If anyones interested in the forces numbers or the lack of! https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2025/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-january-2025
Those figures are both worrying and very depressing Kezo.
The current full time trained strength of the UK Armed Forces only 127.040 – we had more than that in Germany (BAOR/RAFG etc) alone during the Cold War.
Infact the RAF and RN (without the Army) had a total full time strength far in excess of this back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Yes, we will certainly need all our 29.000 Reserves if (when?) the crap hits the fan. But then who will backfill them in industry and the NHS etc, (bearing in mind the large amount of medical/nursing reserves who work in the NHS)?
It really is a mess nowadays and to be honest I feel very sad for the men & women currently serving. They will no doubt be getting crapped on from a great height.
Personally, I am pleased to be out of it (and I never really thought I would ever say that).