Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether those participating in the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme be able to deploy overseas in a) training exercises or b) operations.

The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society.

The Services are finalising their Gap Year plans, including the specifics on terms of engagement, professional training and military qualifications. Services will have the flexibility to provide the most appropriate employment, experiences and skills that offer best value to both participants and Defence. It is intended that participants will be remunerated with equivalency to Regular personnel, with pay, allowances and pension arrangements to be finalised prior to implementation.

The schemes will start as a pilot during 2026, to understand the impact and measure success. The pilot is expected to include 150 entrants, with an intention to increase capacity for future cohorts. The total cost to Defence to deliver the pilot scheme is £13M, which will be drawn from existing training and workforce budgets. No costing has yet been completed for future cohorts; which will be informed by the pilot scheme.

Participants will undertake their Foundation Years in the enlisted recruit entry rank for each Service, on enlisted terms of engagement. Following completion of training, Royal Navy participants will be classed as Able Seaman Class 2, Army participants will be classed as Private soldiers (or capbadge equivalent) and RAF participants will be classed as Air Specialist 2.

The Royal Navy is developing a one-year scheme for sailors with employment offered across operational surface platforms in non-technical activities with participants living and working alongside sailors on ships at sea.

The Army is developing an 18-month training scheme, with roles varied across specific trades in the Infantry, Royal Artillery and Royal Logistic Corps.

The RAF is developing a one-year programme which will involve participants working alongside Regulars from the RAF’s twelve professions, working across all departments and gaining an understanding of the potential roles available within the RAF.