Figures showing that the UK Armed Forces are currently at 98.7 per cent of their full time Trained Strength requirement have been released today by the MOD.
This is up from 97.2 per cent a year ago and shows a continued upward trend in both recruitment and retention. 24,010 new recruits have joined the UK Regular Forces in the 12 months to 31 December 2009, an increase of 10.1 per cent (2,200 people) compared to the previous 12 months.
The statistics also show that the number of people leaving the Trained Strength of the UK Regular Forces in the 12 months to 31 December 2009 has fallen by 16.7 per cent compared with the same period a year ago. Overall, the number of people leaving is at its lowest in five years.
As at 1 January 2010, the full time Trained Strength of the UK Armed Forces was 176,330 against a target of 178,740. This comprises 171,630 UK Regular Forces, 1,080 Full Time Reserve Service personnel and 3,610 Gurkhas.
Defence Minister Kevan Jones said:
“It is great news that once again the Armed Forces have seen overall gains to trained strength. We have worked hard to implement measures to ensure we recruit and retain the best quality personnel.
“I have no doubt that life in the Armed Forces is one of the most challenging careers available, but one which rewards recruits with a sense of real purpose, teamwork, and service. It is now more important than ever that we have the best personnel who know the reasons we are in Afghanistan and can see the effect they are having for the security of our country.”
Since 1 January 2009, the proportion of females in the UK Regular Forces has risen from 12.0 per cent to 12.2 per cent for officers and from 8.9 per cent to 9.0 per cent for other ranks.
The percentage of UK Regular Forces from ethnic minority backgrounds continues to rise; at 1 January 2010 ethnic minorities accounted for 6.6 per cent of UK Regular Forces compared to 6.4 per cent at the same point last year.
