Search Legislation

Reserve Forces Act 1980

Changes to legislation:

Reserve Forces Act 1980 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 21 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

    1. Naval and marine reserves

      1. 1..

      2. 2..

      3. 3. Royal Marines Reserve.

    2. Army reserves and auxiliaries

      1. 4. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

      2. 5. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

      3. 6. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

      4. 7. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

    3. Air force reserves and auxiliaries

      1. 8. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

      2. 9. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces

  3. Part II Call Out and Recall

    1. General provisions as to call out for permanent service

      1. 10. Call out for national danger.

      2. 11.(1) A person to whom this section applies shall be...

      3. 12. Call Out and Recall

      4. 13. Provisions supplemental to ss. 10 to 12.

    2. Call out under special agreement

      1. 14. Call Out and Recall

      2. 15. Call Out and Recall

    3. Other provisions as to call out for service

      1. 16. Permanent service call out of naval and marine reserves.

      2. 17. Naval and marine reserve service under ss. 10 and 16.

      3. 18. Permanent service call out of Regular Reserve .

      4. 19. Duration of Regular Reserve permanent service.

      5. 19A. Postponement of discharge of members of Regular Reserve during call out.

      6. 20. Permanent service call out of Air Force Reserve.

      7. 21. Duration of Air Force Reserve permanent service.

      8. 21A. Postponement of discharge of members of Air Force Reserve during call out.

      9. 22.(1) Every officer and man of the Army Reserve and...

      10. 23. .

      11. 24. Permanent service call out of Ulster Defence Regiment.

      12. 25. Emergency service call out of Ulster Defence Regiment.

      13. 25A. Application of section 62 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996

    4. Call-out notices under certain enactments

      1. 26.(1) The power of the Secretary of State under section...

      2. 27..

      3. 28. Differing service liabilities of those called out.

      4. 29. End of service under call-out notices.

      5. 29A. Application of provisions relating to recall

    5. Recall of service pensioners and former soldiers

      1. 30. Liability of naval and marine pensioners to recall.

      2. 31. Liability of army and air force pensioners to recall.

      3. 32. Occasion for and period of recall under s. 31.

      4. 33. Call Out and Recall

      5. 34. Liability of certain former soldiers to recall.

      6. 35. Recall notices

      7. 36. Application of sections 71, 73 to 75 and 77 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to persons recalled under section 30, 31 or 34

      8. 36A. Application of Part X of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to persons liable to recall under section 30, 31 or 34

    6. Call out for training

      1. 37. Call Out and Recall

      2. 38. Regular Reserve , Air Force Reserve and Army Reserve training.

      3. 39. Application of s. 38.

      4. 40. Preliminary training of Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

      5. 41. Annual training of Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

      6. 42. Variation and cancellation of training periods for Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

      7. 42A. Application of section 23 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996

      8. 43. Call Out and Recall

      9. 44. Requirement as to training of Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland.

  4. Part III Naval and Marine Reserves

    1. Officers of reserve to the Royal Navy

      1. 45. Naval and Marine Reserves

      2. 46. Naval and Marine Reserves

    2. General provisions as to the naval and marine reserves

      1. 47. False answers on enlistment.

      2. 48. Void enlistment in Royal Marines or regular army .

      3. 49. Naval and Marine Reserves

      4. 50. Term of service in Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Fleet Reserve.

      5. 51. Naval and Marine Reserves

      6. 52. Naval and Marine Reserves

      7. 53. Naval and Marine Reserves

      8. 54. Naval and Marine Reserves

      9. 55. Admission to Greenwich Hospital.

      10. 56. Naval and Marine Reserves

    3. Special class of Royal Fleet Reserve

      1. 57. Special class of Royal Fleet Reserve.

      2. 58. Transfers to Royal Fleet Resreve.

    4. Pay, pensions and other payments in respect of naval and marine reserves

      1. 59. Naval and Marine Reserves

      2. 60. Naval and Marine Reserves

      3. 61. Naval and Marine Reserves

  5. Part IV Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

    1. Regular Reserve

      1. 62. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      2. 63. Exercise of powers vested in military office holder.

      3. 64. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      4. 65. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

    2. Air Force Reserve

      1. 66. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      2. 67. Exercise of powers vested in air force officer holder.

      3. 68. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      4. 69. Special reservist called out for permanent service.

      5. 70. Special reservist called out for special courses, etc.

    3. Enlistment in Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      1. 71. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      2. 72..

    4. Offences

      1. 73. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      2. 74. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      3. 75. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      4. 76. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      5. 77. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      6. 78..

      7. 79. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      8. 80. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      9. 81. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

    5. Miscellaneous

      1. 82. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      2. 83. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      3. 84. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      4. 85. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      5. 86. Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve

      6. 87. Interpretation of Part IV.

  6. Part V Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

    1. Government, discipline and pay of Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      1. 88. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      2. 89. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      3. 90. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      4. 91. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      5. 92. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      6. 93. Exercise of powers of military and air force office holders.

    2. Enlistment

      1. 94. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      2. 95. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      3. 96..

      4. 97..

    3. Discharge

      1. 98. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      2. 99. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      3. 100. Postponement of discharge: Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

      4. 101. Postponement of discharge: Army Reserve .

      5. 102. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

    4. Additional provisions as to call-out

      1. 103. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      2. 104. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      3. 105. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

    5. Offences

      1. 106. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      2. 107..

      3. 108. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      4. 109. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      5. 110. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      6. 111. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      7. 112. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      8. 113. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      9. 114. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      10. 115. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      11. 116. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

    6. Miscellaneous

      1. 117. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      2. 118. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      3. 119. Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force

      4. 120. Service of notices for Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

  7. Part VI Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

    1. Army and air force associations

      1. 121. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      2. 122. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      3. 123. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      4. 124. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      5. 125. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      6. 126. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      7. 127. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      8. 128. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      9. 129. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

    2. The lieutenancies

      1. 130. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      2. 131. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      3. 132. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      4. 133. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      5. 134. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      6. 135. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      7. 136. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      8. 137. Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations, and the Lieutenancies

      9. 138. Commissioners of lieutenancy for City of London.

  8. Part VII Ulster Defence Regiment

    1. Membership of Ulster Defence Regiment

      1. 139. Enrolment, re-engagement and resignation.

      2. 140. Orders and regulations as to pensions and other grants .

    2. Military status of members of Ulster Defence Regiment

      1. 141. Membership of armed forces and application of military law.

      2. 142. Application of Army Act.

    3. Offences

      1. 143. Failure to attend or comply.

      2. 144. Assistance in desertion, etc.

  9. Part VIII Miscellaneous and Supplemental

    1. Reinstatement in civil employment, and protection of other civil interests

      1. 145. Reinstatement in civil employment.

      2. 146. Protection of other civil interests.

    2. Charitable property on disbanding of units

      1. 147. Miscellaneous and Supplemental

      2. 148. Miscellaneous and Supplemental

      3. 149. Miscellaneous and Supplemental

    3. Further powers as to orders and regulations

      1. 150. Miscellaneous and Supplemental

      2. 151. Pensions and other grants under Home Guard Act 1951 c. 8.

      3. 152..

    4. Other provisions as to orders, schemes and regulations

      1. 153. Miscellaneous and Supplemental

      2. 154. Additional provisions as to Orders in Council and schemes.

      3. 155. Amendment of subordinate legislation.

    5. Other supplemental provisions

      1. 156. Interpretation.

      2. 157. Saving and transitional provisions, consequential amendments and repeals.

      3. 158. Citation, extent and commencement.

  10. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      1. Special agreements

        1. 1.(1) Any agreement for the purposes of section 14 above...

      2. Notices

        1. 2.(1) A notice to any person under section 14(1) above...

      3. Length of call out

        1. 3.(1) The term for which a person may be called...

      4. Calculation of length of service

        1. 4.If, in the case of any person, at the time...

        2. 5.In determining in the case of any person the end...

        3. 6.If, in the case of any such term as is...

      5. Special agreements and the Army Reserve

        1. 7.Any notice given by any person under section 98(1) above...

        2. 8.If the term of any person’s enlistment in the Army...

        3. 9.Where a member of the Army Reserve has been called...

      6. Application of the Army Act 1955

        1. 10.In the case of a person who does not for...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Army and Air Force Pensioners and other Former Soldiers not Liable to be Recalled for Service

      1. 1.A man in holy orders or a regular minister of...

      2. 2.A person who is receiving treatment for mental disorder as...

      3. 2A.A person registered as severely sight-impaired in a register kept...

      4. 3.A person certified to be registered as a blind person—...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      1. Enlistment

        1. 1.(1) A person offering to enlist shall be given a...

      2. Procedure on attestation

        1. 2.(1) The recruiting officer shall warn the person to be...

      3. Validity of attestation and enlistment

        1. 3.(1) Where a person has signed the declaration required by...

      4. False answers in attestation papers

        1. 4.(1) If a person appearing before a recruiting officer for...

      5. Evidence as to attestation papers

        1. 5.With respect to evidence in proceedings under Part IV or...

      6. Interpretation of Schedule 3

        1. 6.In this Schedule— “appropriate minimum age” means the age of...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      1. Arrest of deserters and absentees without leave

        1. 1.(1) A constable may arrest any person whom he has...

      2. Proceedings before a civil court where persons suspected of illegal absence

        1. 2.(1) Where a person who is brought before a magistrates’...

      3. Deserters and absentees without leave surrendering to police

        1. 3.(1) Where in the United Kingdom or any colony a...

      4. Certificates of arrest or surrender of deserters and absentees

        1. 4.(1) Where a magistrates’ court in pursuance of paragraph 2...

      5. Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive deserters and absentees

        1. 5.(1) It shall be the duty of the governor of...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      1. General provisions as to evidence

        1. 1.(1) The following provisions of this paragraph shall have effect...

      2. Proof of outcome of civil trial

        1. 2.(1) Where a person subject to military law or to...

    7. SCHEDULE 7

      1. 1.A scheme for the constitution of an association shall provide—...

      2. 2.A scheme for the constitution of an association other than...

      3. 3.A scheme for the establishment of an association in Scotland...

      4. 4.A scheme for the constitution of an association established for...

      5. 5.A scheme for the constitution of an association may provide—...

      6. 6.A scheme shall provide that of the chairman and vice-chairmen...

      7. 7.A scheme may contain any consequential, supplemental, or transitory provisions...

      8. 8.(1) A scheme for the constitution of an association established...

    8. SCHEDULE 8

      Saving and Transitional Provisions

      1. General

        1. 1.References in paragraph (b) of section 17(2) of the Interpretation...

        2. 2.Where any period of time specified in an enactment repealed...

        3. 3.The repeal of an enactment by this Act does not...

        4. 4.A conviction for an offence under an enactment repealed by...

      2. Saving of amendments

        1. 5.(1) The amendments made— (a) by section 23(6) of, and...

      3. Permanent service in naval and marine reserves

        1. 6.Any reference in any enactment to actual service under section...

      4. Militia storehouses

        1. 7.(1) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of section 4...

      5. Enlistment in the Army Reserve or Royal Auxiliary Air Force prior to order or regulation under Auxiliary Forces Act 1953

        1. 8.Where a man— (a) is a member of the Army...

      6. Reserve of officers maintained under section 11(4) of Auxiliary Forces Act 1953

        1. 9.In relation to the Reserve Forces Act 1966—

      7. Transfers to reserve under Army Act and Air Force Act

        1. 10.. . . . . . . . . ....

      8. Modifications of other enactments

        1. 11.Without prejudice to section 152(2) above— (a) any reference in...

      9. Naval and Marine Reserves Pay Act 1957

        1. 12.Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of the references to—...

      10. The lieutenancies in England and Wales

        1. 13. Saving and Transitional Provisions

      11. The lieutenancies in Scotland

        1. 14. Saving and Transitional Provisions

      12. Permanent service call out of special class of Royal Fleet Reserve otherwise than under section 11

        1. 15.(1) Where section 11 above does not apply to a...

      13. Permanent service call out of Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve otherwise than under section 11

        1. 16. Saving and Transitional Provisions

      14. Call out for training of Regular Reserve and Air Force Reserve otherwise than under section 38

        1. 17.(1) Where section 38 above does not apply to a...

      15. Call out for training of Army Reserve otherwise than under section 38

        1. 18.(1) Where section 38 above does not apply to a...

      16. Election for section 38 to apply

        1. 19.A person who immediately before 1st January 1967 was a...

      17. Section 12 of Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1977

        1. 20.Where section 12 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...

    9. SCHEDULE 9

      CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

      1. ORDERS

        1. Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

          1. 19. CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

        2. Industrial Relations (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

          1. 20. CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

          2. 21. CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

    10. SCHEDULE 10.

      Repeals

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources