{"value":{"id":1920403,"askingMemberId":4519,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2026-06-25T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2026-06-30T00:00:00","uin":"13182","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there is a formal target for the length of service for personnel in the (a) British Army, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines.","answeringBodyId":11,"answeringBodyName":"Ministry of Defence","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":true,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":5054,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2026-07-03T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>There is no formal length of service target for personnel in the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines or the Royal Air Force (RAF).</p><p> </p><p>The British Army has minimum service periods for officers (three years) and soldiers (four years).</p><p>For Ratings, the Royal Navy has a Return of Service of three and a half years post joining the Training Strength. For Officers, Returns of Service are for periods between three and seven years depending on their branch.</p><p>RAF initial engagements or commissions normally start at six or 12 years.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Armed Forces: Length of Service","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1920403","method":"GET"}]}