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Conscription -should UK initiate?

(221 Posts)
Bea65 Sun 07-Apr-24 11:21:15

Nato General on ?Sky and other military experts suggested maybe the UK should now bring back conscription? What do you GNs think....personally if healthy males/females between 18 and 25 have no work, and have never been employed, could add to the increase in military personnel and give them training and a career...

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 19:58:57

Well, the American (and Australian) involvement in Vietnam is a whole other debate.
Of course, who were there first? The French.

Cateq Mon 08-Apr-24 19:56:36

I don’t think conscription is acceptable I’ve seen what it does to people my cousin was a conscript in the American army during Vietnam war, he arrived in the uk on the way there. He brought a group of his mates to visit our Gran, one of them came from a dirt poor family who never had a new pair of boots until he joined the army, he lasted four weeks before he died. I don’t want that for any of my sons or nephews

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 19:33:31

GrauntyHelen

Over my dead cold body

That might well be the case if we don't have any Armed Services.

FranA Mon 08-Apr-24 19:22:20

Yes to National Service. No to it involving learning how to kill people. Something that teaches the discipline of hard work; helping your fellow man and leaving the world a better place than you found it. Taking pride in contributing to the wellbeing of your fellow man and not relying on handouts. Pride in being free thinking for yourself, and making the world a better place.

GrauntyHelen Mon 08-Apr-24 18:59:51

Over my dead cold body

DiamondLily Mon 08-Apr-24 18:21:43

Heads of the services say they don’t want a load of reluctant conscripts.

It’s probably not a good idea.

MissAdventure Mon 08-Apr-24 17:40:56

Perhaps young people are being raised by people who are ashamed to be British?

Its said fairly regularly on here.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 08-Apr-24 17:40:44

I think they came from a different mould Katie.

Greta Mon 08-Apr-24 17:38:34

The Home Guard in Sweden has recently received many more applicants than they normally do. Listening to some young Swedes, male and female, it was encouraging to hear they felt it was their duty to play a part. Perhaps young Brits are different.

Katie59 Mon 08-Apr-24 17:24:58

Germanshepherdsmum

With people’s insistence on their ‘human rights’ and the inevitable claims about mental health, it’s a non-starter. As I said above, there’s no point in having people in the armed forces who are not committed and willing to take orders.

I wonder if the young people in Eastern Europe and Germany are so uncommitted to defending their country.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 08-Apr-24 17:15:32

With people’s insistence on their ‘human rights’ and the inevitable claims about mental health, it’s a non-starter. As I said above, there’s no point in having people in the armed forces who are not committed and willing to take orders.

pooohbear2811 Mon 08-Apr-24 17:13:50

JaneJudge

Has there been any evidence based research into why 16-25 might be unemployed? I wonder how many of these people are neuro diverse or have health issues?

I know this isn’t what has been asked

maybe because the pension age keeps rising and there are fewer vacancies available for this age group?
I am sure second and third generation unemployed also adds to the work ethic of some.

Nan0 Mon 08-Apr-24 17:08:15

Crap Capita in charge of recruitment for the,armed forces will ensure conscription is a failure.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 08-Apr-24 17:04:08

Should we be involved in another war, technology is going to be as important as, if not more important than, boots on the ground. We have seen the destruction which can be achieved at very long range, and how accurately it can be targeted based on intelligence.

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 17:00:53

MissAdventure

Go outside the door and don't come back in until I call you! smile

I'm off out to play on the swings and slides.

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 16:59:59

Katie59

No conscription in peacetime, but what do we do if Putin starts marching across Poland or some other NATO country.
Dont expect the US to put boots on the ground while we shelter at home.

We do have Armed Forces and we are part of NATO.

www.army.mod.uk/deployments/steadfast-defender-24/

MissAdventure Mon 08-Apr-24 16:59:03

Go outside the door and don't come back in until I call you! smile

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 16:57:20

This is a chat forum, we're not at school or college!

JROD Mon 08-Apr-24 16:37:26

The idea of short, compulsory military service for everyone in a certain age group, unless medically exempt, seems a bit like compulsory, wild water swimming for all of a certain age unless medically exempt; some will be stretched enormously and benefit from their widened experience but some will not cope or even learn from their experience. Deaths, for whatever reason, will occur in either group. What is your assessment of the current generation if push comes to shove? A thoughtful assessment please.

Katie59 Mon 08-Apr-24 16:35:18

No conscription in peacetime, but what do we do if Putin starts marching across Poland or some other NATO country.
Dont expect the US to put boots on the ground while we shelter at home.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 08-Apr-24 16:34:01

Or six feet under Calli.

I too am very grateful that young men fought for this country in two world wars. My grandfather was one of them, scarred physically and mentally for life.

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 16:27:38

My granny always said it was young men who fought old mens wars and didn't benefit in any way from doing so

Well, I for one am thankful that they did in WW2 and benefited us all.
I never met my father-in-law but I do think about him a lot.

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 16:25:34

Germanshepherdsmum

Can you imagine Putin adopting that approach?

How about a cuppa, Vlad?
Now, let's have a nice chat about Ukraine, old boy.

I'd be in Siberia quick as you could say ice!

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 08-Apr-24 16:23:50

Can you imagine Putin adopting that approach?

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Apr-24 16:10:09

The age-old question, paddyann

No, some of them are megalomaniacs.