Civilians could be fast tracked into roles in military’s secretive Strategic Command

The military could fast-track civilians into a secretive group that manages joint ventures between the British Army, RAF and Royal Navy.

Ministers are considering letting people go straight into Strategic Command so they do not have to enlist in one of the three armed forces first.

Minister for defence personnel and veterans Leo Docherty said Britain needed to evolve quickly to catch up with foreign nations.

The 44-year-old, who got the role last month, said there could be scope for civilians to apply for cyber, space and military intelligence without having served.

The move would mean applicants do not have to pass the rigorous fitness tests the Armed Forces require or learn to fight on a battlefield.

Mr Docherty, who served with the Scots Guards in Iraq and Afghanistan, also said recruits could be older than 55 when they apply.

They could also enlist as senior officers without putting in the yards lower down the ranks.

He told the Times: ‘While we’ve been caught up in counter-insurgency operations for the last 20 years, the rest of the world’s militaries have evolved at a blistering pace.

‘We are catching up on that. We need to be creative in terms of our workforce solutions.’

He added: ‘What we are looking at is lateral entry. So, for example, with the cyberforce, we need to quickly populate what is a very bespoke, high-tech, highly skilled capability.

‘Should we look at giving people an incentive to come in from the civilian world in a lateral sense so they can be fast-tracked to achieve higher rank and higher pay, I’m very sympathetic to that. We’ve got to be agile and totally open minded.’

General Sir Patrick Sanders called Strategic Command a ‘more discreet organisation’ that is central to the modernising of the forces.

He said it would be key in the ‘grey zone’ when enemy countries fight in different ways to traditional warfare.

Currently the RAF accepts medical officers up to the age of 55, with the Army letting in specialists of the same age and the Navy restricting recruits to 54.

Mr Docherty replaced Johnny Mercer after the former soldier quit last month over the government’s duty to military veterans.

Mr Mercer has been quick to slam ministers over the protecting of troops facing prosecution over the Northern Ireland conflict.