UK considers paid military “gap years” to draw young people into defence

Teenagers in the United Kingdom could soon be offered paid “gap years” with the armed forces as part of a new “whole of society” approach to national defence, aimed at boosting recruitment among young people.

According to the London-based i Paper, the plan is being developed by the UK Ministry of Defence, which hopes the scheme will make military service more appealing to a generation that might not otherwise consider it.

If approved, the programme would initially take around 150 applicants aged 18 to 25 from early 2026, before potentially expanding to more than 1,000 participants a year, depending on demand, British radio station LBC reported.

The idea comes as European governments increasingly look to national service-style programmes to bolster defence readiness. France, Germany and Belgium have all announced similar initiatives this year.

Participants in the UK scheme would not be sent on active combat deployments. While exact pay levels have not been confirmed, LBC reported that salaries are expected to match those of basic recruits, typically around £26,000 ($35,000) a year.

Under current proposals, army recruits would complete 13 weeks of basic training as part of a two-year placement. The navy’s version would last one year, while the Royal Air Force is still finalising its approach.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey framed the idea as part of a broader shift in thinking.

“This is a new era for Defence, and that means opening up new opportunities for young people,” he told the i Paper.

The government has already signalled a long-term shift in priorities, announcing plans to raise defence and security spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035.