Last week in North Yorkshire we pulled into a Lidl to pick up a couple of bits on our way back from a walk.
When I went back to the car I remarked to my husband how many young men there were in the shop and how smart and clean shaven they were!
My husband roared with laughter, we were on Catterick Garrison.
It did make me think how different these men looked compared to the average 12-25 year old in our City.
Do you think two years of discipline, exercise and obeying orders would make a difference to our young people?
My husband (ex army) thinks most of them wouldn’t last 5 minutes.
Jackiest
^Weapons training can be left behind, not translated into a life skill. ^
But can idea that it is acceptable to kill someone or to use force to get your own way be left behind.
My father, brother and nephew all seemed to manage it and I doubt my son in law will have any problems when he retires.
Weapons training can be left behind, not translated into a life skill.
But can idea that it is acceptable to kill someone or to use force to get your own way be left behind.
MayBee70
Am I right in thinking that youth clubs etc lost their funding years ago? I know our local one had to close down. Good nursery education, more money for schools, smaller class sizes, more help for children that are less academic,schools twinned with farms to get kids out into the country; scouting, Duke of Edinburgh award etc. The Conservatives sold off many school playing fields I believe so state school kids couldn’t play sports. Don’t wait till kids are in their late teens, put money into them from birth. Then, if they want to join the armed forces when they’re older, let them.
Yes, yes, YES!
Norah
No.
The RAF unquestionably has great training for pilots, but I'm not familiar with any of the gun activities in military service which translate to suitable life/career skills. Hair cuts/shaves are available everywhere!
Computer skills are taught to an extremely high level, and those who have forces training in this field are highly sort after.
Mechanics, medics, physical fitness instructors, catering, welfare officers, administrative skills to name just a few trades taught in the forces.
It is definitely not all about firing guns.
Norah
No.
The RAF unquestionably has great training for pilots, but I'm not familiar with any of the gun activities in military service which translate to suitable life/career skills. Hair cuts/shaves are available everywhere!
Plenty of civilian careers have been launched by training in the armed forces and you are being paid whilst learning.
Weapons training can be left behind, not translated into a life skill. 🤫
No.
The RAF unquestionably has great training for pilots, but I'm not familiar with any of the gun activities in military service which translate to suitable life/career skills. Hair cuts/shaves are available everywhere!
Curtaintwitcher
Discipline, exercise and obeying orders should start in the home....as the responsibility of parents. Waiting until the age of 18 to lick them into shape is too late.
Spot on
Greyduster
MayBee70
Better to provide good apprenticeships for young men and women imo.
The Services provide some of the finest apprenticeships available anywhere. It’s not all about firing guns.
But you shouldn’t have to join the army to access that. And I’d prefer my grandchildren to acquire a skill that didn’t also teach them to fire guns. I must point out that I have nothing but admiration and respect for our armed forces which I believe are the best in the world but I don’t want people to have to join the army if they want a career in engineering.
Greyduster - yes they do. They also provide structure discipline and companionship to many. Military service isn’t all bad
MayBee70
Better to provide good apprenticeships for young men and women imo.
The Services provide some of the finest apprenticeships available anywhere. It’s not all about firing guns.
Awful idea.
Am I right in thinking that youth clubs etc lost their funding years ago? I know our local one had to close down. Good nursery education, more money for schools, smaller class sizes, more help for children that are less academic,schools twinned with farms to get kids out into the country; scouting, Duke of Edinburgh award etc. The Conservatives sold off many school playing fields I believe so state school kids couldn’t play sports. Don’t wait till kids are in their late teens, put money into them from birth. Then, if they want to join the armed forces when they’re older, let them.
MayBee70
Better to provide good apprenticeships for young men and women imo.
Yes!
nanna8
petra
nanna8
No - would you want some of those nohopers representing your country? Best that they are people who actually want to serve and feel proud of their country!
No hopers 🤦🏼♀️
You’ve often mentioned your spirituality, your baptism etc etc.
Not a very Christian outlook is it?I was waiting for that comment, didn’t take long. That is why I wrote it actually. You know full well what I mean. I wouldn’t want people pressganged into service as some means of correcting their bad behaviour. Fine if this is what you would like. Free country isn’t it ?
You weren’t disappointed, then.
Horrible expression.
I used to believe some kind of non military national service would be beneficial to young people and society. About a year, before age 25 and a military option if wanted
I now feel there are ample opportunities for volunteering . Also that the small number who are most likely to benefit are least likely to want to or see it through
We need to return to Blair’s investment in early years. All the research shows investment there has the biggest return
Nope. Its not the Army's job to raise other people's children.
maddyone
Israel has military service, and that includes men and women.
I should think they feel they need to have military service in order to have a ready trained military because they are, and always have been, surrounded by enemies.
We’re not surrounded by enemies, but I deplore the underfunding of the military and I understand military chiefs are now saying that we would be unable to defend ourselves if the need arose. Regardless of national service, this is a deplorable situation and also a very worrying situation.
Orthodox Jews in Israel do not have to join the army in Israel I believe? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Better to provide good apprenticeships for young men and women imo.
Greyduster
maddie I was thinking primarily of NATO nations, but yes Israel does have mandatory service for women and has done for some time.
This is what alarms me.
“In the 12 months to 31 March 2023 there was a negative net flow of personnel, meaning more people left the forces than joined. Intake was 11,090 while outflow was 16,510, so there was net decrease of 5,400 personnel”. If this continues to be the trend, we shall have no choice but to conscript.
The better way is to increase their pay and to much improve their conditions, particularly housing. The trend would be reversed very quickly, so that the forces could, in fact, select who joins them. It would be a very good incentive for young people,something to aim for and would much improve discipline and learning in schools. The fact that they can see a career within reach
Merlot. 👏👏
The world has too many soldiers fighting wars. It would be better to turn our youth in caring considerate adults
I’m sure the soldiers fighting for Ukraine are caring, considerate adults, as are the majority of military men.
Sago
GrannyGravy13
Sago why on earth should the Forces, in particular the Army have to in your words turn young people around ?
The U.K. armed forces are professionals, not social workers or baby minders for naughty youths.
One of our sons is a high ranking officer in the armed forces, they really haven’t got the time to baby sit.The army advert says “born in Teeside made in army/navy etc!
The forces are famous for being able to turn disaffected youth into credible soldiers.
The world has too many soldiers fighting wars. It would be better to turn our youth in caring considerate adults.
I would never have wanted to do military service and I don't see why my sons should be forced to do it just because they are male.
Jackiest
We now have equality so I presume you intend sending women to do military service as well.
Absolutely.
GrannyGravy13
Sago why on earth should the Forces, in particular the Army have to in your words turn young people around ?
The U.K. armed forces are professionals, not social workers or baby minders for naughty youths.
One of our sons is a high ranking officer in the armed forces, they really haven’t got the time to baby sit.
The army advert says “born in Teeside made in army/navy etc!
The forces are famous for being able to turn disaffected youth into credible soldiers.
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