The Isle of Man could be set to get its own Forces reserve unit for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Plans for the proposed new Isle of Man Reserve Force were due to be outlined at a dinner being held at King William’s College this Friday (March 27).
The aim is to test the water to gauge the level of support for such an initiative.
Formerly known as the Territorial Army, the Army Reserve is set to play an increased role in Britain’s defence needs.
But the Isle of Man’s own TA unit was disbanded in 1968.
Reservists from the island currently travel to North West England to serve in Reserve Infantry, Royal Logistics Corps, artillery, medical and intelligence units there.
The new Isle of Man Reserve Force will be tri-service comprising Army, Navy and Royal Air Force and will be headed up by the 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and 103 Regiment RA (Royal Artillery). It will have a distinct Manx identity.
Colonel Philip Harrison, the Army’s Deputy Commander at HQ 42nd Infantry Brigade and HQ North West, said: ‘The British Army recognises that the island’s community is one that supports the Armed Forces.
‘There is a higher proportion of former cadet members in the island than anywhere else in the British Isles. This has led us to believe it would be the right thing to do to develop a reserve services opportunity in the Isle of Man.
‘We want to attract as broad a spectrum of potential applicants as possible. It’s got to be demand led.’
He said if the support was there in the island for the new unit it was hoped to have it up and running by the summer. It will be based in the cadet building in Tromode. The aim is to recruit perhaps 60-70 reservists.
Under the UK Coalition government’s 2010 defence review, reservists are expected to increase from 19,000 to 30,000 by 2018 while the regular army is being cut from 102,000 soldiers to a total of 82,000.
A major recruitment drive for reservists, Operation Fortify, has been launched which includes a TV advertising campaign More than Meets the Eye.
Recruits, who commit to a minimum 27 days a year, get equivalent rates of pay to the regulars. There are opportunities for going overseas – reservists serving in North West units have attended training camps in Norway, Kenya, Cyprus and Germany.
They have also served in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan and are currently supporting the ebola effort in west Africa. Over the past decade the Army Reserve has deployed 25,000 people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Cyprus.
Colonel Harrison said there had to be partnership with the business community - as reservists, employees get an opportunity to refine their skills. Employers gain from getting an enhanced workforce.
The other units that will be involved in the Isle of Man Reserve Force are 3 Medical Regiment, 75 Engineer Regiment, 156 Royal Logistics Corp, 6 Military Intelligence, 611 Squadron (RAF Reserves) and HMS Eaglet (Royal Navy Reserves).