In the United Kingdom, an initiative will soon be launched that will allow young people up to 25 years old to experience military service for a year without long-term commitments.
Applications for participation in the program will start being accepted in the spring of 2026, and at the initial stage, only 150 people will be selected, although authorities plan to increase the number of places to 1,000 in the future.
Participants in the gap year program will not be sent to combat operations, and the content of the courses is still being developed.
This initiative is part of efforts to address persistent recruitment and retention issues in the country's armed forces.
Training will be available in the army as well as in the naval and air forces.
According to media reports, the army program includes 13 weeks of basic training over two years of service, while the naval course will last one year. Information about the Air Force program is currently less detailed.
Participants will receive a salary, although the amount of payments remains unknown.
Additionally, there is an initiative offering 30 places for those wishing to undergo officer training, which can be started before, during, or immediately after university studies. Although such a program is already functioning, it attracted fewer than 10 participants in the last academic year.
The UK Ministry of Defence is confident that participants in the program will acquire leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that will be beneficial throughout their lives, regardless of whether they choose a career in the military.
Authorities hope that the initiative will attract a more diverse audience and that some participants will decide to stay and continue their military careers.
Defence Secretary John Healey noted that the program will provide young people with "incredible skills and training." "Now, as families come together, young people are thinking about the future, and I want outstanding opportunities offered by our armed forces to be discussed in homes across the country," he added.
In the summer, the minister spoke about a new defense strategy, stating that modern threats require a "new era" in defense.
Healey also emphasized that the program will be part of a new approach to defense and deterrence that involves the entire society, including preventing potential confrontation with Russia.
This youth-oriented program, aimed at those taking a year off between finishing school and entering university, is designed to help address long-standing issues with recruitment and retention in the British armed forces.
Australia has a similar program that has been in operation for over 10 years, offering young people aged 17-24 a unique military life experience. In 2023, 664 people participated in it, more than half of whom later transitioned to permanent service.
The British government is also considering other ways to attract people to the army and aims to increase the number of cadets by 30%.
Critics from the opposition Conservative Party have already expressed dissatisfaction with the gap year program, pointing to its small number of participants.
According to Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge, while the Australian program has its advantages, "such meager numbers do not enhance our readiness for war."
He also noted that Conservatives have proposed reallocating up to £50 billion from climate and scientific funds to the defense sector, emphasizing their serious commitment to the country's protection.
Lord Richard Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, stated in an interview with BBC Radio 4 that the gap year will impact the situation with threats from Russia "only to a limited extent." Nevertheless, he believes that the program "will slightly help improve recruitment" and provide participants with insight into military service, discipline, and problem-solving skills.
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