The Ministry of Defence has announced the introduction of the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme, a new initiative designed to provide young people under the age of 25 with a year of paid experience and training across the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.
Scheduled to commence recruitment in early 2026 with an initial intake of approximately 150 participants in March of that year, the programme reflects a broader strategic shift towards a “whole of society” approach to national security. This initiative, highlighted as a key theme in the recent Strategic Defence Review, aims to address long-term recruitment challenges while simultaneously bolstering the national skills base in sectors critical to the defence supply chain.
The scheme is modelled on the Australian Defence Force’s established Gap Year programme, which has operated for over a decade, and is intended to eventually scale to over 1,000 participants annually, subject to demand. For businesses operating within the UK defence sector, the programme represents a significant investment in the future workforce. Participants will receive bespoke training in disciplines directly applicable to industry requirements, including engineering, logistics, and supply chain management. By placing individuals alongside specialists – such as Army supply chain experts and Royal Navy engineers – the Ministry of Defence intends to produce a cohort of individuals equipped with high-level technical and leadership skills. These competencies are essential for the maintenance of a robust defence industrial base and offer a pipeline of talent for prime contractors and sub-contractors alike.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP stated that the scheme is central to a new era of defence, aiming to reconnect civilian society with the Armed Forces. This sentiment was echoed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, who has previously emphasised the necessity of a whole-nation response to increasing global volatility. From a commercial perspective, the scheme serves to enhance national resilience by delivering transferable skills that can be utilised within both military and civilian industrial frameworks.
The pilot phase will test the viability of this model, with no long-term service commitment required from participants, thereby facilitating a fluid exchange of skills between the military and the private sector. As the UK continues to prioritise the modernisation of its defence capabilities, the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will likely play a pivotal role in ensuring that the next generation of professionals possesses the resilience and technical proficiency required to support the nation’s strategic objectives and industrial capacity through 2026 and beyond.
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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