The jobs over 60s ‘will be doing’ if Keir Starmer calls them into WW3 | UK | News
An academic and former paratrooper has identified what roles over-60s could take on if called into combat. Last month the Government announced plans to raise the upper age limit for the strategic reserve to 65; This means that the potential for people over 60 to be drafted into the military is now real.
The Strategic Reserve consists of a pool of former service personnel who have legal responsibility to train, call to duty, and take action in times of crisis. Announcing the plans, the Ministry of Defense claimed the move allowed them to increase “the pool of skilled ex-military personnel called upon in crises as it strengthens the UK’s preparedness”. Former Parachute Regiment Major Andrew Fox, 46, who served in the British Army for 16 years in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and the Middle East, believes there is a logic to this measure.
He said: “If this happens there will obviously be huge problems with modernity and skills currency.
“Modern military equipment has improved significantly, but can former senior officers add value to a planning team? Absolutely.
“In reality, they will do specialized work in the rear. They will not fix bayonets and charge enemy trenches.”
The Ministry of Defense said the decision would allow it to increase the pool of individuals who “can provide significant expertise in cyber, medical, intelligence and communications.”
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Currently, terms of strategic responsibility vary among veterans depending on a wide variety of factors.
In addition to increasing the upper age limit, the policy will also aim to standardize the terms of liability of former service personnel.
Lieutenant General Paul Griffiths, Commander, Standing Joint Command, who is leading the UK’s efforts to ensure we are ready to combat the growing threat, said:
“As the threat to our country grows, we must ensure that our Armed Forces can draw on the numbers and skills required to combat this threat.
“I fully support these measures, which will provide us with the widest possible pool of experienced staff in times of crisis.
“Our Strategic Reserve represents a wealth of expertise based on years of military and civilian experience, from cyber and intelligence to medicine and communications.
“These reforms will allow us to rapidly mobilize these capabilities when it matters most, strengthening our readiness and aligning with the similar approach taken by many NATO forces to increase their own resilience.”
