HC Deb 14 February 1994 vol 237 cc637-9W
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the latest available figures for each service, by rank and length of service, of applications for premature voluntary release, together with any available information on the reasons given.

Mr. Hanley

The breakdown by rank and service of the numbers of applications for premature voluntary release in

Applications for premature voluntary release in the 12 months ended 1 October 1993
NATO rank code1 Royal Naval Services Army Royal Air Force
Officers
OF7 2
OF6 7 3
OF5 2 21 11
OF4 9 36 15
OF3 23 58 38
OF2 25 82 58
OF1/OD 15 7
TOTAL 59 219 134
Non-Commissioned Personnel
OR9 32 44 50

the 12 months ended 1 October 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, is given in the table. Details of the length of service of applicants for premature voluntary release could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The reasons most frequently give for asking to leave prematurely are:

  • Civilian job offer
  • Disillusionment with service life
  • Lack of opportunities for promotion
  • Family/compassionate reasons

NATO rank code1 Royal Naval Services Army Royal Air Force
OR8 1 65
OR7 273 78 105
OR6 207 196 125
OR4 285 685 164
OR3 1,229
OR2/OR1 892 3,369 679
TOTAL 1,690 5,666 1,123
1 NATO Rank Codes equate to United Kingdom Service Designations as shown in the following table.

NATO Rank Codes equaling to United Kingdom Service Designations
Royal Naval Services
NATO rank code Royal Navy Royal Marines Army Royal Air Force
OF–7 Rear Admiral Major General Major General Air Vice Marshall
OF–6 Commodore Brigadier Brigadier Air Commodore
OF–5 Captain Colonel/Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Group Captain
OF–4 Commander Major Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander
OF–3 Lieutenant Commander Captain Major Squadron Leader
OF–2 Lieutenant Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant
OF–1 Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant Flying Officer/Pilot Officer
OF(D) Officer Designate Officer Designate Officer Designate Officer Designate
OR–9 Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer
OR–8 Warrant Officer Class 2 Warrant Officer Class 2
OR–7 Chief Petty Officer Colour Sergeant Staff Sergeant Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician
OR–6 Petty Officer Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant
OR–4 Leading Rate Corporal Corporal Corporal
OR–3 Lance Corporal
OR–2 Able Rate Marine (1st Class) Private (Classes 1 to 3) Junior Technician/ Senior Aircraftman/ Leading Aircraftman
OR–1 Ordinary Rate/Junior Marine (2nd Class)/Junior Private (Class 4)/Junior Aircraftman

NATO rank code (Officers) QARNNS NATO rank code (Non-commissioned personnel) QARNNS
OF–6 Commandant Nursing Officer OR–9 Warrant Officer RGN/Warrant Officer EN(G)
OF–5 Principal Nursing Officer OR–7 Chief RGN/Chief EN(G)
OF–4 Chief Nursing Officer OR–6 Petty Officer RGN/Petty Officer EN(G)
OF–3 Superintending Nursing Officer OR–4 Leading RGN/Leading EN(G)
OF–2 Senior Nursing Officer OR–2 Student Nurse/Pupil Nurse EN(G)
OF–1 Nursing Officer OR–1 Probationary Nurse

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