Education Levels Of New Recruit To Armed Forces

[Gromit]

// the minimum entry requirement for new recruits [in the armed forces] is "entry level 2", which is the equivalent to the standard expected of a seven- or eight-year-old in literacy and numeracy. //

I found that rather shocking. Do you?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23346693

[sandyRoe]

It would depend on what they had to do. Using a compass and a map might be more than someone with the educational levels of a 7 or 8 year old could manage.

[DJHawkes]

or traffic wardens of course.

[Prudie]

I don't find it shocking at all, has always been like that. When I was a secondary modern teacher at a rural school the boys only options were to go into the Army or into farmimg and thank heavens those opportunities were there for them. Army recruits at that level are not expected to make intelligent decisions, they are expected to band together and follow orders. GCSEs don't teach them that - plus once in, they are provided with excellent opportunities for studying and gaining qualifications as they progress and resettlement help when leaving. The forces are an ideal career path for those of the right ilk who might otherwise end up the junction.

[ludwig]

I don't find it shocking. We're talking about iliteracy/numeracy levels not emotional and cognitive development. In other words we're not putting people in the army with a 'mental age' of 7.

I agree with Octavius. It's good that there is an organisation that will take them on. Obviously not so good that it's all about killing and potentially being killed, but that's the armed forces for you.

[sandyRoe]

'I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dry oats;
If it be man's work I'll do 't.' are the words Shakespeare gave a soldier.

[DJHawkes]

they now do literacy and numeracy courses and exams in further education for entrance into specific trades, like construction or car mechanics, it's a vocational course that is aimed at those with limited skills in literacy and numeracy but the ability to work with their hands.

[modeller]

When I went into the army many years ago there was a group of about 30 who were totally illiterate. They were sent off on a 3 week course and when they came back everyone was able to write letters home. What else they got out of the army, I don't know , but that alone enhanced their lives.

[Just-Jude]

Recruits with the mental age of 7 and 2 dead from heat exhaustion on the Welsh mountains last week.

It all makes sense now!

[EdmundD]

It does suit some jobs as far as the Army is concerned. I remember years ago the Intelligence Corps postroom was manned by privates from the Pioneer Corps. The rationale being that they wouldn't understand the content of the mail they were distributing.

[naomi24]

Just-Jude, these people do not have a mental age of 7. They are not academically bright - that's all. There's an enormous difference.

[EDDIE51]

They don't want anyone too clever in case they start thinking about what they are being ordered to do.
The Sun newspaper is written to the same level , the vocabulary and literary ability of an 8 year old. The Sun actually has a 'word list' only words in the list can be used to write for it. There are a few exceptions for words like paedophile of course.

[LazyGun]

I do not have an issue with the minimum educational level being as it is. So long as they can take orders, know their right from their left, can sign their name and do some basic maths, thats all thats needed, at least to start with.

More important to me is that they are sufficiently well educated - and more informed at interview - to know how to weigh up the risks versus the benefits.

And what concerned me more from that report was how heavily the Army relies on recruits under 18. Think that needs to be addressed....