Looks like an almighty cock up to me for some. Those that are serving but will be
ineligble although giving
full-time service to Her Majesty will be anyone who has transfered to FTRS prior to 2014 regardless of having 15 years or more in the Regulars. However, as already stated to get the VRSM then those FTRS officers will need to complete 5 years in the Regulars to get 2.5 years of VRSM eligibility, then a further 5 years as FTRS to get the award of the maximum 5 years of full qualifying service, then a further 5 years for the ensuing 1/2 qualifying service after 5 years FTRS to accrue the final 2.5 years of the 10 years to qualify - total Service time for FTRS for the VRSM is thus 15 years which is the same as the new LS & GC Medal, but way more than other Reserves for the VRSM by 5 years.
So any officer who joined as FTRS prior to 29 Jul 2014 at age 48 or more and retires at the normal retirement date of age 60 will get
neither the new LS & GC Medal
nor the VRSM - even though they have more than 15 years of Regular service. That is up to 2026 for a 48 year old in 2014 who may in the end have given over 42 years of service. There are likely an awful lot of these FTRS in all 3 Services who have been stabbed in the back despite their continuing full-time service to HM Forces.
As ever FTRS have been let down and forgotten; the same way as the FTRS HC and LC are the only Regular and Reserves who don't get home to duty allowances. Whole Force? Yeah, right....
Can we change the title of the thread to "Whoopee! Medals for (not quite) all!"
PS - I'm all right Jack!
LJ