I was conscripted for an 18 month service in the army and consider this a complete waste of time. I didn’t need the army to sort myself out and find a sense in life. It had nothing to offer. I wish that there had been an alternative civilian service.
God, this one must have taken some digging, or a good memory, or an AI intervention 
I could hear the diggin and was right behind ya laddie! - erhmm lots of interesting ideas and suggestions but can I ask do any get passed on to the higher powers ; the great decision makers or are we just playing world games all the time??
ps: I’m AI [b/oz] atm!!
An idea from across the pond.
I did my 2 years national service as a welder in the REME. I was stationed at an armoured wokshop near Fallingbostel in Germany. Some of the happiest days of my life.
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I don’t believe the services want the dropouts and dross .
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Yes I was told this by an ex army recruiter but I still feel it would be beneficial to a lot of these young people , especially the long term unemployed , I’m talking about those who seem to have the ability to avoid work
All it would do is provide them with board and lodging for free and someone else organising things for you
Does the army teach you to stand on your own two feet ?
In some cases yes .
In others when they are out of the army they are at a loss ( look at Prince Harry )
I do belive the long term unemployed if they are fit enough need to do something to earn their benefits !
Put in some hours doing community service e it litter picking or cleaning graffiti off buildings work on rivers there are any amount of things they could do until they find a job . Also it would get them in the habit of working and turning up to work give them a purpose in their days .
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The country doesn’t need its army to become a laughing stock, which would definitely happen as it would cease to attract the fit Intelligent able and willing if there was compulsory recruitment of no hopers and dropouts …
The best idea in my opinion is to make the young unemployed work to earn their benefits.
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Its ok saying that we should get the young earning their benefits but in what type of work would you say they would be able to do.Also remember they need to learn for their futures and there is not a lot out there taking on apprentices.
I suppose we could always do what Labour did and pay them to go to college and university which by the way I think was a bloody good idea.
This is why the country needs National Service.
Remember also it will deter quite a few immigrants making for our shores if they realise they will also be called up or kicked out.
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They presumably have had their chance at education 12 years of school .
So what are they doing now ?
The able unemployed on benefits are not doing anything so it’s better they do something .
In Spain the unemployed can choose to do work which is street cleaning , plant care etc This gives them a reason to get up up also the people who do this work get first shot at any jobs that come up . It also looks good on a CV that they have shown willingness to work .
I really can’t see the use of national service ie based on a military service .
They would be better off doing two years in a hospital ( as they do in Germany ) where help is needed .
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Well I would just like to point out 12 years at school apparently getting taught is a bit of a joke isn’t it.
Has for the hospital work that is a good idea that would mean of course more porters cleaners grounds men possible apprentices in electrics and plumbing also building workers taking away all the expensive sub contractors that are creaming money out of the NHS and also lets not forget cutbacks on agency workers another loads of ways of getting rid of immigrants.
You mention Spain well last time I lived over there they still had National Service so I am guessing things have changed since 2007.
Some good points but I would still hammer it home to school leavers that they can gain an apprenticeship if they did voluntary N/S and that would mean 2 years of military training and then choosing what job they wish to learn.
But first you would have to get decent careers officers at the schools and also decent teachings.
Why is it a joke ?
Every child has the opportunity to have free education in the U.K. .
Something that is not available everywhere in the world .
Why do they need military training ?
The army would just use untrained youngsters as brute labour what would they learn ?
Interesting discussion . I’m for conscription yet can see both sides . I’ve known some lazy people who don’t want to work , get their lifes paid for .
These people are young fit and healthy doing nothing yet claiming . They should work for their benefits. I still think 2 yrs in the forces would teach them something .
I know of recovered addicts alcoholics who are years on from their sickness and live completely long-term sick . All paid for , none have ever worked , some say they have mental health issues , whatever , some still use , but they don’t work , and won’t because long term sick . I know of these people , living off the backs of others . Drifting their life away ,. Young strong men . In my view army would teach them something.
I live 1 mile from a sink estate , I see a lot of unemployment and how the system works .
Who says the country needs nation service …for a start the country couldn’t afford to house them, service properties & land having been sold for conversion and development
I’m living in a converted government property
Far better they work for their benefit , the U.K. economy still struggling from a lack of people able to fill jobs since Brexit & covid . It may well be unskilled menial work but necessary.
What would the army teach them ?
Firstly it’s very expensive to keep a man in the services .
Especially a useless one .
As these people have no respect for authority who would train them and how ?
The army doesn’t have a crew of teachers training people
( sorry Ripple I posted this a couple of hours ago somehow it didn’t go )
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Great minds
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My late husband was called up for National Service in the 50s. He said that they were taught self-discipline, taking pride in their appearance and the ability to work with others to name just a few things. He wasn’t pleased to be called up but felt that, in retrospect, it was a good experience. The only thing he disliked was being in a billet with Des O’Connor whom he really disliked and in later years would turn off the TV whenever he appeared!
My experiences…
I left home, I left my friends and family behind. I was greeted by screaming corporals and sergeants. I wrote my own will before I was legally able to drink.
I learnt how to run, march, shoot, take another man’s life, save another man’s life and run some more! I stood in the cookhouse at meal times eating food as fast as it was out on my plate because we had very little time to eat, and many times were too tired even to think how bad the food was.
I kept going, everyday waking at 0500hrs for the hard day ahead. I did PT️ everyday and ached in places I never knew I had and was pushed physically to the limit, getting fitter everyday.
I watched films of people with shrapnel wounds and body parts missing! I have laid in holes in the ground motionless for hours at a time waiting for an attack by another soldier. I made friends like you wouldn’t believe. I have laughed, cried and been down in the dumps with these comrades. I have lost friends in conflicts in places that I didn’t even know existed. We didn’t get much sleep and even less pay. We fight! We fight not only for our friends and family but for our comrade next to us!
After all that i became a civvy and stopped working and stopped caring.
And yes it did teach me to stand on my own two feet.
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That was a different Vlad .
Were you doing national service or did you join the forces voluntarily ?