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The U.K. is set to introduce a voluntary military “gap year” program aimed at increasing armed forces recruitment and equipping young people with skills amid warnings that the country is not ready for war.
According to details shared with The i Paper, recruitment for the scheme will open in March 2026 and will be available to people under the age of 25.
The paid program is expected to initially take around 150 participants, with plans to expand to more than 1,000 recruits annually.
Modeled on a similar initiative in Australia, the scheme is designed to offer school and college leavers exposure to military life without requiring a long-term commitment.
Participants will receive training and transferable skills, with the option to continue into full-time service if they choose.
Under current plans, the army element of the program would last two years, beginning with a 13-week basic training course, followed by specialization in a specific area.
Those who remain in service could receive additional training enabling deployment on operations.
The Royal Navy is planning a one-year “profession-agnostic employment scheme,” which would provide basic training, opportunities to work on board ships and exposure to a range of naval careers.
The Royal Air Force is still assessing options for its participation.
The initiative is part of a broader “whole of society” approach to defense and is aimed at engaging Generation Z, amid polling that suggests many young people are reluctant to fight for their country.
The move comes as senior defense figures continue to warn that the U.K. is unprepared for war.
The British military is currently involved in NATO missions along Russia’s borders, U.N. peacekeeping operations in Africa, and is planning to send troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire.
Last year, retired senior army officer Gen. Sir Patrick Sanders said Britain should “train and equip” a “citizen army” in response to Russian aggression, while stressing he was not advocating conscription.
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