![\"Dramatic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_281774631-dc1a.jpg\")
\n\t\tOnly around 184,000 soldiers are currently serving in the British Armed Forces (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tOnly around 184,000 soldiers are currently serving in the British Armed Forces (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n
The whereabouts of thousands of military veterans who would be called to service if the UK entered a conflict are currently unknown.<\/p>\n
Former NATO chief George Robertson said the Ministry of Defence<\/a> doesn\u2019t know where \u2018most\u2019 of the estimated 95,000 soldiers and officers are.<\/p>\n \u2018What the review talks about is having the strategic reserve, that is, all of the people in this room who\u2019ve been in the forces who have got a continuing obligation,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \u2018But the Ministry of Defence at the present moment doesn\u2019t even know where most of them are. So we need to sort of round up those who are available and fit and willing to be able to do it.\u2019<\/p>\n Military law states that all former veterans \u2013 including officers, regular and reserve \u2013 can be called back to the military during their lives.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Currently, the MoD keeps track of veterans\u2019 whereabouts through annual reporting letters, sent on the anniversary of their discharge.<\/p>\n But records for a large part of the military who left the service more than six years ago are not updated, leaving the whereabouts of thousands unknown.<\/p>\n \t\t A MoD spokesperson told Metro: \u2018We recognise the importance of the Strategic Reserve, which is why we are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review through our Armed Forces Bill.<\/p>\n \u2018The Bill will expand our pool of Reserves by increasing the maximum age limit for recall, enabling seamless transfer between regular and reserve forces and giving the Defence Secretary power to authorise recall for warlike operations.<\/p>\n \u2018We are also constantly improving our data and communicating with our Strategic Reserve community to mobilise talent rapidly when it matters most.\u2019<\/p>\n The UK does have manpower, but worries about preparedness in case of the worst possible scenario are increasing.<\/p>\n Out of a population of more than 68,000,000, only 25,074,962 Brits are fit for service in the military. Currently, around 184,000 are serving actively.<\/p>\n In April last year, active servicemen in the British Army<\/a> fell to the lowest number since 1793 at just under 74,000 soldiers.<\/p>\n \t\t Some 32,000 are serving in the Royal Navy and Marines, with around 30,000 in the Royal Air Force<\/a>,\u00a0The Week reported.<\/a><\/p>\n In another damning report, a simulation of a European war showed that the British Army would run out of ammunition in only ten days.<\/p>\n Dr Robert Johnson of Oxford University<\/a> mentioned in the report that the UK is still falling short of its \u2018claimed leadership position\u2019.<\/p>\n He said the UK \u2018simply does not have the mass, let alone the munitions, at the moment to do the job\u2019 of helping to defend Europe and NATO.<\/p>\n Despite this, the UK ranks sixth overall in the global ranking \u2013 15th for airpower, 31st in fleet strength and 55th for land power behind Nato members Germany<\/a>, Spain<\/a>, Poland<\/a> and Romania.<\/p>\n This year, MPs also slammed the MoD\u2019s procurement processes, saying the slow delivery of new systems caused gaps in military capability.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"OTTERBURN,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_282982462-fe75.jpg\")
\n\t\tWorries of preparedness in case of an attack have grown in recent years (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Dramatic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_281774530-c1b1.jpg\")
\n\t\tSoldiers who previously served are unable to be located, he claimed (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n
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