Require the Ministry of Defence to review and align direct-entry Regular Officer upper-age limits with equivalent Regular Other Rank age limits, unless it can provide clear operational, medical, or workforce-planning reasons for maintaining lower officer-specific caps.

The Ministry of Defence should review direct-entry Regular Officer upper-age limits across the Armed Forces and explain whether lower officer-specific age caps remain justified. This should include a review of Army Regular Officer and Royal Marines Officer age limits. Where a service allows candidates to begin equivalent regular service as soldiers, commandos, ratings, or airmen at an older age, we believe officer candidates should not face a lower age bar unless there is a clear evidence-based reason.