The United Kingdom announced on Thursday that it is taking steps to boost its Strategic Reserve by raising the maximum age for calling up former military personnel to 65.
In a Thursday press release, the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence announced that it is “taking decisive action” to increase military readiness and to protect its citizens. The press release highlighted new measures that are being introduced as part of the U.K.’s Armed Forces Bill to boost the country’s Strategic Reserve ahead of a future potential crisis.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces Bill will increase the maximum age for the Strategic Reserve from 55 to 65 and will lower the recall threshold so that British reservists can be recalled for service under “warlike preparations.” Currently, reservists can only be called up for “national danger, great emergency or attack on the UK.”
In Thursday’s press release, the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence announced that Lt. Gen. Paul Griffiths, commander of Standing Joint Command, is leading the country’s effort to ensure that it is “ready to combat the increasing threat.”
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Addressing the new policy that is expected to boost the country’s Strategic Reserve, Griffiths said, “As the threat to our nation grows, we must ensure our Armed Forces can draw on the numbers and skills required to meet it. I fully support these measures, which will give us the widest possible pool of experienced personnel to call upon in times of crisis.”
“Our Strategic Reserve represents a wealth of expertise built over years of military and civilian experience – from cyber and intelligence to medicine and communications,” Griffiths added. “These reforms will allow us to mobilise that talent rapidly when it matters most, strengthening our readiness and aligning with a similar approach many NATO forces are taking to bolster their own resilience.”
The United Kingdom explained that the change regarding the age limit for the Strategic Reserve aligns with the emphasis NATO allies are putting on Reserve forces to improve defense and resilience and to add “expertise from outside the Regular military.” Thursday’s press release also noted that the policy change “reflects lessons from Ukraine’s innovative use of Reserves and whole of society response to Russian aggression.”
Reuters reported that the Strategic Reserve changes are expected to take effect in the spring of 2027.
