It looks like yet another example of the CoC failing to understand what makes the TA work.
We do not lose soldiers at re-engagement time because the effort involved in signing the piece of paper handed to them by the PSAO is excessive. We lose them because they do not wish to stay. And we've discussed the reasons why they don't stay many, many times before. Anyone who thinks this will affect retention at all is ignorant or a fool.
As for recruiting, well there we will see a change. For the worse. Twelve years looks a lot more intimidating than three. After all the regs can leave after 4 years in an open engagement, why commit the TA to three times as long ? Three years is a useful period for those wavering about giving it a try, they know they can get out soon enough if they don't like it. Maybe we should address why they don't want to sign on again instead.
And again as mentioned above as long as the TA are casual labour no soldier can be compelled to turn up for anything except Chilwell. If the CoC decides to stop people leaving then the soldier who has been refused can stuff all their kit into the locker at the TAC and never be seen again. The only sanction the CoC has is, er, discharge. Which is what the soldier wants.
Of course they'll have to turn up at Chilwell ... but they can appeal, their employer can, maybe a spliff the night before means a fail on the CDT, or maybe they just mong the WHT, fail the CFT and so on. Would you want someone who'd tried to leave years ago, hadn't trained since then and really didn't want to be there next to you in a trench ? Me neither.