John Baron MP highlights weak Army Reserve recruitment figures

MP says MoD plans will be hit by double-whammy

The Defence Analytical Services Agency recently released its latest analysis of the size of the Army and the Army Reserves. The figures show that, in the year to January 2014, the Army Reserve shrank by 50. This is despite high-profile recruitment campaigns to persuade people to join up. John has been critical of Government plans to replace 20,000 Regulars with 30,000 Reservists believing that such plans will create unacceptable capability gaps and will cost more than planned. He has also highlighted the age profile of the existing TA.

John said,

“Despite the MoD’s grand ambitions and a large-scale recruitment campaign, the Reserves have actually declined in numbers. This underlines precisely why the Government should not have laid off 20,000 Regulars before the Reservists were able to take their place. We now face substantial manpower gaps. It also highlights that these MoD plans will lead to false economies.”

“The Government plans face a double-whammy. In addition to the MoD plans costing more than envisaged, answers to written Parliamentary questions reveal that the existing TA are significantly older than their Regular counterparts. This will have to be put right if we are not to affect the Reserves’ combat effectiveness.”