Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average wait time was to begin basic training in the Army by gender for (a) Reserves and (b) full-time soldiers in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021 to date.

The average wait time to begin basic training in the Army by gender for (a) Reserves and (b) full-time soldiers in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021 to date is given below:

Notes/Caveats:

1. This is one of two questions tabled by Siobhain McDonagh (Lab, Mitcham and Morden) on the average wait time to begin Basic Training by gender for British Army candidates. It is unclear what has prompted the questions.
2. This data has been provided from a single Service source rather than official statistics produced by Defence Statistics as they do not collate this information.
3. The figures represented show the average wait time in days by Recruiting Year (April – March). The average wait time for Recruiting Year 2021/2022 is based on candidates with an Assessment Centre date pass since 01 April 2021 who are booked to commence Basic Training prior to 31 March 2022 and thus is subject to change.
4. For Regular Other Ranks the wait time is from Assessment Centre pass up until the commencement of Basic Training, at which point they are enlisted.
5. For Reserve Other Ranks the wait time is from Assessment Centre pass until enlistment, which is completed within their Reserve Unit and occurs before the candidate commences Basic Training.