The wait for flying training can in some cases be years, Ofsted found (Picture: RAF)

Tri-Service

Armed Forces personnel having to wait too long for training, report finds

Military trainees are spending too much time between courses, with some aspiring pilots having to wait years to begin their flying training, according to an Ofsted report.

While inspectors found trainees were very well prepared for their next training phase or to start their first military job, the report suggests too much time was being spent in holdover.

This is when one training course has finished but another hasn't yet begun.

Trainee pilots and aircrew from all three services face by far the longest holdover periods.

In the worst cases, the wait to start flying training can last several years, impacting the trainees' motivation, personal life and career opportunities.

The report shows there's a lack of information on when and how long the holdovers might be.

The recommended fixes

While Ofsted found training to be improving overall, it issued several recommendations. It said the Ministry of Defence should:

:: Urgently improve the infrastructure of the training estate, especially any accommodation where trainees are living in unacceptable and/or deteriorating conditions.

:: Minimise the time that trainees spend in holdover, especially trainee pilots and aircrew from all three services in flying training, so they can complete their training as quickly and efficiently as possible and start their first military jobs.

:: Engage trainees in holdover in meaningful activities that maintain their morale and continue to develop their military and specialist skills and knowledge.

:: Give all new recruits uniform and equipment that fit them properly, including military backpacks and body armour, so they can participate fully in training.

BFBS Forces News has reached out to the MOD for a response to the findings of the report.