UK youth to be offered military ‘gap year’ in bid to boost defence: Report

UK to Offer Paid Military Experience to Young People Amid Rising Russian Threats

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced plans to introduce a paid “gap year” programme for young people aged 18-25, aiming to boost recruitment among British youth amid growing tensions with Russia. The scheme, which is expected to launch in early 2026, will initially be open to approximately 150 applicants and may expand to over 1,000 participants annually.

The programme will provide young people with a paid placement of two years, during which they will complete basic training for 13 weeks. Recruits will not be deployed on active military operations, but will instead participate in various roles within the armed forces. The pay for the scheme is expected to match basic recruit salaries, currently around £26,000 (approximately $35,000).

The move follows a series of announcements from European countries, including France, Germany, and Belgium, which have introduced similar national service schemes in response to rising tensions with Russia. The UK’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, stated that the programme represents a new era for defence, offering opportunities for young people to contribute to the country’s security.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, has warned of intensifying hybrid threats from Russia, including cyber-attacks and sabotage. The UK government has announced plans to increase defence and security spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.

Source: Al Jazeera