Britain has around 77,000 former troops that are liable for call-out in emergencies like if World War 3 breaks out, it has been revealed.
Amid increasing global conflicts, British military leaders have been openly talking about the necessity of greatly growing the British military if World War 3 were to happen.
In a recent parliamentary written question, former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace sought information from the current Secretary of State for Defence regarding the number of former regular Army members with regular reserve call-out liability as of April 1, 2024.
It was revealed that the UK has around 55,000 ex-Regular Army personnel liable for recall under the Reserve Forces Act.
Andrew Murrison, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence disclosed that as of January 1, 2024, there were 22,676 Army Regular Reservists with recall liability under Section 22 of the Reserve Forces Act (RFA) 1996.
Furthermore, around 55,000 former Regular personnel, as of March 2024, are eligible for recall under Section 68 of the RFA 1996.
These statistics represent a varied group of people, consisting of former Regular Army personnel who are obligated to serve when required.
Additionally, the data covers individuals who have finished their military duty but still have a responsibility to return to service in case of national peril, significant emergency, or a real or perceived threat to the UK.
Murrison said: “These figures include ex-Regular Officers who retain a recall liability in perpetuity.”
According to the officials, the number of Army Regular Reservists with recall liability is based on data as of January 1, 2024, in accordance with Published National Statistics.
The Army Regular Reserve comprises ex-Regular Army personnel who maintain a commitment to be called up for service when required.
Iran’s attack on Israel has sparked concerns about a possible new conflict in the region, with Israel possibly retaliating against Iran in the coming weeks.
