Public poll on minimum age of armed forces recruitment
July 2018
Three-quarters of people believe the minimum recruitment age for the British army should be raised from 16 to 18.
The nationwide survey found 72% of people who expressed a view believed young people should not be able to join the army until they are 18.
One in 10 said they believed the minimum age should be 21, according to the ICM survey.
The youngest age group surveyed (18-24-year-olds) were among those who thought recruitment should start from at least 18 years of age. 75% of 18-24-year-olds, excluding those who said ‘don’t know’, think recruitment should start from 18, compared with only 68% of 55-64-year-olds who expressed a preference.
