More People Quit British Military Than Enlisted Last Year, Data Show | 6 June 2024 | Government data show more people left the British military than signed up last year, further exacerbating an ongoing recruitment crisis. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported 16,140 full-time personnel quit the armed forces in the past 12 months, while only 10,680 enlisted. Of those who left, more than half were considered early retirement. According to Labour Party shadow defense secretary John Healey, the numbers reflect a concerning "failure" in defense. He pointed to poor living conditions and eroding troop morale as the main reasons behind the falling retention rate.