Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision as to terms and conditions of service for other ranks in the regular army. These Regulations revoke and re-enact with amendments the Army Terms of Service Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/1365) as amended. The following changes of substance in respect of enlistment in the regular army are made by these Regulations.

Regulation 5 makes provision for enlistment on a versatile engagement. Regulation 5(1) provides for a term of 12 years’ service from the date of enlistment, subject to the exception in regulation 5(2) which allows the competent military authorities to approve corps to enlist persons directly for a term of either 24 or 30 years. Paragraphs (3) to (9) of regulation 5 set out the circumstances in which a person’s service can be extended on a versatile engagement beyond a term of 12, 24 or 30 years. Regulation 5(10) sets out the manner in which a person who has been selected for further service on a versatile engagement is to exercise an option to undertake such further service. The effect of regulation 5(11) is that a person, if selected under regulation 5(7), may opt to extend his service beyond a term of 30 years or the age of 55 under regulation 5(7) and (8) on more than one occasion.

Regulation 6 provides that a person who is not selected for further service on a versatile engagement beyond a term of 12 or 24 years may be allowed to continue in service for a further term of up to 2 years after the date on which his service would otherwise end.

The effect of the saving provision in regulation 19 is that a person in regular army service immediately before the commencement of these Regulations is not affected by them, except that he may be selected for a term of further service of equal duration to that available on a versatile engagement. If he exercises the option to undertake further service, under regulation 19(3) he will be treated as if he had enlisted on a versatile engagement for the relevant term.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been carried out for this instrument as it has no impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies.