The U.K. is launching a paid military “gap year” aimed at young people unsure about their future. Set to begin in March 2026, the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will offer recent secondary grads and adults under 25-years-old a year of training across the Army, Royal Navy, or Royal Air Force. And no long-term commitment required, unlike typical military enlistment. The government plans to start with 150 recruits, scaling to over 1K based on engagement. Participants won’t be sent on active operations; instead, the focus is on transferable skills like logistics, engineering, problem-solving, and leadership. The program is inspired by Australia’s long-running ADF Gap Year scheme and comes as part of Britain’s broader push for a “whole of society” approach to defense, especially as enlistment has been down. (CNN)
