RECRUITS IN 2008

For those of any age who joined the Army between January 1st 2008 and August 6th 2008 the minimum service is four years. Three years from the date of joining, that is in 2011, they can give twelve months notice. That means they can leave in 2012.

The earliest date of release for those who joined between January 1st and August 6th may be up to two years earlier than those who joined outside these dates at the age of sixteen.

When the change to minimum service was announced in January 2008, it was thought that this was a long awaited reform to the harsh contracts for the younger recruits which we in AT EASE call “the six year trap”. However, later in the year the MOD decided it was a clerical error and reverted to the old rule whereby soldiers have to serve a minimum four years from their eighteenth birthday or date of joining, whichever is longer.

However, because the rules cannot be retrospective, those who joined under the age of eighteen years between January 1st 2008 and August 6th 2008 can give twelve months notice after three years service.

For further help or information, contact us. Since 1974 we have been a free, independent and confidential advisory service for people in the Armed Forces. We do not need your name or number to be able to help you.