A Value for Money (VFM) Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was published in November 2012. It set out a number of recommendations aimed at improving the capacity of the RDF and ensuring its continued viability. These recommendations included the consolidation of a large number of under-strength Units into a smaller number of full strength Units. A major re-organisation of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) was implemented in 2013 and the RDF is now organised alongside the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) within a more efficient single force structure.
Separately, the VFM Review highlighted an inconsistency where a member of the Reserve could be classed as effective; yet fail to meet minimum training targets that had been set out in plans for the Reserve. The retention of personnel who do not meet minimum training requirements has a detrimental effect on the capacity and morale of the Reserve. In this context, the VFM Review recommended a review of the criteria for categorising Reservists as effective.
The military authorities have developed proposals in this regard and this is one of a range of measures aimed at reforming the RDF. I have received no recommendations relating to the introduction of employment protection legislation and I can see no basis for such a recommendation. The intention is that actual training requirements will be accurately reflected in regulations governing retention on the effective strength of the Reserve. In practice this will mean a requirement that Reservists meet training requirements that have been in place for many years rather than an increase in the level of training for the AR and NSR.
