national service

[airfixpilot]

A couple of days ago on tv a poll was run on whether national service should be introduced back into the UK. The poll was 60% saying yes. This old chestnut had people thinking of what to do with unemployed youngsters. John Nichol was interviewed as part of the poll.

Questions which was raised were, should it be compulsory, or volunteer type of service or use as a deterent for drug takers or bad youngsters to reform via discipline.

Many countries still use compulsory national service, which is obligatory for their young adults. The way I see it it would be a good thing, but what would the regulars and volunteers of the services think in this country?. The original national service was to relief unemployment for eighteen months for young people, with instilling good discipline and well being via drill and work. I myself cannot see it coming back due to service cut backs and lack of funds from the government.

ps: If you want to see the funny side of national service, you may want to look at you tube, and put in the search box GET SOME IN, which was a comedy from around the 70s tv. very funny. It stared some well known actors from the day.

[mhm]

Should be brought back. Compulsory. Minimum 3 years. Only way out is medical or dead

[Bobcode]

National service should be compulsory, 2 years service minimum.
It would instill self reliance, discipline, and respect......needs to be done now.

[paddyboy]

Bring it back

[C24]

Before advocating a revival of Conscription, why not read a summary of it's history in order that you can make a sensible judgement?

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/what-was-national-service

There could be a case made to form some variation of the '30s Labour Battalions but they would not be politically acceptable.
An alternative would be teaching reading, writing and maths to a higher standard than is currently in vogue.

[deerhunter]

My eldest grandson, not bothered about the possibility of NS he wants to go in the army anyway. he`s in the cadets and loves every minute of it.

Funny as well, he is a polite, caring young lad. Credit to his mum and dad (grandad had a bit of input as well !!!!)

Isnt it funny the youngsters that you meet that are in the cadets are all a great bunch. (thinking of one also in the GRS)

[joe spares]

And as the regular forces decrease in numbers ever further, where is all the training capacity a d funding for hundreds of conscripts who do not want to be there in the first place come from? Far better to keep our regulars as a fighting force, not trying to better today's undisciplined "yoof". Seems stupid to be cutting back and sacking troops/marines who actually might want to be in the forces to force kids who don't wish to, serve. If we weren't penny pinching at every level on defence, maybe it would be a good thing, but given our current defence funding climate definitely not.

[reheat module]

Whilst there are two sides of the coin to consider in terms of NS, there are other reasons to consider.
A previous poster describes cutbacks, reductions and even sacking of troops; another consideration must be the Year-on-Year increase in Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) applications from serving personnel. Many are electing to leave all Services for personal reasons. Believe me, internal retention is a major cause of concern for the Senior Officers.

[toom317]

My impression of National Service, was lots of folk doing nothing or menial tasks to keep them occupied. If there is no money now to keep the troops amused with exercises and live firing, what will all these National Servicemen be doing? Painting stones white, or the grass green?

[gamecock]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 09681.html