Army and Air Force Act 1961

8 Terms of enlistment in regular air force

(1) The term for which a person enlisting in the regular air force may be enlisted shall be such term, beginning with the date of his attestation, as is mentioned in the following provisions of this section.

(2) Where the person enlisting has attained the age of eighteen years the said term shall be—

(a) a term of twenty-two years of air-force service; or

(b) such term, not exceeding twelve years, as may be prescribed, being a term of air-force service ; or

(c) such term, not exceeding twelve years, as may be prescribed, being as to such part thereof as may be prescribed, a term of air-force service and as to the remainder a term of service in the reserve.

(3) Where the person enlisting has not attained the age of eighteen years the said term shall be—

(a) a term ending with the expiration of the period of twenty-two years beginning with the date on which he attains the age of eighteen years, 'being a term of air-force service; or

(b) a term ending with the expiration of such period, not exceeding twelve years, beginning with the date on which he attains the age of eighteen years, as may be prescribed, being a term of air-force service ; or

(c) a term, ending with the expiration of such period as is mentioned in the last foregoing paragraph, being as to such part thereof as may be prescribed a term of air-force service and as to the remainder a term of service in the reserve.

(4) References (however expressed) in the four next following sections and in section fifteen of this Act to a person's enlisting or having enlisted on a long-term enlistment shall be construed as referring to his enlisting or, as the case may be, having enlisted for such a term as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section or paragraph (a) of subsection (3) thereof; and in the said sections the expression " relevant date " means, subject to the provisions of the next following subsection and of the said section fifteen.—

(a) in the case of a person who enlisted after having attained the age of eighteen years, the date of his attestation, and

(b) in the case of a person who enlisted before having attained that age, the date of his attaining that age.

(5) In relation to women enlisting in the regular air force, this section shall have effect with the addition in subsection (3), after paragraph (c), of the following words:— “or

(d) such term, not exceeding six years, as may be prescribed, being a term of air-force service”,

and in relation to a woman enlisting for such a term as is referred to in the said paragraph (d), the expression " relevant date " in the four next following sections means the date of her attestation.