The numerical establishment of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is set out in the following table.
Rank
|
Army Reserve Establishment
|
Naval Service Reserve Establishment
|
Total
|
Lieutenant Colonel
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
Commandant
|
60
|
4
|
64
|
Captain
|
107
|
20
|
127
|
Lieutenant
|
110
|
0
|
110
|
Sergeant Major
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
Company Sergeant
|
38
|
8
|
46
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
|
38
|
0
|
38
|
Sergeant
|
301
|
16
|
317
|
Corporal
|
708
|
32
|
740
|
Private
|
2,501
|
116
|
2,617
|
Total
|
3,869
|
200
|
4,069
|
The current effective strength (as of 31 March 2018) of the Reserve Defence Force is 1,777 personnel (1,653 Army Reserve and 124 Naval Service Reserve).
I am aware that there is a shortfall between these figures and those of the establishment. A recruitment campaign for both the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is currently taking place and will close on 4 June 2018. The 2017 recruitment campaign for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications. A total of 139 new recruits were inducted into the RDF in 2017 and in 2018, as of 14 May, a further 55 personnel were inducted.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the ongoing development of the RDF within the framework set out in the White Paper on Defence.