BUILDING A PROFESSIONAL FORCE: THE BRITISH ARMY AFTER THE END OF CONSCRIPTION

Abstract

This study examines the development of military professionalism within the British Army following the abolition of conscription, covering the period from 1960 to 2025, and employs a qualitative historical research methodology. Primary materials analyzed in this research comprise legislative acts such as military service legislation alongside official documents issued by the House of Commons, the Ministry of Defence, the UK Government, and the UK Parliament. Findings indicate that the abolition of compulsory military service resulted from a strategic reassessment of defence resource allocation, which concluded that a large-scale force could no longer efficiently respond to emerging Cold War security challenges compared to the modernization and deployment of advanced military technology. In addition, the evolving global role of the United Kingdom, which increasingly focused on peacekeeping missions, technological advancement, and new forms of security threats, necessitated comprehensive strategic reassessment and adaptation of the British Army’s personnel management. This transformation began with the induction of the last cohort of conscripts in 1960 and their subsequent discharge in 1963, paving the way for a fully volunteer-based military system. This shift compelled the British Army to extensively reform its human resource strategies, particularly emphasizing the recruitment of capable personnel, leadership-focused training, career progression structures, and the enhancement of public communication strategies to foster a professional military ethos. Furthermore, the Army significantly increased benefits and adjusted compensation schemes to attract and sustainably retain high-quality personnel.