The Royal Marines Terms of Service Regulations 1988

Right of recruit to claim discharge

10.—(1) A person who enlists in the Royal Marines who has not previously so enlisted shall have the right to claim his discharge before the expiration of the period of 3 months beginning with the date of his attestation and a person enlisted as aforesaid who, on the date of his attestation, had not attained the age of 18 years shall also have the right to claim his discharge—

(a) if he had not attained the age of 17 years and 9 months on the said date, at any time before the expiration of the period of 6 months beginning with that date, or

(b) if he had attained the age of 17 years and 9 months on the said date, at any time before he attains the age of 18 years and 3 months.

(2) A person claiming his discharge by virtue of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall, if he had attained the age of 17 years and 6 months on the date of his attestation, on payment of a sum not exceeding 7 days' gross pay, and if he had not attained such age on the said date, at the end of 14 days after giving notice in writing to his commanding officer, be entitled to be discharged:

Provided that—

(a) the right conferred by this paragraph shall not be exercisable before the expiration of a period not exceeding 4 weeks beginning with the said date,

(b) in the case of a person who had attained the age of 17 years and 6 months at the date of his attestation, if he makes any such claim at a time when marines are required by an order under paragraph 4B of Schedule 7 to the Army Act 1955(1) (continuation of service in the Royal Marines in imminent national danger) to continue in service in the Royal Marines, he shall not be discharged so long as marines are so required to continue in such service, and

(c) in the case of a person who had not attained the age of 17 years and 6 months at the date of his attestation, if the end of the period of 14 days after he has given notice under this paragraph is at a time when marines are so required to continue in service in the Royal Marines, he shall not be discharged so long as marines are so required to continue in such service.

(1)

1955 c. 18; paragraph 4B was substituted by the Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), section 13(1) and Schedule 3, paragraph 1.