Key Takeaways:
- The Ministry of Defence is introducing a gap year-style scheme for young people in Britain to introduce them to military life.
- The pilot programme will start in March 2026 with 150 under-25s and will expand to over 1,000 per year.
- The scheme will provide paid, two-year placements with no obligation to stay in the military after completion.
- The programme aims to teach transferable skills that can be used in other industries and will not involve deployment to active operations.
- The scheme is part of a "whole of society" approach to defence, encouraging young people to consider a career in the military.
Introduction to the Scheme
The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to introduce a gap year-style scheme for young people in Britain, aimed at introducing citizens to military life early on. The scheme is part of a new "whole of society" approach to defence, which aims to encourage young people to consider a career in the military. The pilot programme is set to start in March 2026, with around 150 under-25s recruited for the initial phase. The government plans to expand the scheme to over 1,000 participants per year after its launch.
Scheme Details
The scheme will offer paid, two-year placements, although the exact amount of pay has not been revealed. The placements will provide young people with a taste of military life, without the obligation to stay in the military after completing the scheme. The programme will not involve deployment to active operations, and participants will be able to develop transferable skills that can be used in other industries. The army scheme will involve 13 weeks of basic training as part of the two-year placement, while the navy scheme will last one year and provide "profession agnostic" training for sailors. The RAF’s scheme is still in development, with options being explored.
Rationale Behind the Scheme
The scheme is part of a broader effort to promote a "whole of society" approach to defence, which was called for by the chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton. He emphasized the need for Britain’s "sons and daughters" to be "ready to fight" in the face of Russian aggression. The government believes that the scheme will provide young people with a unique opportunity to develop valuable skills and experience, while also promoting a greater understanding of the military and its role in society. The scheme is also seen as a way to increase diversity in the military, with the government arguing that a shorter-term option could make engagement with the military more appealing to women and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
International Inspiration
The British government has taken inspiration from Australia’s gap year scheme, which has been successful in attracting young people to the military. In 2023, 664 people enlisted in the Australian scheme, with over half going on to a permanent role in the country’s defence force. The British government believes that a similar scheme could have a positive impact in the UK, particularly in terms of increasing diversity and promoting a greater understanding of the military. The Australian scheme is open to those aged between 17 and 24, and provides a range of training and development opportunities.
Existing Schemes
The British army already runs an internship scheme, formerly known as gap year commissions, but it has had a low uptake in recent years. In 2024/25, only 10 people enrolled in the scheme, which offers one-year placements for young people before, during, or immediately after university. The new scheme is seen as a way to build on this existing programme, while also providing a more attractive and flexible option for young people. The government believes that the new scheme will provide a more comprehensive and engaging experience for participants, while also promoting a greater understanding of the military and its role in society.
Conclusion
The introduction of the gap year-style scheme is a significant development in the UK’s approach to defence and military recruitment. The scheme provides a unique opportunity for young people to develop valuable skills and experience, while also promoting a greater understanding of the military and its role in society. With its focus on transferable skills, flexibility, and diversity, the scheme has the potential to attract a new generation of young people to the military, and to promote a more inclusive and diverse armed forces. As the scheme is set to launch in March 2026, it will be interesting to see how it develops and what impact it has on the UK’s military recruitment and diversity efforts.