People with disabilities cannot join the Services, as they are not expected to meet physical and other selection requirements. However, the Services retain some people who have become medically unfit.

The MoD Civil Service employs people with disabilities. The MoD offers a guaranteed interview to all disabled applicants who have the essential criteria for the post. Around 5% of the civilian workforce of the Ministry of Defence have a declared disability.

Health care and promotion have been identified as cornerstones within the defence health programme 2003-2007.

Source: MoD website – Equal Opportunities in the Armed Forces 2004 (current information is available on the MoD website) and MoD website - Recruitment 2004 

Click here for the Defence Health Programme 2003/2007.

Click here for the a report on Suicide and Open Verdict Deaths among Males in the UK Regular Armed Forces. Comparison with the UK civilian population and the US military.