The move comes as the head of the British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders says the UK should take steps to place society on a war footing in the wake of Russian aggression.
Military chiefs are planning the biggest mass mobilisation exercise of Britain's Army reserve in 20 years in a move to evaluate the 'deployment readiness' of more than 10,000 'weekend warriors'.
The call will go out to all reserve units with a small number reporting to the Reserve Forces Mobilisation Centre in Chilwell, Nottingham and others being processed at their local Army Reserve centres. Read More Britain must DOUBLE its military spending to 'frighten Putin', ex-British Army chief warns - despite Rishi Sunak pledging defence cash boost Soldiers from specialist medical, infantry units and special forces reserves will be asked to volunteer for a six-month tour of duty - with commanders seeking to secure a reserve force of 10,000 ready to support the frontline Army if needed.
The Regular Army was cut several years ago from 82,500 to 73,000 and is currently listed as 75,170 as it reduces in size by 2025 - with many experts claiming the Army is too small to mount another Falklands War or similar mission. While there is no suggestion that the call-up of 'weekend warriors' is linked to the war in Ukraine General Sanders has been very clear about the growing threat facing the West from Russia
'We will not be immune and as the pre-war generation we must similarly prepare — and that is a whole-of-nation undertaking,' he said. 'Ukraine brutally illustrates that regular armies start wars; citizen armies win them.'
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