[News] Should we Bring Back National Service?

Hugo Rune · Feb 24, 2024

If you take Mr Sunak at his word, conscription could come soon if Britain are to do “whatever it takes” to support Ukraine. Sending the RAF to secure Ukrainian airspace, putting our troops on the ground, sending the Royal Navy to the Black Sea and positioning Nuclear weapons on NATO Ukraine soil is surely the actions behind that sort of rhetoric?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain was prepared to do "whatever it takes".

Of course, no one believes a word Mr Sunak says so his rhetoric ends up being pathetic. Great Britain certainly WON’T do whatever it takes to support Ukraine and nor should we unless we want WW3/Armageddon.

sydney · Feb 24, 2024

ah well , here we go , another massive argument .....why wouldn't you initiate national service ..? People might actually learn something( a trade ) , get used to being mobile and off their fat arses and have their own money to spend on thick shakes and shithouse tattoos.

WATFORD zero · Feb 24, 2024

And how would we use these hundreds of thousands of conscripts to ensure we are safer from rogue states' cyber attacks exactly. Is it the Monkey/Keyboard/Shakespeare principle :laugh:

Half Time Pies · Feb 24, 2024

I don't understand the relevance of national service to this argument, the reason we have less troops is because the UK government has been actively trying to reduce troop numbers and the size of our army. It's a political decision that troop numbers have been declining which could be reversed without the introduction of national service.

Paulie Gualtieri · Feb 24, 2024

Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Basic NSC mistake. Expecting people to read what you have written, let alone understand what you have written, before offering their opinion.

I voted absolutely not. I see it, even voluntarily, with a cast iron guarantee that no volunteer would come to any harm, as the thin end of the wedge. It would soon be weaponized by those far to old to be eligible.

I can see the Daily Mail calling for that Begum woman to be brought home, signed up, and made to search for land mines, while the nation watch drone footage of her on a pay-to-view channel (coincidentally owned by the Harmsworth family - who knew?).

Edit: and I'm 65.

So basically a higher stakes version of Gladiators?

sydney · Feb 24, 2024

Kinky Gerbil said:
I'm assuming The Government of the day would take control of those areas if we went to war.

No one in the West is set up for a war, which is a good thing and also quite scary

you are both right , if there is a war we are sitting ducks.

Hugo Rune said:
If you take Mr Sunak at his word, conscription could come soon if Britain are to do “whatever it takes” to support Ukraine. Sending the RAF to secure Ukrainian airspace, putting our troops on the ground, sending the Royal Navy to the Black Sea and positioning Nuclear weapons on NATO Ukraine soil is surely the actions behind that sort of rhetoric?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain was prepared to do "whatever it takes".

Of course, no one believes a word Mr Sunak says so his rhetoric ends up being pathetic. Great Britain certainly WON’T do whatever it takes to support Ukraine and nor should we unless we want WW3/Armageddon.

Sunak is an absolute **** , how the f*** there has not been an uprising in the UK is mind boggling , what's wrong with you ...??

Paulie Gualtieri · Feb 24, 2024

I do wonder if my eldests training on Fortnite and its associated tactics would be comparable with the real world if called upon. Saying that , the way he talks to his teammates sometimes is disgusting

dejavuatbtn · Feb 24, 2024

Bottom line is, the way things are panning out in the current climate our existing armed forces are woefully short of human resource. If things hit the fan there will be a requirement to increase our armed forces - would be helpful if we have already identified those people who have the skills and inclination, rather than doing a pot luck conscription.

The Grockle · Feb 24, 2024

Kinky Gerbil said:
This is one of the rare occasions trump is right when he says NATO counties need to start paying what they have signed up to.

There is no excuse for countries not to spend the required amount currently to try and keep Europe safe.

To be fair when he was in power he made the threat to cut the US' contribution and Germany increased their % as a result.

The old saying of 'a stopped clock is right twice a day' can definitely be applied to Trump but I agree with stance on NATO contributions as well his views on Iraq. It's a sad state of affairs when Trump seems to have a better understanding of foreign policy than many across the pond.

5Ways Gull · Feb 24, 2024

Only if you live in a military dictatorship.

Westdene Seagull · Feb 24, 2024

Thunder Bolt said:
Voluntary service already in existence National Coastwatch Institution - assisting the Coastguard.
There's one at Newhaven Fort. It's watchkeeping so who is going to volunteer to stay up all night watching the Channel. Hands Up.
newhaven@nci.org.uk

St John Ambulance
Red Cross
CareforCalais
NHS (300 voluntary roles) https://volunteering.england.nhs.uk/volunteer
National Trust
etc etc etc

Food banks
Lions Clubs
Rotary
etc

The OP is trying to re-invent the wheel !

dazzer6666 · Feb 24, 2024

5Ways Gull said:
Only if you live in a military dictatorship.

Not sure Singapore or Bermuda (for example) are military dictatorships

Hamilton · Feb 24, 2024

A1X said:
Ah but you’re forgetting, there might not be sufficient money for the NHS or the like, but there’s always cash on tap for mad schemes which would please the Daily Mail.

Agree. Which is why it would need to be constructed with young people put first, delivered in a financially sustainable way, and voluntary.

birthofanorange · Feb 24, 2024

Zeberdi said:
Some really valid points there.

Just on the skills though - training in firearms, hand to hand combat, orienteering, fitness, survival skills all are useful and could be tought in community settings without someone having to join the army.

It’s not just the UK where this debate is happening- Sweden introduced a new form of national service recently.

‘It might as well be me’: young Swedes prepare for new form of national service

Historically neutral Sweden prioritises civil defence amid concerns of preparing for possible war

www.theguardian.com

My concern would be if compulsory conscription ever came in, those who had completed a voluntary national/civic service scheme might be the first to be called up after the Army Reservists.

I had zero interest in those when I was younger and zero interest in those now that I'm 60+. Fitness and survival skills are certainly useful, but the rest can get in the sea.

edna krabappel · Feb 24, 2024

Young people already have the chance to do worthy deeds on a voluntary basis if they want to: it's called the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

I started mine when I was about 14, mind you I only did it because I wanted a free camping trip to the New Forest. Never got the actual award :lol:

Sorry for letting ARE COUNTRY down

Zeberdi · Feb 24, 2024

edna krabappel said:
Young people already have the chance to do worthy deeds on a voluntary basis if they want to: it's called the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

I started mine when I was about 14, mind you I only did it because I wanted a free camping trip to the New Forest. Never got the actual award

Sorry for letting ARE COUNTRY down

I give up

- the thread isn’t about doing worthy deeds but whether some form of non-compulsory national service should be bought back to better prepare us for any future conflict with Russia etc.

Look at some of the models being introduced in the EU - France for example

France brings back compulsory military service for all young people

Prime minister says restoring national service will inspire patriotism and social cohesion

www.independent.co.uk

The DoE is a fantastic reward scheme but that is not what people have in mind when they talk about complusory or non-compulsory national service.

Zeberdi · Feb 24, 2024

birthofanorange said:
I had zero interest in those when I was younger and zero interest in those now that I'm 60+. Fitness and survival skills are certainly useful, but the rest can get in the sea.

I would have loved to have been trained in the use of firearms, even just a rifle - just because I like target shooting (not because I either want to own guns or shoot anyone). I did a short self-defence course and toyed with the idea of judo when I was at school but again, nothing that left any lasting value if I was ever in a life threatening situation or called upon to defend anyone else.

birthofanorange · Feb 24, 2024

Zeberdi said:
I would have loved to have been trained in the use of firearms, even just a rifle - just because I like target shooting (not because I either want to own guns or shoot anyone). I did a short self-defence course and toyed with the idea of judo when I was at school but again, nothing that left any lasting value if I was ever in a life threatening situation or called upon to defend anyone else.

I'm sure many people who went on to shoot/kill folk had the same interest re: target shooting etc. when they first picked up a gun. Not saying that you would go down that route, obviously, but I have never had the desire to fire guns, for whatever purpose.
Same kinda thing with unarmed combat - I have no interest in it, despite my school chums being obsessed with Bruce Lee and the like.

WATFORD zero · Feb 24, 2024

I'm sorry @Zebedee but what is this 'future conflict with Russia etc' that you are envisaging and think we should be preparing for ?

I'm really struggling to think of a situation where Britain's safety will be improved in any way by having a few hundred thousand conscripts dug in along the coast of Britain. Future (and current) threats to Britain will be from terrorism, economic and technological attacks.
There are quite a few reasons behind various groups raising 'National Service' as an issue, but surely there is no case for it 'improving' Britain's safety :shrug:

Somethingdean · Feb 24, 2024

Thunder Bolt said:
Oh dear, directly from the Daily Mail! Don't drink soy milk because it makes you gay, and latte isn't real coffee.

Btw, the countries that were occupied by the Germans in 1940 were not forced to abandon their languages which is why French. Dutch, Flemish, Greek, Polish, etc etc is still being spoken today.

Do try harder.

I didn't say anything about soy milk "turning you gay". I just meant that if the younger generation weren't so busy spending their money on fancy drinks, they could be spending their time learning a useful skill, like firing a gun and constructing a fall-out shelter.

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