Tri-Service Reserves Survey 2024

The results of a Ministry of Defence survey into satisfaction with various aspects of being a member of the Volunteer Reserves have been published.

The Reserves Continuous Attitude Survey (ResCAS) is a Tri-Service annual survey of Volunteer Reservists and is one of the main ways that the department gathers information on the attitudes and experiences of Reservists. The data is used to inform and shape decisions and policy development in a range of areas including remuneration, training, equipment, support, and Conditions of Service (COS).

Key Points and Trends

Reserves continue to have high levels of satisfaction with Service life but overall satisfaction is at its lowest point since ResCAS began.

Seven in ten Volunteer Reserves are satisfied with Service life in general (70%), which is lower than satisfaction levels in every year since this question was first asked in 2015. This is a decrease of 5 percentage points since last year, and has largely been driven by satisfaction amongst Army Reserves. Whilst satisfaction in the RAF Reserves has remained stable since 2022 at 71%, there has been an increase in satisfaction with Service life compared to last year for Maritime Reserves (up to 75% from 64%).

Figure 1: Satisfied: Satisfaction with life in the [Service] Reserve in general by Service

Figure 1 shows satisfaction with life in general in the Reserves by Service. All three Services have similar levels of satisfaction with Service life in general.

Satisfaction with Reserve Pay continues to sit at its lowest level since 2015 and down 14 percentage points since 2021.

Despite remaining stable since last year, satisfaction with Reserve pay sits at 43%, its lowest level since ResCAS began in 2015. This is down 14 percentage points since 2021 (57%).

Figure 2: Satisfied: Satisfaction with Reserve Service pay each year since 2015

Figure 2 shows a line chart showing satisfaction in Reserves service pay each year since 2015. Satisfaction peaked at 57% in 2021 after a period of stability, and his since decreased to 43% in 2024.

Reserves are responding more positively to many areas of Reserve Service compared to 2015 baseline.

Since the 2015 baseline survey, the top three areas of increase across all three Services are civilian employers valuing the Reserve Service, the use of the skills gained through military experience in civilian employment and feeling that being a Reservist is good for civilian careers.

Figure 3: Agree: My main civilian employer values my Reserve Service, I use skills gained through my military experience in my civilian employment and Being a Reservist is good for my civilian career against the baseline year.

Figure 3 shows the increase in those reporting these measures compared to the baseline year of 2015. Main civilian employers valuing the Reserve Service saw the biggest increase since the base year, increasing fom 50% in 2015 to 59% in 2024.