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
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Propose a change87 Interpretation of Part IV.
In this Part of this Act, except where the context otherwise requires— “absence without leave” and “desertion” mean respectively absence without leave contrary to subsection (1) or (3) of section 73 above and desertion contrary to subsection (1) of that section, and “absentee without leave” and “deserter” shall be construed accordingly; “airman” includes a warrant officer and a non-commissioned officer; “soldier” includes a warrant officer and a non-commissioned officer; and “special reservist” means a man of the Air Force Reserve who is serving in that reserve as a special reservist pursuant to section 68 above.
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Propose a change93 Exercise of powers of military and air force office holders.
(1) Any power or jurisdiction given to, and act or thing to be done by, to or before any person holding any military or air force office, may— (a) in relation to the Army Reserve , or (b) in relation to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, as the case may be, be exercised by or done by, to or before any other person for the time being authorised in that behalf according to the custom of the service. (2) Where by this Part of this Act, or by any order or regulation in force under it, any order is authorised to be made by any military or air force authority— (a) the order may be signified by an order, instruction or letter under the hand of any officer authorised to issue orders on behalf of that authority; and (b) an order, instruction or letter purporting to be signed by any officer who appears from it to be so authorised shall be evidence of his being so authorised.
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Propose a change100 Postponement of discharge: Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
(1) Where the time at which a man of the Army Reserve or the Royal Auxiliary Air Force would otherwise be entitled to be discharged occurs during a period of emergency, he may be required to prolong his service for such further term, not exceeding 12 months, as the Defence Council or an officer designated by them may order. (2) A man shall not during a period of emergency be entitled to be discharged under section 16(2)(a) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. (3) In this section the expression “period of emergency” means— (a) in relation to a man of the Army Reserve , any period while an order under section 52(1)(a) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 is in force authorising members of the Regular Reserve to be called out for permanent service; (b) in relation to a man of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, any period— (i) while an order under section 52(1)(a) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996is in force authorising members of the Air Force Reserve to be called out for permanent service; or (ii) while the man in question is called out for home defence service.
Propose a change101 Postponement of discharge: Army Reserve .
(1) A man of the Army Reserve who is a person to whom section 11 above applies shall not be entitled to be discharged under section 16(2)(a) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 during any period while an order is in force under section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 authorising the call-out of members of the Army Reserve . (2) Subsections (1) and (2) of section 100 above shall have effect, in relation to a man who enlists or re-engages in the Army Reserve on or after 1st April 1967, as if the period of emergency within the meaning of that section included any period while he is called out for home defence service.
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