Law
Reserve Forces Act 1980
United Kingdom · statute
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In force since 2016-04-06, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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Contents: 175 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 .
- 2 .
- 3 Royal Marines Reserve.
- 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 10 Call out for national danger.
- 11
- 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 13 Provisions supplemental to ss. 10 to 12.
- 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 16 Permanent service call out of naval and marine reserves.
- 17 Naval and marine reserve service under ss. 10 and 16.
- 18 Permanent service call out of Regular Reserve .
- 19 Duration of Regular Reserve permanent service.
- 19A Postponement of discharge of members of Regular Reserve during call out.
- 20 Permanent service call out of Air Force Reserve.
- 21 Duration of Air Force Reserve permanent service.
- 21A Postponement of discharge of members of Air Force Reserve during call out.
- 22
- 23 .
- 24 Permanent service call out of Ulster Defence Regiment.
- 25 Emergency service call out of Ulster Defence Regiment.
- 25A Application of section 62 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996
- 26
- 27 .
- 28 Differing service liabilities of those called out.
- 29 End of service under call-out notices.
- 29A Application of provisions relating to recall
- 30 Liability of naval and marine pensioners to recall.
- 31 Liability of army and air force pensioners to recall.
- 32 Occasion for and period of recall under s. 31.
- 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 34 Liability of certain former soldiers to recall.
- 35 Recall notices
- 36 Application of sections 71, 73 to 75 and 77 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to persons recalled under section 30, 31 or 34
- 36A Application of Part X of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to persons liable to recall under section 30, 31 or 34
- 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 38 Regular Reserve , Air Force Reserve and Army Reserve training.
- 39 Application of s. 38.
- 40 Preliminary training of Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
- 41 Annual training of Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
- 42 Variation and cancellation of training periods for Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
- 42A Application of section 23 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996
- 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 44 Requirement as to training of Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland.
- 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 47 False answers on enlistment.
- 48 Void enlistment in Royal Marines or regular army .
- 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 50 Term of service in Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Fleet Reserve.
- 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 55 Admission to Greenwich Hospital.
- 56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 57 Special class of Royal Fleet Reserve.
- 58 Transfers to Royal Fleet Resreve.
- 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 63 Exercise of powers vested in military office holder.
- 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 67 Exercise of powers vested in air force officer holder.
- 68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 69 Special reservist called out for permanent service.
- 70 Special reservist called out for special courses, etc.
- 71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 72 .
- 73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 78 .
- 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 87 Interpretation of Part IV.
- 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 93 Exercise of powers of military and air force office holders.
- 94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 96 .
- 97 .
- 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 100 Postponement of discharge: Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
- 101 Postponement of discharge: Army Reserve .
- 102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 107 .
- 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 117 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 119 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 120 Service of notices for Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
- 121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 123 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 127 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 137 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 138 Commissioners of lieutenancy for City of London.
- 139 Enrolment, re-engagement and resignation.
- 140 Orders and regulations as to pensions and other grants .
- 141 Membership of armed forces and application of military law.
- 142 Application of Army Act.
- 143 Failure to attend or comply.
- 144 Assistance in desertion, etc.
- 145 Reinstatement in civil employment.
- 146 Protection of other civil interests.
- 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 151 Pensions and other grants under Home Guard Act 1951 c. 8.
- 152 .
- 153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 154 Additional provisions as to Orders in Council and schemes.
- 155 Amendment of subordinate legislation.
- 156 Interpretation.
- 157 Saving and transitional provisions, consequential amendments and repeals.
- 158 Citation, extent and commencement.
- SCHEDULE 1
- SCHEDULE 2 Army and Air Force Pensioners and other Former Soldiers not Liable to be Recalled for Service
- SCHEDULE 3
- SCHEDULE 4
- SCHEDULE 5
- SCHEDULE 6
- SCHEDULE 7
- SCHEDULE 8 Saving and Transitional Provisions
- SCHEDULE 9 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
- SCHEDULE 10. Repeals
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
175 provisions
115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Propose a change119 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change120 Service of notices for Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Notices required in pursuance of— (a) this Part of this Act, or (b) the orders and regulations in force under this Part, to be given to men of the Army Reserve or of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force shall be served or published in such manner as may be prescribed and, if so served or published, shall be deemed to be sufficient notice.
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Propose a change135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change137 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change138 Commissioners of lieutenancy for City of London.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) The City of London continues to be a separate county for the purposes of . . . the militia, . . .. (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change139 Enrolment, re-engagement and resignation.
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Propose a change140 Orders and regulations as to pensions and other grants .
(1) The conditions as to pensions and other grants in respect of death or disablement arising out of service in the Ulster Defence Regiment shall be such as may be prescribed by orders or regulations. (1A) The reference in subsection (1) to service in the Ulster Defence Regiment includes service in the regular army by a relevant person during the relevant period. (1B) In subsection (1A)— “regular army” has the meaning given by section 374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006; “relevant person” means a person who, immediately before 1 July 1992, was a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment; “relevant period”, in relation to a relevant person, means the period beginning with 1 July 1992 and ending at the end of his term of service which was current on that date. (2) Orders or regulations shall provide for the organisation, administration, government and duties of the Ulster Defence Regiment, but shall not require members of that force to give whole-time service except— (a) during any period in which that force or the part of it to which they belong is called out under section 10, or section 24 or section 25 above, or (b) while they are undergoing training under paragraph (a) of section 44(1) above, and those orders or regulations shall not require members of that force to serve or train outside Northern Ireland. (3) In this section — (a) references to orders are to orders of Her Majesty signified under the hand of the Secretary of State, and (b) references to regulations are to regulations made by the Secretary of State, and any orders or regulations under this section shall be laid before Parliament after being made.
Propose a change141 Membership of armed forces and application of military law.
Persons of the Ulster Defence Regiment shall be members of the armed forces of the Crown, and— (a) any holder of a land forces commission who is for the time being assigned for duty with the Ulster Defence Regiment, and any other member of that force when serving on its permanent staff, shall be subject to military law; (b) any member of the Ulster Defence Regiment to whom paragraph (a) above does not apply shall be subject to military law— (i) at all times when called out for service under sections 10, 24, 25 and 44 above or when undergoing training whether in pursuance of an obligation under those sections or not; and (ii) at any other time when he is in possession, or when, in pursuance of any order given or permission granted by a superior officer of his, he is required or authorised to be in possession, of any arms or ammunition or of any prescribed description of equipment, being arms, ammunition or equipment belonging to Her Majesty.
Propose a change142 Application of Army Act.
References in Parts II to V of the Army Act 1955 to the regular forces shall include references to persons of the Ulster Defence Regiment while subject to military law, but any other references in that Act to the regular forces shall not include references to the Ulster Defence Regiment.
Propose a change143 Failure to attend or comply.
(1) Any member of the Ulster Defence Regiment who— (a) when required by or in pursuance of regulations making any such provision as is mentioned in section 44 above to attend at any place fails without reasonable excuse to attend in accordance with the requirement, or (b) fails without reasonable excuse to comply with orders or regulations under this Part of this Act. shall, whether otherwise subject to military law or not, be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction by court-martial to a fine not exceeding £50. (2) That offence shall, for all purposes of and incidental to the trial of the offender, including the summary disposal of the case otherwise than by court-martial, be deemed to be an offence under the Army Act 1955.
Propose a change144 Assistance in desertion, etc.
(1) Any person who, in Northern Ireland or elsewhere— (a) procures or persuades any member of the Ulster Defence Regiment to desert within the meaning of section 37 of the Army Act 1955 or to absent himself without leave, or (b) knowing that any member of that force is about to desert as mentioned in paragraph (a) above or to absent himself without leave, assists him in so doing, or (c) knowing any person to be a deserter within the meaning of that section 37 or an absentee without leave from that force, procures or persuades or assists him to remain such a deserter or absentee, or assists in his rescue from custody. shall be liable— (i) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both; (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (iii) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change145 Reinstatement in civil employment.
(1) Where any person is, or is liable to be— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) recalled under section 34 above, the provisions of the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985shall apply to that person as they apply to a person who has entered, or, (as the case may be), may be required to enter, upon a period of whole-time service in the armed forces of the Crown in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) of section 1(1)of that Act. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change146 Protection of other civil interests.
(1) Any service rendered by virtue of— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) section 34 above, shall be relevant service within the meaning of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Propose a change150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change151 Pensions and other grants under Home Guard Act 1951 c. 8.
The conditions as to pensions and other grants in respect of death or disablement from service in the Home Guard under the Home Guard Act 1951 shall be such as may be prescribed— (a) by orders of Her Majesty signified under the hand of the Secretary of State, or (b) by regulations made by the Defence Council, and any such orders or regulations shall be laid before Parliament as soon as may be after they are made.
Propose a change152 .
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