Army missing recruitment target every year since 2010, Ministry of Defence figures reveal

Army recruitment for other ranks has been below target every year since 2010, according to data released by the Ministry of Defence.

According to the data, Basic Training Starts (BTS) Targets for British Army Other Ranks by financial year were at a shortfall of 22,350 from the 119,530 total target from 2010 to 2023.

The figures were obtained by shadow defence secretary John Healey, who asked Defence Secretary Grant Shapps: "What were the (a) recruitment targets and (b) actual numbers of people recruited to the Army in each year since 2010?"

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The table below breaks down the target and actual recruitment numbers year by year.

* Note: 2020-21's target was initially 9,870 but was reduced to 8,270 following the Government's Integrated Review.

'Committed to supporting defence jobs'

Recruitment issues are affecting all three services.

Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge insisted the Government was "absolutely committed to supporting defence jobs across the piece".

But he acknowledged to the Commons the recruitment challenges currently facing the Armed Forces, saying: "Obviously we have recruitment challenges in terms of our personnel, but we also have to support British industry and that is why we have the Secretary of State leading in his role as shipbuilding tsar."

Earlier this month, former defence secretary Ben Wallace warned that the Armed Forces' recruitment effort was in crisis because the current generation - known as Generation Z - is not signing up to serve.

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari, Mr Wallace, who stepped down as defence secretary last August, said Britain needed to increase the number of younger people joining the Armed Forces.

The former Army officer said the military had to have money spent on it, but added: "We also need to do some things differently."

And in December it was revealed that potential officer candidates who failed the Army's selection process were given a second chance as the service looks to boost its numbers.

To increase officer recruitment, the Army is now accepting people who did not pass the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) to enter Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.