More than 10,000 personnel serving in the UK armed forces are currently classified as “not medically deployable,” according to data released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Defence Minister Alistair Carns disclosed in a parliamentary response that, of the total 127,432 service members, 99,560 are fully medically deployable, while 14,350 have limited deployability, and 13,522 are deemed medically non-deployable.
Breaking the figures down, the Royal Navy has 2,922 medically undeployable personnel, the Army 6,879, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) 3,721.
An MoD spokesperson commented: “Approximately 90% of our service personnel are deployable at any given time, with most of the remaining members engaged in broader military roles. We remain committed to providing world-class medical care to enable personnel to return to duty where feasible or assist them in transitioning to civilian life.”
Medical Grading and Rehabilitation
Armed forces personnel with medical conditions or fitness issues impacting their ability to serve are typically referred to a medical board for evaluation.
Medical downgrades may be issued to facilitate treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation. Deployability status is reviewed on a temporary or permanent basis, with restrictions applied based on the nature or location of potential deployments.
Military Recruitment Challenges
Recent MoD statistics from April 2024 indicate that all three branches of the armed forces are operating below their target sizes.
The Army is 1% under its target, representing a shortfall of 5,440 personnel, while the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are 5% below target, and the RAF lags by 10%. This marks the first time the Army has fallen below its recruitment target since its establishment.
Speculation of UK Troop Deployment to Ukraine
Amid speculation about a potential UK troop deployment to Ukraine for training purposes, Labour leader Keir Starmer recently held discussions with Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the critical importance of supporting Ukraine, promising increased UK assistance.
Defence Spending in Focus
Funding for the armed forces has dropped by £500 million in real terms over the past five years. While MoD personnel spending is forecast to reach £11.66 billion in 2024-25, this reflects a 4% decrease when adjusted for inflation.
However, the government has pledged an additional £2.9 billion for defence in the upcoming year, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committing to a pathway toward spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.
An MoD representative noted: “Our armed forces personnel make extraordinary sacrifices to safeguard our nation. We are renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, offering the largest pay increase in decades, investing in military housing, and introducing retention payments for essential skills across the forces.”
This ongoing focus on personnel welfare and budgetary allocations underscores the UK’s commitment to bolstering its defence capabilities amidst global uncertainties.
