High Readiness Reserves

Am I eligible?

High Readiness Reserve Service is available to:

• Royal Navy and Army - any Reservist who has specialist skills that are in short supply and who has an employer who is supportive of them taking part

• RAF - any Reservist who has an employer who is supportive of them taking part

What’s it for?  

Get additional benefits for being more readily available to support operations.

What do I get?

Once you have joined the Reserves, you may be able to join the High Readiness Reserve (HRR). This requires you to accept an increased liability for call-out, so that you can be called up quickly to support operations. To guarantee your quick release from civilian employment when required, you would be required to gain the approval of your employer to volunteer and accept HRR status.  

Normally HRR is made up of ex-regular reservists or experienced volunteer reservists who have the skills necessary for specific roles and can meet medical fitness and age standards. An HRR agreement is only valid for 12 months and is renewed annually.

By volunteering to become a HRR, you accept an enhanced liability for call-out and sign an agreement defining your liability.

The maximum duration of an agreement is normally 12 months, but it is possible to sign up to successive agreements.

HRRs are eligible for an additional Bounty on the anniversary of their HRR agreement and a call-out gratuity on acceptance into service.

Normally, HRR may not be called out unless the Secretary of State or someone acting with their authority considers it appropriate.

Points to consider

Where you are accepted into service, your HRR agreement does not terminate until you are released from mobilised service. This means that if you have been called out as a HRR, you may be required to remain in service on call-out beyond the termination date of your HRR agreement had you not been called out.

Where you have a civilian job for 14 hours or more a week, you must obtain the written consent of your employer before you can enter into a HRR agreement. Your employer can make a request for termination of the agreement or exemption from call out as a result of unforeseen circumstances.

If you are called out, you will be entitled to the same rates of pay and allowances, annual leave etc, applicable to all called-out Reservists.