,550 |
| 2006 | 241,520 |
| 2007 | 199,280 |
| 2008 | 199,280 |
| 2009 | 199, 280 |
One of the key messages of Andrew Murrison MP's Sixty Second Soundbite is that the reserves have played a significant part in operations in the not-so-distant and will continue to do so in the future. Whilst the Ministry of Defence may dispute The Military Balance's figures, the declining number of reserves is likely to impact on the scope of all future operations, including the regular Armed Forces.
Andrew Murrison MP on the changing role for reservists and the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.
Follow Us
Defence Blogs
Visitors
Cookies
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Defence Viewpoints website. However, if you would like to, you can modify your browser so that it notifies you when cookies are sent to it or you can refuse cookies altogether. You can also delete cookies that have already been set. You may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of desktop browsers. Please note that you will lose some features and functionality on this website if you choose to disable cookies. For example, you may not be able to link into our Twitter feed, which gives up to the minute perspectives on defence and security matters.
UKDF Defence Viewpoints is intended as a forum for political discussion and debate on security, defence, peace and strategic issues. The views of authors are theirs alone, and publication of them here should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the U K Defence Forum, which holds no views of its own, or any of its associates. We are grateful to thinktanks, academics and publications for permission to reproduce their material. Copyright remains with original authors even when anonymous.
Designed by:
