The Ministry of Defence has announced a pilot programme offering gap year–style placements for young people, aimed at introducing them to military life as part of a new 'whole of society' approach to defence. The scheme will recruit about 150 under-25s for paid two-year placements starting in March 2026, with plans to expand to over 1,000 participants annually.
Participants will not be deployed to active operations and will have no obligation to remain in the military after completing the scheme, which focuses on teaching transferable skills for other industries. Defence Secretary John Healey said the initiative would 'give Britain’s young people a taste of the incredible skills and training on offer across the army, Royal Navy and RAF'.
The army placement includes 13 weeks of basic training within a two-year period, while the navy scheme lasts one year with 'profession agnostic' training. The RAF’s version is still under development. The announcement follows calls from the chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, for a 'whole of society' effort to bolster national defence amid Russian aggression.
The British army already runs an internship scheme, formerly known as gap year commissions, but uptake was low in 2024/25 with only 10 enrolments. Australia offers a similar gap year scheme for ages 17–24, which saw 664 enlistments in 2023, with over half transitioning to permanent roles. The UK government has cited the Australian model as inspiration, noting that shorter-term options could appeal more to women and minority ethnic groups.
