The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve and the Second Line Reserve, which encompasses the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
The Military authorities have advised that as of 31 January 2026,the strength of First Line Reserve (FLR) stood at 204 personnel. The breakdown is set out in the below table:
|
|
Establishment*
|
Total Strength
|
Vacancies
|
|
Army
|
NIL
|
66
|
N/A
|
|
Naval Service
|
NIL
|
123
|
N/A
|
|
Air Corps
|
NIL
|
15
|
N/A
|
*There is no CS4 establishment for the First Line Reserve.
Furthermore, the Military Authorities have advised that the Second line Reserve (SLR) stood at 1,607 personnel, as set out in the table below:
|
|
Establishment
|
Total Strength
|
Vacancies
|
|
Army Reserve
|
3,869
|
1473
|
2396
|
|
Naval Service Reserve
|
200
|
134
|
66
|
|
Air Corps Reserve**
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
**There is currently no Air Corps Reserve. A future Air Force Reserve is being considered by dedicated Defence Force design teams.
In terms of training, the Joint Induction Training Syllabus was introduced in 2024. This is the foundational training syllabus for Army and Naval Service Reservists. The training is delivered across midweek training evenings, weekend training days and a two-week full-time training period. The syllabus takes 9-12 months to deliver on completion of which the Reservist is qualified as a 2 Star Army Private or an Ordinary rating in the Naval Service Reserve.
Table C below provides breakdown of Resignations/Discharges from 2021 - 2025:
|
Resignations/Discharges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
|
Officer Retirements
|
11
|
17
|
11
|
15
|
3
|
|
Enlisted Personnel Discharged
|
113
|
83
|
126
|
155
|
135
|
|
Total
|
124
|
100
|
137
|
170
|
138
|
The Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) does not hold data on exit interviews of Reservists. The ORA are not aware of any training backlogs relating to the RDF.
Personal kit and equipment is issued as required and commensurate with the training being undertaken. The ORA are not aware of any deficiencies specifically relating to the RDF in the regard.
