LONDON, December 27. /TASS/. The British government plans to launch a paid military training program for school leavers in March 2026, during which they will be prepared to take part in armed conflicts. This was reported by i newspaper (part of the Daily Mail and General Trust media group) with reference to sources.
According to the publication, this program will be designed for graduates who decide to exercise their right to rest for a year before entering university. Typically, this time is used for further training, volunteering, traveling or earning money. To start, the British Ministry of Defense plans to recruit 150 new recruits under the age of 25 this way. However, the British military's plan, which is copying current plans in Australia, is more ambitious. They imply that in the future, up to 1 thousand people will be recruited into the armed forces annually in this way, i wrote.
As the article notes, such training, designed to last 13 weeks, would give young British men the opportunity to become familiar with military service without the obligation to join the army. Those who decide to stay in the armed forces will receive additional training and may be sent to participate in military operations.
The publication does not specify the amount of funding for this program or the payments, but writes that it was formed in a situation of threats, which, according to London, are believed to come from Russia.
In early December, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin, in an interview with Sky News, noted that statements by the kingdom's and European political leadership about the threat allegedly posed by Russia are cause for concern, as they increase the risk of conflict. Previously, the head of the diplomatic mission also pointed out that the strong words against Russia by representatives of the British government were aimed at distracting people's attention from accumulated socio-economic problems.
On June 2, the British government announced a strategic assessment of defense issues, in which Russia was identified as an “immediate and urgent threat” to London. In that context, the British government has confirmed that it will increase defense spending from the current 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and aims to increase this figure to 3% of GDP by 2034.
