Reserve Forces Act 1980

[F1 21A Postponement of discharge of members of Air Force Reserve during call out. U.K.

(1) Where a man of the Air Force Reserve is called out on permanent service at a time when he would apart from this section be entitled to be discharged he may be retained in service for such period as is mentioned below, and his service may be prolonged accordingly.

(2) No person shall be retained in service by virtue of this section later than the end of twelve months after the date on which apart from this section he would be entitled to be discharged.

(3) Subject to subsection (2) above, a person who apart from this section would be entitled to be discharged may be retained in service for such period as the competent air force authority may order.

(4) If while a man of the Air Force Reserve is being retained in service by virtue of this section it appears to the competent air force authority that his services can be dispensed with, he is entitled to be discharged.

(5) Where, at the time at which under subsections (1) to (4) above a man of the Air Force Reserve is entitled to be discharged, a state of war exists between Her Majesty and a foreign power–

(a) he may, by declaration made in the prescribed form before his commanding officer, agree to continue in service while such a state of war exists, and

(b) if the competent air force authority approve, he may continue accordingly as if the period for which his term of service could be prolonged under subsections (1) to (4) above were a period continuing so long as a state of war exists;

but this is subject to subsection (6) below.

(6) If it is so specified in the declaration, he is entitled to be discharged at the end of three months’ notice given by him to his commanding officer.

(7) [F2 In subsections (3) to (5)—

• “the competent air force authority” means the Defence Council or any officer of a description prescribed by regulations of the Defence Council;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations of the Defence Council.]

(8) Subject to subsection (9) below, in subsection (1) above the reference to a man of the Air Force Reserve being called out on permanent service is a reference to his being called out under an order made under–

(a) section 52 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (call out in the event of a national emergency, great danger or an actual or apprehended attack on the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man), or

(b) section 54 of the 1996 Act (call out because warlike operations are in preparation or in progress).

(9) In relation to a man of the Air Force Reserve who enlisted in the Air Force Reserve before 1st April 1967, the reference to a man of the Air Force Reserve being called out on permanent service includes a reference to his being called out under an order under section 54 of the 1996 Act only if–

(a) he re-engaged in the Air Force Reserve on or after that date, or

(b) he has made an irrevocable election to that effect in the prescribed manner.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 21A inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/3086, reg. 11, Sch. para. 7(2)

F2 S. 21A(7) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 7; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4