The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that residents from the British Abroad Territories (BOTs) are already eligible to use for Military officer coaching within the UK, however further safety vetting necessities could apply relying on their residency standing.
Responding to a parliamentary query from Andrew Rosindell MP, Defence Minister Louise Sandher-Jones said that “British Abroad Territory Residents are already eligible to use to hitch the British Military and there aren’t any restrictions on the numbers who can function Officers or Different Ranks.”
Nevertheless, she defined {that a} UK footprint stays “an integral a part of the nationwide safety vetting course of for becoming a member of the Armed Forces,” with clearance ranges relying on the function and rank sought. Candidates who haven’t lived constantly within the UK for the required interval earlier than making use of could due to this fact face further checks.
For BOT candidates, this problem could be mitigated by way of the usage of a residency waiver. Sandher-Jones mentioned such waivers “would come with further documentation being offered by people,” including that every case is assessed by itself deserves. Profitable candidates would sometimes obtain clearance for a shorter preliminary interval, with eligibility prolonged as soon as they’ve established a UK residency file by way of service.
The Minister famous that after BOT residents start their navy careers within the UK, “they are going to construct up a UK footprint which can then enable the required checks to happen ought to their clearance should be prolonged, or they want to be thought-about for additional roles the place the next clearance degree is required.”
The MOD’s present recruitment steering confirms that each one BOT residents could apply to hitch the British Military, topic to assembly customary eligibility and safety standards. These not resident within the UK will endure further vetting to make sure compliance with nationwide safety necessities.
The British Abroad Territories lined by this coverage embody Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, in addition to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.