wrans/answers2025-10-18 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-18 conversation_28

Emma Foody:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of early service leavers (a) were medically discharged and (b) left of their own volition in each service in each of the last five years. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Defence defines Early Service Leavers as personnel who exit before the end of their agreed engagement or contracted period. The following table refers to outflow following Phase 2 training, from the Trained (RN/RM and RAF) and Trade Trained (Army) UK Regular Forces, including personnel leaving the Services, deaths and recalled Reservists on release. It is not possible to identify the reasons why untrained personnel leave service early.

It should be noted that ‘Medically Discharged’ figures represent those who are suffering from a medical condition that pre-empts their continued service; ‘Voluntary Outflow’ encompasses all personnel who voluntarily exit before the end of their agreed engagement or contracted period, and ‘Other Service Leavers’ includes, but is not limited to, those that exit for reasons of discipline, unsuitability or other unspecified reasons. Figures do not include promotion from Ranks to Officers or flows between Services.

Number and Percentage of Early Service Leavers1 by Financial Year and Service from 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025

FY 2020-21

FY 2021-22

FY 2022-23

FY 2023-24

FY 2024-25

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Total

7,077

8,584

11,317

11,315

10,099

Medically Discharged

891

12.6%

1,021

11.9%

1,347

11.9%

1,750

15.5%

1,598

15.8%

Royal Navy/ Royal Marines

280

4.0%

410

4.8%

357

3.2%

370

3.3%

383

3.8%

Army

502

7.1%

484

5.6%

804

7.1%

1,157

10.2%

1,026

10.2%

Royal Air Force

109

1.5%

127

1.5%

186

1.6%

223

2.0%

189

1.9%

Voluntary Outflow

5,268

74.4%

5,978

69.6%

8,400

74.2%

8,101

71.6%

7,304

72.3%

Royal Navy/ Royal Marines

1,202

17.0%

1,348

15.7%

1,923

17.0%

1,695

15.0%

1,596

15.8%

Army

2,969

42.0%

3,480

40.5%

4,522

40.0%

4,652

41.1%

4,338

43.0%

Royal Air Force

1,097

15.5%

1,150

13.4%

1,955

17.3%

1,754

15.5%

1,370

13.6%

Other Early Leavers

918

13.0%

1,585

18.5%

1,570

13.9%

1,464

12.9%

1,197

11.9%

Notes:

Some of this information was obtained from records whose primary purpose is to ensure appropriate administration, with statistical analysis and reporting secondary functions, introducing time lag and impacting on the quality of data recorded.

Figures align with those found in the Service Personnel Statistics Publication (2025 collection found here: Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics: 2025 - GOV.UK), in particular Table 5d UK Regular Forces Trained/Trade Trained Outflow by Service and Exit Reason.

Defence Statistics release annual updates on medical discharges in the UK Armed Forces as an Official Statistic publication. The last statistical release was on 17 July 2025 which presented data up to 31 March 2025. The latest report can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-discharges-among-uk-service-personnel-statistics-index