UK senior army officer welcomes new measures to recall veterans

LONDON, Jan 15 (KUNA) -- Commander of the Standing Joint Command Lt.-Gen Paul Griffiths welcomed on Thursday a new bill to recall older army veterans and raise the maximum age of recall from 55 to 65, measures seen as a plan to meet threats and challenges.
The Armed Forces Bill reforming the strategic reserve would provide a "wealth of expertise" from veterans, he said.
"As the threat to our nation grows, we must ensure our armed forces can draw on the numbers and skills required to meet it," stated Griffiths, adding, "I fully support these measures, which will give us the widest possible pool of experienced personnel to call upon in times of crisis." The legislation, introduced to the House of Commons on Thursday, will take effect in Spring of 2027.
Recently, the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for strengthening Arctic defenses against Russia, a statement that mirrors the UK plans to boost its military capabilities against nations deemed as a threat to its security. (end) gta.gb