§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of non-commissioned rank in each of the armed services over the past three years who, on completing 12 years' service, have left the service; how many applied to do a further 10 years; and how many were refused re-engagement.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information requested is set out in the following table:
1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Royal Navy†║ a. Number eligible to terminate service at 12 year point 156 163 240 b. Number who left Service 16 24 30 c. Number who applied to complete 22 years *n/a *n/a *n/a d. Numbers refused re-engagement *n/a *n/a *n/a e. Number re-engaged 140 139 210 Army‡ a. Number eligible to terminate service at 12 year point 3,921 4,810 4,591 b. Number who left Service 542 875 823 c. Number who applied to complete 22 years 3,471 4,187 4,007 d. Number refused re-engagement 92 252 239 e. Number re-engaged 3,379 3,935 3,768 Royal Air Force a. Number eligible to terminate service at 12 year point 2,110 1,813 1,379 b. Number who left the Service 870 680 593 c. Number who applied to complete 22 years 1,559 1,425 1,067 d. Number refused re-engagement 319 292 281 e. Number re-engaged 1,240 1,133 786 * No information is centrally available on numbers of applications and refusals for the Royal Navy † No 12 year engagement exists in the Royal Marines. ‡ No formal 12 year engagement exists in the Army. Servicemen enlisted since May 1972 do not have to apply to continue their service to the 22 year point.
Those enlisted prior to May 1972 who did not change to the new terms may exit at the 12 year point but otherwise are committed to a further 3 years service.
However, the Army may terminate a man's service under QR 9.413 at the 12 year point.
277W║ The details cover artificers (excluding old style "mechanicians"), communications technicians and medical technicians ie. Servicemen on 12 year engagements only.