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MilitaryLatest NewsTech sectorJob descriptions

Labour scraps ′outdated’ armed forces recruitment rules

by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 23 Sep 2024
by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 23 Sep 2024 Shutterstock / Fred Duval
Shutterstock / Fred Duval

′Outdated policies’ will be scrapped in a bid to tackle the recruitment crisis facing the armed forces, the defence secretary has announced.

Speaking at the Labour party conference, John Healey said the government would lift the ban that prevents people with asthma or severe acne from joining the army.

He declared that more than 100 regulations that block “the brightest and the best” from serving because of conditions such as hay fever, eczema and other illnesses will now be removed.

Delivering his speech in Liverpool, Healey also unveiled plans to speed up the recruitment process and clear “bottlenecks” and “needless red tap” to avoid high-quality applicants being rejected or withdrawing their applications because of unnecessary delays.

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A Ministry of Defence policy from 2019 stated: “Candidates with acne that may affect the ability to wear military clothing or to operate military equipment should normally be graded UNFIT, or entry should be deferred until the disease has been successfully treated.”

According to the government, the British Army is the smallest it has been in 200 years, with more people leaving service than signing up. Although it believes the 6% pay rise revealed in July will help drive recruitment, it wants to do more to boost numbers.

It has promised to make a provisional offer to potential recruits within 10 days and provide confirmation of a training start date within 30 days.

Healey also urged computer gamers and technology experts to help with the country’s cyber defence, highlighting plans to create a new fast-track application scheme for them.

He said: “If you are a top gamer – your country needs you.”

The “cyber track” programme will have different basic training rules and selection criteria to other branches of the armed services.

Healey added: “We will create an Armed Forces that draws the very best of British talent. Better fit to fight. Better reflecting the country they defend.”

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Kavitha Sivasubramaniam

Kavitha Sivasubramaniam is an experienced journalist, editor and communications professional who has been working in B2B publishing for more than 17 years. After graduating from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multi Media Journalism, Kavitha started her career in local and regional newspapers, before moving to consumer magazines and later trade titles, as well as PR. Specialising in pay and reward, she has been editor of a number of HR publications including Pay & Benefits, Employee Benefits, Benefits Expert, Reward and CIPP’s membership magazine, Professional. In June 2024, she won Pay, Reward and Employee Benefits Journalist of the Year at the Willis Towers Watson media awards. She was also named one of Each Person’s top 20 influential HR bloggers and managed a highly commended content team of the year in 2019.

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