Written Question·Ministry of Defence·UIN 86791

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Tabled: 30 October 2025
Answered: 10 November 2025

Question

Will Stone

LabourSwindon North

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to raise the minimum age of military recruitment to 18.

Answer

Louise Sandher-Jones
The Armed Forces have no plans to raise the minimum age of recruitment. All recruitment into the UK military is voluntary and no young person under the age of 18 years may join our Armed Forces unless their application is accompanied by the formal written...

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