Armed Forces Recruitment

Under 18 year olds in the Armed Forces

News Release - 11 January 2011 - Quakers push for recruitment age to be raised

News Release - 16 May 2011 - Quakers seek care for young army recruits

The UK armed forces continue to recruit young people at the age of 16. The UK is currently the only European country to continue to recruit at this age.

Although sixteen year olds cannot generally have contracts enforced against them; are too young to drive a car; drink in a pub or marry without their parents consent, on joining the army they commit themselves for a period of four years beyond their eighteenth birthday.

After an initial cooling off period they are not free to leave as of right and are subject to a compulsion that is unknown in any other employment or apprenticeship.