Armed Forces Act 2021

9 Reserve forces: flexibility of commitments

(1) Section 24 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (commitments to a period of full-time service) is amended as follows.

(2) In the heading, omit “full-time”.

(3) In subsection (1)—

(a) omit “(a “full-time service commitment”)”;

(b) omit “full-time” in the second place it occurs.

(4) After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) The period of service specified in a commitment under this section (whether originally, or by virtue of a variation under subsection (5)(a))—

(a) may be a period of full-time service;

(b) so far as orders or regulations under section 4 permit, may—

(i) be a period of service on a part-time basis, or

(ii) include one or more periods of service on a part-time basis as well as one or more periods of full-time service.

(1B) Orders or regulations under section 4 may enable a commitment under this section to contemplate periods of special or extended leave.”

(5) In subsection (2)—

(a) in paragraph (a), omit “full-time” in each place it occurs;

(b) in paragraph (c), for “full-time service” substitute “service under the commitment”.

(6) In subsection (3)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), for “full-time service commitment” substitute “commitment under this section”;

(b) in paragraph (a), for “full-time service” substitute “service under the commitment”;

(c) after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) must specify the place at which the person is to begin performing duties;”.

(7) In subsection (4)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), for “full-time service” substitute “service under a commitment under this section”;

(b) in paragraph (a), omit “concerned”.

(8) In subsection (5)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), for “full-time service commitment” substitute “commitment under this section”;

(b) in paragraph (b), omit “full-time”;

(c) in paragraph (c), omit “full-time”.

(9) In subsection (6), for “full-time service” substitute “service under a commitment under this section”.

(10) In subsection (7)—

(a) in the words before paragraph (a), for “full-time service” substitute “service under a commitment under this section”;

(b) in paragraph (a), for “full-time service” substitute “service under the commitment”;

(c) in paragraph (b)—

(i) omit “full-time” in the first place it occurs;

(ii) after “by him” insert “under the commitment”;

(iii) for “full-time service” in the second place it occurs, substitute “service under the commitment”.

(11) In subsection (8), for “full-time service” substitute “service under a commitment under this section”.

(12) In subsection (9), for “full-time service” substitute “service under a commitment under this section”.

(13) In subsection (10), omit the definition of “full-time service”.

(14) In section 25 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (additional duties commitment), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Subject to any provision made by orders or regulations under section 4, an additional duties commitment may provide for duties for a period to be performed on any basis, including full-time or part-time.”

(15) Schedule 2 contains—

(a) amendments that are consequential on or otherwise connected with this section, and

(b) transitional provision.