Territorial Army

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The Territorial Army (TA) is the primary reserve land force of the British Army and provides support to the regular Army both at home and abroad. Members of the Territorial Army (TAs) are primarily part-time soldiers (sometimes referred to in jest as "weekend warriors"), but become full-time during wartime. After war has finished, the Territorial Army is still treated as part of the regular Army until demobilisation, which is not always instant.

The Territorial Army was founded in 1908 by Richard Haldane, then Secretary of State for War, under the jurisdiction of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. Initially, members of the Territorial Army were under no obligation to fight abroad.During peacetime before World War I, when asked, most expressed no desire to fight abroad if war were to break out, though when World War I did break out, most fought in France. During World War II, a great number of TA units fought both on the front line and at home (in anti-aircraft roles).

Often Territorial Army members serve in a civilian role that is of military use during peacetime: in medicine, for instance. Training of TA soldiers consists of an initial period of eight training weekends, followed by two weeks of Common Military Syllabus (Reserve) training, followed by role-specific training. Many Territorial Army officer cadets enter through the University Officer Training Corps.