- More people joined the Regular Armed Forces than left for the
fourth consecutive quarter, the longest such run since 2021.
- Trained strength rose for a third consecutive quarter, with
more troops available for operations and humanitarian support.
- Improvement comes after pay rises, housing investment and
recruitment and retention reforms.
New stats revealed today show that more people have joined the
Armed Forces than left for an entire year. Regular strength
increased across all three Services over the past year, with the
Royal Navy/Royal Marines up 440, the Army up 170 and the RAF up
840.
Alongside rebuilding workforce numbers, the Armed Forces remains
one of the UK's leading routes into skilled careers, with
opportunities across engineering, healthcare, cyber and digital
roles, supporting growth in every postcode. The Armed Forces are
also among the country's leading apprenticeship providers, with
The Times Apprenticeship Rankings consistently placing the Army,
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force among the top five
employers.
The Defence Secretary has welcomed the progress on recruitment and
retention, which comes after pay rises, £9bn funding to improve
forces housing and a range of recruitment and retention reforms
since 2024.
Defence Secretary MP, said:
There has never been a better or more important time to join our
Armed Forces. Under this government, those serving and
joining up now can be certain of increased investment in defence
and our people. That means better equipment, better housing and
better support for them and their families.
"I am determined that serving our nation gives people the skills
and opportunities to thrive during their service and beyond, no
matter their background."
Today's statistics also show other improvements,
including:
- The number of full-time military personnel available to
support Defence operations rose by 1,450 since 1 July 2025.
- The number of fully trained personnel available to support
operations increased for the third consecutive quarter, including
the first increase in Army trade-trained strength since early
2022, alongside continued growth in the Royal Navy and RAF.
- Regular strength increased across all three Services over the
past year, with the Royal Navy/Royal Marines up 440, the Army up
170 and the RAF up 840.
- Intake has increased steadily while outflow has continued to
decline since late 2023, helping drive a net gain of 1,460
personnel in the year to 30 June 2026.
The government in 2024 inherited deep recruitment and retention
challenges, with targets missed every year for the past 14 years.
While rebuilding the workforce after years of declining personnel
numbers will take time, the latest figures show signs of
improvement, with more people joining than leaving the Armed
Forces, strength increasing across all three Services and trained
strength rising for a third consecutive quarter.
The Government is continuing to improve recruitment and retention
through a range of measures, including:
- More money in the pockets of Service personnel, delivering a
cumulative 14.1% pay rise since July 2024 and ensuring every
full-time member of the Armed Forces earns at least the National
Living Wage.
- Better homes for Service families, with over £7 billion being
invested in military housing this Parliament, the biggest renewal
of Forces accommodation in a generation.
- Improved recruitment practices, with the scrapping of more
than 100 outdated recruitment policies, including rules that
blocked applicants with hay fever, eczema, acne or fully healed
injuries, while introducing novel entry routes into the military,
such as the Cyber Direct Entry Scheme for high-demand specialist
roles.
Alongside rebuilding workforce numbers, the Armed Forces remains
one of the UK's leading routes into skilled careers, with
opportunities across engineering, healthcare, cyber and digital
roles. The Armed Forces are also among the country's leading
apprenticeship providers, with The Times Apprenticeship Rankings
consistently placing the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
among the top five employers.
Whether joining straight from school, university or later in
life, recruits can build careers in everything from engineering
and healthcare to cyber and digital roles, developing skills and
progressing on merit regardless of background.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics can be found
here
