What Happened
Ministry of Defence Fails to Maintain Records of Strategic Reserve
The Ministry of Defence has lost track of military veterans they intend to recall at a time of national danger, according to a key government adviser. About 95,000 former soldiers and officers are in the strategic reserve, but officials have failed to maintain a full record of their contact details. The issue was highlighted by George Robertson, a former defence secretary and head of Nato, who co-authored last year’s strategic defence review. The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to address the issue, including increasing the maximum age for military recall from 55 to 65. This development was first reported by The Guardian.