There was a recent discussion on TV about bringing back National Military Conscription, anyone have any views on this subject?
Not a bad idea - as long as it applies across the board. Every young man and woman (and transexual) should be included, regardless of social background, class, creed or culture. No objections, no exclusions.
As someone relatively young, in a catchment area where crime is pretty high, and also seeing how many people I grew up with take a separate path - I think something like this has legs. Personally, I think I could have benefited from something like this somewhere. This isn’t meant to be self indulgent, but you have to take a question like this in a way where it’s personal, and this at the age of 18-21, IMO, would be more beneficial than university. I’ve never thought university did anything for me at that time. Hence why I left in year 3 to take up a role at soccer AM.
I have a view on it.... NOT A ****ING CHANCE! 1. I love Britain, but I hate the elitist political class and I ain't taking a bullet for any of them ****ers 2. I refuse to fight to better the profits of companies and let them accumulate their blood money 3. Not a violent individual; don't really hate many people, I'd rather focus on trying to achieve peace than fight 4. I'm not a Royalist, kind of goes into Point 1 5. Not the one to take orders blindly. I like to think I have more intelligence than that
I did National Conscription and can honestly say it never did me any harm. Think the type of training I had are long gone, life if probably much easier these days.
Point 2) we fight a battle against the “man” every single day. The corporations we might work for, the tax we pay etc goes towards these scenarios. Everyone here will be aware I’m left/centre. I wouldn’t take this decision lightly, but there is something more to this whole scenario. Street crime would decrease, especially in London if this initiative was ever brought in. In my humble opinion.
Ex-military. Vehemently against this. There are some people just not cut out forces life, and there are some people you definitely don't want watching your back when the sh*t hits the fan. Realistically what we'd see would be an increase in suicides from reluctant conscripts, more PTSD cases from people not mentally suitable and a watering down in the quality of soliders. With tightening budgets and the current uncertainty of the future value of the pound,an influx of conscripts of that scale would mean due diligence and initial capability screenings more than likely being rushed and leading to letting the wrong sorts in. If it's a measure for tackling crime or instilling discipline into the youth, then I think it is misguided. I would rather see an education reform and do away with the nonsense academies.
We are always fighting against the man... agree there. I just think that compulsory National Service negates individual freedom. I also think that they’ll be a lot of hypocrites out there (as has been with every form of conscription or national service). Loads of people are for it, but no one actually wants to join, or don’t want “their” kids to join. The rich and elite will always find a way to get out of it, and the poorest and middle class will end up doing the fighting and dying. It’s best just to keep it as voluntary service.
Personally - I’d join. I’d also make my (eventual) kids join. Just a personal opinion. My dad made me and my brother attend forest hill boys, which isn’t a bad thing, but my mum insisted at the time we attend Dulwich college, or “at worst”, askes. He insisted we somewhat ‘replicate’ his tough upbringing. For me, at the time when I didn’t understand it and several suspensions later from fighting, completely understand his mentality. Again, this isn’t meant to be a indulgent story. This is a subject, whilst not at the forefront of UK politics that I’ve always held an opinion of. Crime rate will. Decrease with something like this IMO.
Conversely you train would be hooligans, scroats and terrorists how to fight and shoot. IMO have conscription but in the form of working for the public good. Improving infrastructure, looking after the vulnerable, making Britain a better place to be.
But would they go down a life of crime if they were going down this avenue? Personally, I don’t think so. It’s an education before it’s anything else.
Countries which have, or have had, national service thought that it ensured that the army was a cross section of the entire society rather than being filled either by nationalists, or by the poorer sections of society, such as in the USA. A country which has a conscript army is likely to develop a less aggressive foreign policy than those with a professional one. When the USA. sent their troops to Iraq there was only one senator who had a son in the military at the time - would they have sent their own sons over there ? Maybe conscript armies would lead to less wars in the World because governments would have to answer more to their entire population.
That's all we need. Two year National Service leading to thousands of unemployed trained killers being let loose on the streets after their service has finished. Saturday night in the High Street would be carnage with all those fit young lads practicing their unarmed combat skills.
But national service isn’t necessarily teaching combat, in practice its life skills. Crime numbers don’t lie in London, they are increasing yoy. My friend trained for 4 years as a medic before he was deployed, so two years national service isn’t going to create killers. What creates killers/criminals is a lack of investment in everything that is Britain right now, kids/teens/young adults who don’t see a way out from the bare minimum that they are taught. Then using that as a reasoning to do what they think is the “norm” because their friends are in the same boat. I’ve lived/seen it. Still do.
National service training could also teach young women how to defend themselves. And young men who may not be physically strong or street-wise by nature or upbringing, for that matter. In these times when a brainwashed nut-case can go berserk anywhere at any time and with any improvised weapon, it would serve all our younger people well to be trained to have their wits about them. Also first aid training could be universal, and many other skills that might save lives in emergency situations.
Prior to the introduction of NS perhaps we should introduce a proper system of supporting our Ex-Servicemen/women back into society after their service... one week they are fighting for their Country/Lives in Afghanistan and a week later they can be on the streets and told to look after themselves. Far too many ex-servicemen are sleeping rough on the streets within 6 months of leaving the Forces because they find it difficult to adapt back to civilian life. https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/ Let's sort this problem out before we ask the Military to resolve Society's problem with some troublesome youth.
