21 June 2017: At the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen announced in the Government’s programme of activity, an Armed Forces Bill which: ‘provides service personnel with "modern, flexible" opportunities to serve their country in a way that allows them to balance their family responsibilities and that better suits their lifestyle aspirations and circumstances, including forms of part-time service’. 

This is a move to bring the UK National Defence Force into the 21st century and establish better working arrangements which are particularly attractive and beneficial to women. It is hoped that this will encourage more women to seek careers within the armed forces and peacekeeping operations.