Reserves

Ordinary people. Extraordinary opportunities.

Reservists are people of all ages who train with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army or Royal Air Force alongside their day-to-day jobs.

They play a critical role in national defence and security, from supporting communities and national resilience at home, to countering threats, peacekeeping and humanitarian work abroad.

There are currently around 30,000 Reservists in the UK, forming approximately 20% of the nation’s Armed Forces, and recruitment is ongoing. In the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the Government outlined plans to increase the country’s active Reserve Forces by at least 20% when funding allows.

Dubbed “twice the citizen” by Winston Churchill, they can be called upon as individuals for their specific skills or as ready-formed units to serve alongside Regular Forces when required.

How it works.

Reservists are paid to train in the evening, at weekends, and on their annual training camp, combining part-time military commitments with their normal day-to-day life.
The typical time commitment is between 24 and 27 days a year, spread across evenings, weekends and training weeks.

Reservists can choose which section of the Armed Forces they wish to join. Entry criteria, including maximum age, vary for each:

Alternatively, if you are a student, you can find out more about opportunities below:

Joining the Reserve Forces opens you up to a whole world of adventures, without needing to ditch the day job. Benefits include…

Getting out of your comfort zone

Training opportunities can include everything from skiing in Austria to scuba diving in Belize, while opportunities closer to home might include parachuting or sailing. Being a Reservist will expose you to challenges and activities you may otherwise never discover.

Financial incentives

Those adventurous trips? They’re often subsidised or paid for. But you also get financially rewarded for all the hours you put into your training, with day rates increasing as you rise through the ranks.

New skills

As a Reservist, you’ll undergo a wide range of training, developing specialist military skills and essential life skills too – including communication, leadership, teamwork, decision-making and working under pressure. Depending on your role, there’s also the opportunity to learn how to drive HGVs and armoured vehicles.

New friends

You’ll meet people from all walks of life who have come together to do something amazing. Before long, you’ll find that your drill nights and exercises are more like hanging out with your friends than work.

Find your sport

Whether it’s a kickabout with friends from your unit or the chance to shine at national (or even international) level, Reservists have a wealth of opportunities to unleash their competitive side. From team sports like football, rugby, polo and hockey, to individual pursuits like orienteering, target shooting and skiing, there’s no shortage of sporting opportunities.

Travel the world

Reservists are regularly offered the chance to be exposed to new countries and cultures, whether that’s on training trips or while being deployed on active missions. Take a look at the case studies below to see where you could end up.

Helping others

When you become a Reservist, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are playing a key role in keeping our country – and others – safe. The expert skills you develop could help change, or even save, lives.

Could this be you?…

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Army Reservist in uniform stands with arms crossed, looking confidently into the camera.

29th January 2026