What if we'd had to do National Service?

I considered the RAF, had enough qualifications to be an officer, but a weak chest prevented me from joining. Probably for the best as I had an asthma attack when I was 25 that would have ended my career. It could have been a good career as the pay was good, the RAF still had stations in exotic places like Hong Kong, and you could leave with a pension at 37. Had a mate at work who did 22 years, reaching the rank of fligh sergeant, and said it was the best career he ever had.

biglouis

I always hated anything to do with sport and PE so I would probably have found some Machiavellian way to avoid being "conscripted".

Me too, biglouis.

I always hated anything to do with sport and PE so I would probably have found some Machiavellian way to avoid being "conscripted".

In my teens, my best friend tried to persuade me to join the WRENS with her. I so admired her, she was my exact opposite, but decided not to. Just as well I think, as my arty nature I’m sure would not have taken to it.

This reminds me of an Israeli guide in Jerusalem who said he could never envisage marrying a woman who had not served in the army.

The thought of anything to do with the armed forces fills me with horror, so that’s out. I have no practical ability, so nursing is out. I have quite a good academic brain, so I suppose I could have used that in some way, but the thought of being told what to do by officious people is horrible.

Grantanow

Perhaps a spell of National Service would keep Sunak out of trouble.

Perhaps a spell of National Service would keep Sunak out of trouble.

I read recently that National Service was a 2 year nightmare for nerdy, PE hating kids, so that would be me, if I had to serve in the forces. I would have been happy to serve in the NHS, or other caring role. As a child I wanted to be a nurse, and I later worked in the NHS.
National Service would actually have been good for me as it would have stopped me marrying at 19, which was not a good idea in the long run.

I applied to join the Wrens, thinking I’d be off to see the world. When I found out that I’d likely be UK office based, I took myself off to live in Germany instead.

I don’t think a year before that doing some sort of community service would have done me any harm. Whether I’d have been an asset at that age is another matter.

I think I would have enjoyed it. My father was in the forces and I grew up on military camps, so it was what I was used to.
When you enlist, your skills are assessed and you are assigned the section most suited to you.
Military life is well organised and disciplined. It gives young people a good foundation for their adult lives.

I think Pam Ayres used to be in the WRAF. Just an irrelevant point.

In the late 50's and early 60's many of my friends were conscripted into the forces for two years. I was a bit younger than they were so missed out. I did think of voluntary joining the airforce with another friend but my parents said no. I was losing so many friends to conscription so decided I wanted to help in other ways, to become a police woman, my parents said no, I then decided to work at a mental hospital due to staff shortages, my parents said no.

I honestly think I was just looking for something to fill the time as the friends who were conscripted were treated like heroes when they came home on leave in their lovely uniforms, looking so smart and important. Then I discovered the Town Hall Saturday night rock n roll dances, I settled down in my 9 to 5 jobs as a shorthand typist and never looked back. My friend who had voluntarily joined the airforce, met her boyfriend there and they married and she said joining up was the best thing she ever did and she had a fantastic experience.

Perhaps in this era now when war could be looming once again, I would dread our grandchildren being conscripted but it sounds as though it is not the type of conscription that happened so many years ago. To be honest, it sounds a bit of a mess really, they can go if they want or not go and do community service instead. If they do bring back conscription then every person of a certain age is affected and do not have the right to refuse to go.

I cannot see myself doing any of these "civic" activities. I was always far too independent and bolshy to take easily to being told what to do by so called "authority figures" . When I meet a set of rules my reaction is to look for ways to manipulate them to my benefit.

I dont like children so anything involving them would be out.

Cant stand hearing about other peoples ailments so caring would be out.

It would have to have been something involving research, fine detail or analysis.

I'd always wanted to fly. If I'd had the chance to join the RAF, I'm sure I'd have grabbed it with both hands! Just as well that National Service ended just as I left school.

When I did my nurse training in Portsmouth in the 80s we had 4 girls on our cohort training to be nurses with the Navy .... their uniforms were nothing like ours ....they looked very smart though ....and they were paid more than the rest of us!

The forces do have quite high eyesight standards, and it applies to everyone, even those in jobs where they are never likely to see action. I toyed with the army for a career, but then realised my eyesight was too bad, ditto DS in his one short deviation from the career he chose at the age 4. DH had intended to join the Royal Navy Ship Design Branch. They all resided in an office block in Bath, but aagain he was turned down because of his poor eyesight.

In my very early teens I told an aunt that I wanted to join the Royal Army Nursing Corps - she hastily told me that "they don't have people who wear spectacles". Naturally, I took her at her word, I don't know whether she was right or wrong but wish I had enquired - life could have been so different.......

After you, Rishi. A leader's example is needed.

I joined the WRAF at 17, did just short of 4 years, leaving on marriage

Jaxjacky

I think the discipline would’ve done me good, I was slightly wayward!

Oh thanks Jaxjacky-so was I (wayward). But I didn't respond well to authority either so goodness knows what might have happened.
I was beginning to think everyone else was a pillar of the community at 18.

As an ex raf brat and an ex army wife and a mum and mum inlaw to two vets I think I’ve done my bit lol I think it would do the younger ones some pride in the country instead of expecting everything given to them on a plate

I wanted to train as a nurse and join the Alexandra Nurses but I had too much opposition from my parents.
When my DD told me she wanted to train as a nurse I gave her all the support I could to do what she felt was the right choice for her.

I think the discipline would’ve done me good, I was slightly wayward!

I did 4 years in the Airforce. Loved it.

It might have saved me from a horrible marriage. It would, I hope, have opened my eyes.