11 June 21. Defence Committee Evidence Session. Defence to hold one-off session on the Reserve Forces Review 2030. On Tuesday 15 June, at 14.30, the Defence Committee will hold a one-off session on Reservists and the recently published Reserve Forces Review 2030. The Reserve Forces Review 2030 was commissioned by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter and led by senior serving Reservist and former Minister of Armed Forces, Brigadier The Rt Hon the Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton TD PC. The final report was published on 12 May 2021 and made a number of recommendations to the Ministry of Defence, which it has promised to respond to by the end of the year. The session will explore the current state of the Reserves and the proposal to expand the role of Reservists. It will also address the outcomes of the Reserve Forces Review 2030, looking at its specific recommendations, and asking, for example, whether it will improve the ‘offer’ or support available for Reservists. The Committee will also adopt a comparative approach and ask what can be learned from other countries in utilising Reserve Forces. The Committee will hear from a panel of two witnesses. Elisabeth Braw is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and was a key contributor to the Reserve Forces Review 2030 (RF30) during her time at RUSI by taking part in its challenge board providing advice and feedback on RF30’s delivery recommendations and tone. Dr Patrick Bury is a Senior Lecturer in Security at the University of Bath. Dr Bury gained his PhD in Security, Conflict and Justice from the University of Exeter in 2016, with his thesis exploring the recent attempt to transform the British Army Reserve which was reworked into a book titled “Mission Improbable: The Transformation of the British Army Reserve”. Prior to entering academia, Dr Bury served with 1st Royal Irish in the British Army for five years as an infantry Captain during which time he deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan.14.30, 15 June:
- Elisabeth Braw, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; and
- Dr Patrick Bury, Senior Lecturer in Security, University of Bath.