Manning statistics for the Defence Medical Services (DMS) are updated twice a year, in April and October. The April 2009 data are currently being collated, but the following table summarises the October 2008 figures. This table provides the required manning level of the DMS, the additional requirement for a manning and training margin (MTM), and the total number of personnel, which has also been split between the trained strength and those in training.
Requirement MTMl Personnel trained strength Personnel in training2 Personnel total Royal Navy 1,311 211 1,328 248 1,576 Army 4,521 437 3,779 591 4,370 Royal Air Force 1,743 155 1583 75 1,658 Tri-service total 7,575 803 6,690 914 7,604 1 The MTM includes a margin of trained personnel to take account of non-effective trained personnel. Non effective personnel are those who are trained but on terminal leave, long term sickness or mid career training. It also includes personnel who are undergoing speciality training i.e. holding some qualifications but not yet fully accredited. Our manning figures do not separate these elements, and so the table simply details the total requirement and the two constituent groups of personnel into the categories trained and ‘in training’. 2 “Personnel in training” does not include personnel who are already trained in a medical speciality and who are in career directed professional training.
Tables providing the figures for each medical speciality, that show the requirement and the number of trained personnel, but not personnel in training, in each medical and dental personnel division of the armed forces as at October 2008, have been placed in the Library of the House.