John Baron MP: MoD answers highlight risk of a reservist ‘Dad’s Army’

MP says older reservists are no replacement for young regulars

John Baron MP has recently received answers to Written Parliamentary Questions, which reveal the average age of the Territorial Army infantry is 35. The answers also show the wider TA’s average age of a senior officer, junior officer, senior NCO, junior NCO and private is 51, 42, 46, 38 and 29 respectively. This is significantly older than the regular Army, and highlights yet another key risk to the Government’s aim of replacing 20,000 regulars with 30,000 reservists. The TA will be rolled into the Army Reserve – their present strength is around 19,000.

John said,

“Older reservists will not be a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for young regulars in today’s Army. Our soldiers will be tested as never before – there can be no drop in standards.”

“This is yet another reason why Government plans to replace 20,000 regulars with 30,000 reservists are flawed: the resulting capability gaps; the strong prospect of false economies; and a substantially older Army, suggest the risks far outweigh any benefits.”

Ends

Word Count: 184

Date: 16^th December 2013

Note to Editors:

• John’s Written Parliamentary Questions are online at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131122/text/131122w0001.htm#13112253001157.