Britain launches military 'gap year' for young people to improve recruitment
The British government is launching a new "gap year" programme that will allow young people under 25 to try out life in the army, navy or air force without a long-term commitment, the BBC reports.
The aim is to make the armed forces more attractive and improve long-term recruitment. The first 150 participants will be selected in the spring, with the aim of increasing the number to 1,000 a year. The programme is to be paid, but the amount of pay has not yet been announced.
The recruits will not be deployed on active operations and will receive training focused on skills such as leadership, teamwork and problem solving.
British Conservatives have criticised the small scale of the initiative, while the government is presenting it as part of a wider defence and security strategy also responding to the threat from Russia. The project is inspired by the Australian model, where a similar system has been in place for more than a decade.
(mja)