A year-long trial with selected units will see those held at 12 to 24 hours’ notice to move for seven continuous days automatically get an extra £3.34 per day. Those on up to 12 hours’ notice for longer than 48 hours will get £8.11.
Once the qualifying threshold is reached, payments are backdated to day one. Troops involved in the trial include EOD specialists, regiments on standby for UK resilience duties and elements of the 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team.
Recent statistics show the army’s overall size dropped by one per cent last year, with around 9,000 leaving – most of those voluntarily.
Evidence gathered by the armed forces pay review body found that time on standby was a source of frustration, with personnel often unable to commit to family events or childcare.
Lt Col Chris Hitchins, CO of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, said his soldiers were “immensely proud” of their role at the forefront of airborne ops, but the tasking came at a cost.
“The demands and uncertainty placed on those maintaining high-readiness commitments, routinely for periods of 12 months, significantly restrict personal flexibility and life planning,” he said. “The proposed readiness allowance is a recognition of these sacrifices.”
For more info on the trial read 2025DIN01-058.
