130 OT Citizens Serving In British Armed Forces
As of 1 April 2018, there were 130 British Overseas Territory Citizens serving in the regular trained strength of the British Armed Forces.
This was stated in yesterday’s sitting of the British Parliament, when Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie asked the Secretary of State for Defence, “with reference to his news release of 5 November Armed Forces to step up Commonwealth recruitment, whether the lifting of the five-year residency in the UK requirement for applicants who wish to serve in the armed forces will apply also to citizens of UK Overseas Territories.”
In response, the Minister of State for Defence Mark Lancaster said, “British Overseas Territories Citizens [BOTC] have never been subject to the five year UK residency criteria which has been removed for citizens of Commonwealth member countries.
“BOTC have one of six types of British nationality which already makes them eligible to apply to join the British Armed Forces, and they serve as part of the British cohort. As at 1 April 2018, there were 130 BOTC serving in the Regular trained strength of the British Armed Forces.
“However, for security reasons the Armed Forces continue to have UK residency criteria to ensure the appropriate security standards which all applicants are required to meet. This will vary depending on the Service and role being applied for and applications are considered on a case by case basis.”
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