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MANPOWER AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
1. It is expected that some 35,000 Servicemen (including Juniors)
will be recruited in 1974-75, compared with 25,800 in 1973-74 when
the raising of the school leaving age cut off recruitment of school
leavers at the minimum age. Since raising the school leaving age
had a once and for all effect, some recovery in the current year was
predictable. its extent and duration will depend on the attitudes
of the later school leavers (which are at this stage difficult to
gauge), as well as the more general factors affecting recruitment.
Even so there has been a shortfall in recruitment, which has been
particularly felt throughout the Regular Army.
2.
The number of recruits who return to civilian life during initial
training is a matter of some concern. Work is in progress to improve
the Services' understanding of this problem and to find the most
effective means of reducing it.
3.
In addition to the figures in this Chapter, detailed manpower
statistics are given in Annex 7.
RECRUITMENT AND RE-ENGAGEMENT DURING 1974-75
OFFICER RECRUITMENT
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
4.
Officer entry into the Seaman and Supply specialisations of the
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