Conscription -should UK initiate?

Absolutely not, we would be in charge of the whole thing in 5 seconds with just one mum frown

HS62

I have young adult sons and there's no way I would allow them to go to war. It would be over my dead body. I didn't give birth to them to have them used as cannon fodder. Those who want to join up are welcome to it. I know there is no way they could kill another human being.

So, hypothetically speaking, what would you do if one of your sons had decided he wanted to join the army? Would you have stood in his way?
Believe me, I wasn't keen on the idea of my son joining the army, but it's all he had ever wanted to do since he was a toddler, so at 16, his father and I signed the papers to allow him to join up. And as I said before on this thread, I'm very proud of his service and to dismiss him and his fellow servicemen and women as 'cannon fodder' is disrespectful, to say the least.

Well said MissInterprered

It's an out-of-date saying with no relevance to today's modern Army.
And, as I said earlier, other Forces are available.

I am sure my adult children have very definite ideas of their own. Attempting to tell them what they should or shouldn't do would fall on deaf ears. They might listen to advice but I wouldn't offer it unless asked. The kind of adult who could be ordered not to do something by his mother probably wouldn't be a useful recruit anyway.

VioletSky

Absolutely not, we would be in charge of the whole thing in 5 seconds with just one mum frown

A Paddington Bear stare works wonders.

"Right then, you 'orrible lot!"

My favourite SiL went to serve in Iraq in the army when a teenager out of school. Perhaps he would have been just as lovely if he had done something else, but he successfully runs his own business, the house, the kids and the dogs far better than many do! He learnt something for sure.

The fact remains that conscripting young people who are unwilling to join the forces isnt right.

MissAdventure

The fact remains that conscripting young people who are unwilling to join the forces isnt right.

Some posters are saying they would stop their adult children joining up even if they wanted to.
🤔

Conscription for a time of public service would not necessarily mean the Armed Forces,

You may as well bring in compulsory bingo for oldies.

Would people be happy with that?
Throw in some American tan tights, a crash helmet perm, and a beige rainmac just for good measure.

You've just described me to a 't'.
Must go, Legs Eleven!

I love Bingo..

🙂
There we are then.
It'll do everyone good get out, and discover the joys of trying to sit in the wrong place, or whispering while the calling is going on!

MissAdventure

The fact remains that conscripting young people who are unwilling to join the forces isnt right.

Correct.

I believe there has been no conscription since the early 60s - about 60 years. There is no need at all for such currently, imo.

I know little about the forces "On 1 April 2023 the total size of the full-time UK armed forces (trained and untrained) was just under 152,400 personnel" (of a UK population of ~67 million).

My Uncle pilots were shot out of the sky, to their deaths, in WW2 and my father came home safely. Living in East Anglia, there are little RAF places round, they stay to themselves. We do see a few officers, but seldom.

I assume nobody can tell adult children to join forces officers. We certainly can't tell our adult children what to do they have free will and their own thoughts.

MissAdventure

The fact remains that conscripting young people who are unwilling to join the forces isnt right.

I certainly wouldn't argue with you on that one. If my son was still in the army, I'd much rather he was serving alongside others who actually wanted to be there and had each others' backs rather than people who were there against their own free will.

Oh good.
That was my original thinking, when I used the phrase you dislike.

Anyone in the forces needs team members who are totally onboard, not wishy washy teens who are unwilling to take orders, and have "growing pains", as my boy often has. (Backed up by his GP, would you believe?!?)

There is no need at all for such currently, imo.

Your opinion is of little consequence, nor mine.

It's when security services, NATO and the Government start to become alarmed about threats that the matter would become a consideration.

We certainly can't tell our adult children what to do they have free will and their own thoughts.
No, thank goodness mine have minds of their own.

Others have to though.
Just because they don't mirror others doesnt mean they aren't valid.

have "growing pains", as my boy often has. (Backed up by his GP, would you believe?!?)

So-called growing pains are something to take seriously, it could be that it is apophositis.

Yes, it could be.
My thoughts are that is to do with not going to sleep when he should, and being exhausted in the morning, coupled with a winning smile, and thinking he's God's gift.

Regardless, I wouldnt want him in my squad if I was in military service.

Callistemon21

^There is no need at all for such currently, imo.^

Your opinion is of little consequence, nor mine.

It's when security services, NATO and the Government start to become alarmed about threats that the matter would become a consideration.

We certainly can't tell our adult children what to do they have free will and their own thoughts.
No, thank goodness mine have minds of their own.

Callistemon21

Your opinion is of little consequence, nor mine.

It's when security services, NATO and the Government start to become alarmed about threats that the matter would become a consideration.

Of course!

When it matters there will be a plethora of young officers all round East Anglia in and out of their jets - no need, imo, to begin yet.

I sincerely hope with latest news .. Iran had launched drone attacks on Israel ., we are more prepared and have the military personnel to defend and protect NATO allies

Has launched..this is terrifying

To be honest, I question how serious Iran was. Iran had made threats that there would be retaliation for the US attacks in Baghdad and on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. However, it used slow-moving drones travelling in a straight line, which gave Israel and its allies nine hours' notice. Most of the drones were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome, which could have been foreseen. If Iran had been entirely serious, I would have expected something more sophisticated, possibly involving attacks by Hezbollah and Houtis.

I have read that 77,000 reservists could be called up, ex military reserve lasts for six years. Any ex officer can be called up in perpetuity

Any ex officer can be called up in perpetuity
Well, I'm not sure about that.
Grandad's Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force?

The thought of my autistic, anxiety ridden DGS being conscripted into the armed forces fills me with horror.