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Cyber military recruits will have a direct path into the British Armed Forces, outdated policies will be scrapped and 10-day conditional offers will be offered to recruits under an ambitious Defence overhaul in the United Kingdom.
UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey confirmed the plans during an address to the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on 23 September.
Under the changes, Healey called for a new direct route for cyber military recruits to join the military, in particular aimed at “top gamers or coders”.
He also proposed that new targets be set to assist the UK’s recruitment crisis such as requirements for the military reject or make a conditional offer within 10 days and to give people a training start date within 30 days.
In addition, Healey outlined concerns of around 100 outdated policies that had previously blocked potential recruits from joining – which would now be scrapped. Some of these policies reportedly barred those suffering from hay fever, eczema or acne.
“The first duty of this (Labour) party in government is to defend the country and keep our citizens safe. War in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, growing Russian aggression. We know these are serious times,” Healey said during the address to the conference.
“We know there are serious problems, with our Armed Forces hollowed out and underfunded over the last 14 years. And the problems, the problems the Tories have left, are much worse than we thought.
“As Defence Secretary, I know this myself, ships without enough sailors to crew them, military housing with no running water, defence plans with billion-pound blackholes and yet, despite everything the Tories did, the total commitment of civilian staff, industry workers, service personnel to defend this nation, remains undiminished.
“I say to them on behalf of us all, we are proud your professionalism, we’re proud of your dedication. Thank you for everything you do.
“Conference, I stood here last year and I promised that Britain will be better defended with Labour. Now, in government we’re getting on with the job. We’ve increased UK support for Ukraine, we’ve dedicated Britain to securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, we’ve launched a strategic defence review to fix the foundations of our defence for the future.
“We can’t solve the problems all at once. We can begin the change. And we have. Legislating for a new Armed Forces commissioner to improve service life, confirming we’ll set new minimum standards for military housing, delivering the largest pay rise to the Armed Forces in over 20 years. So that now, for the first time, a Defence secretary can say everyone in uniform will be paid at least the national living wage.
“Conference, you hear some say, young people today don’t want to serve their country. I know this is wrong. Over the last 10 years, more than a million, more than a million applied to join the forces. Yet three in four gave up. Gave up on the process. Because it takes months and it’s tied up in red tape.
“We will always maintain the highest standards. And we will create an Armed Forces that draws the very best of British talent. Better fit to fight. Better reflecting the country they defend.”
In addition, Healey committed the UK government to increase Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP and pledged to spend £3 billion in military support each year for Ukraine.
This story was originally published on Cyber Daily's sister publication, Defence Connect.
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