Army aiming to boost reserve numbers by changing entry rank for some recruits

A new initiative is to be trialled that will allow some civilians to join the Army reserves at a higher rank. 

From the autumn the Army School of Physical Training will allow qualified civilian fitness professionals to join the Physical Training Corps as sergeants rather than entering training as a private.

It is hoped the move, which will come into place in September, will boost reserve numbers across the Army.

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"If you are a civilian with no military background whatsoever, but you work in physical training, we want you, because you will be able to bring something to the whole force party," said Captain Steve Green, Royal Army Physical Training Corps.

If the trial scheme goes well, the rest of the Army will be watching to see if they can adopt a similar approach in other specialist areas.