Ministry of Defence to Pilot Gap Year–Style Scheme for Under-25s Starting March 2026
The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to pilot a gap year–style scheme for young people under 25, with about 150 recruits starting in March 2026. The pilot placements will be paid and last for two years, although the payment amount has not been disclosed.
The scheme aims to impart transferable skills without requiring participants to remain in the armed forces after completion, and they will not be deployed to active operations. The Army component includes 13 weeks of basic training as part of a two-year placement, while the Royal Navy plans to run a one-year profession-agnostic program. Options for the Royal Air Force (RAF) are still being explored.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated the scheme will expose young people to skills and training across the Army, Royal Navy, and RAF. Following the pilot, the plan is to expand the programme to more than 1,000 participants annually.
This initiative replaces the previous Army internship scheme, formerly known as gap year commissions, which had a very low uptake with only 10 enrollees in 2024/25. These prior placements lasted one year and were typically arranged around university.
The UK government plans to draw inspiration from Australia's gap-year model, which enrolled 664 people in 2023, with just over half subsequently moving to permanent roles. The inclusion of shorter-term options is anticipated to increase appeal to women and Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
