The following table shows the number of 16 and 17-year-olds that were recruited into each service of the UK regular armed forces1 in the financial years 2002-03 and 2007-08.
16 17 16 17 16 17 16 17 2002-03 4,430 5,035 585 970 3,600 3,330 245 735 2007-08 12,575 13,405 1280 1550 12,200 12,550 195 1305 1 Provisional. Source: DASA Quad-Service.
Armed forces personnel are not allocated to units for military duties until they have completed training. The number of trained UK regular armed forces1 personnel under the age of 18 as at 1 April 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008 is shown in the following table.
1 UK Regular Forces includes all trained and untrained personnel. Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve personnel, and mobilised reservists are excluded.
As at 1 April: All services Naval service Army RAF 2002 1,060 205 755 100 2003 1,190 255 830 100 2007 1770 85 1675 10 2008 1640 1110 1515 110 1 Provisional. Note: Due to ongoing validation of data from the joint personnel administration system, all Naval service flow statistics for 12-month periods ending 31 October 2006 onwards, and Naval service strength statistics from 1 May 2007 are provisional and subject to review. All Army flow statistics for 12-month periods ending 31 March 2007 onwards and strength statistics from 1 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review. All RAF flow statistics for 12-month periods ending 30 April 2007 onwards and strength statistics from 1 May 2007 are provisional and subject to review. Source: DASA Quad-Service.
The Government have made a clear commitment to take all feasible measures to ensure that those who had not yet reached the age of 18 did not take a direct part in hostilities.