Changes

The TA did not play a major role in overseas conflicts throughout the [[Cold War]]; this was because it was not possible, legally, to compulsorily deploy individual TA personnel or units overseas, only the whole Territorial Army (which only took place during major wars). As such, their primary role was home defence during this era. However, in [[1996]], the new Reserve Forces Act allowed individual TA personnel and units to be called up for overseas service, except those in full-time [[education]] or who have exemption on certain compassionate grounds.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/1996014.htm]</ref> As a result, 9,500 reservists were called up for the [[Iraq War|invasion of Iraq]] in [[2003]], and today some 1,200 TA personnel are deployed in the field each year to [[Iraq]], [[Afghanistan]] and other theatres.

The TA did not play a major role in overseas conflicts throughout the [[Cold War]]; this was because it was not possible, legally, to compulsorily deploy individual TA personnel or units overseas, only the whole Territorial Army (which only took place during major wars). As such, their primary role was home defence during this era. However, in [[1996]], the new Reserve Forces Act allowed individual TA personnel and units to be called up for overseas service, except those in full-time [[education]] or who have exemption on certain compassionate grounds.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/1996014.htm]</ref> As a result, 9,500 reservists were called up for the [[Iraq War|invasion of Iraq]] in [[2003]], and today some 1,200 TA personnel are deployed in the field each year to [[Iraq]], [[Afghanistan]] and other theatres.