Services must be more flexible to attract and maintain personnel, Armed Forces chief says

All three services must offer more flexibility and better infrastructure if they are to attract and retain personnel, the head of the Armed Forces has said.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, was speaking amid mounting concerns about staffing levels in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Information released under a Freedom of Information request revealed that Royal Navy recruitment had dropped to its lowest level since 2017, while potential candidates who failed the Army's initial officer selection process were being given a second chance to go to Sandhurst.

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'Massive competition for talent'

The Armed Forces are frequently looking at ways to attract and retain the new and next generations in the military.

And Adm Sir Tony said: "We know we've got to get it across as to how valuable these amazing men and women are - and that means better infrastructure, better ways of giving them a flexible career."

The Chief of the Defence Staff said the three services had to implement new ways to better look after their personnel, as the Armed Forces faced "massive competition for talent".

Adm Sir Tony did note that there had already been a big pay rise this year, which he thought was significant, but asked: "How do we build on that and look after our people even better?"

In June, an Independent review recommended 67 ways to attract and retain new generation of service personnel.

The review examined the incentives to those serving in the military - both now and in the future - to modernise the services and make life in the Armed Forces a more appealing offer out to 2035 and beyond.