National Services

[muchlovex]

Why did the government stop National Service in this country?

I believe they should bring it back?

Discuss.

TIA

[Loosehead]

Steady, you'll have the yoghurt knitters choking on their organic sunflower seeds!

[muchlovex]

Hi Loosehead, I don't understand your answer?

[dzug]

1. We didn't need an army of that type and size - they became professionals, not bumbling amateurs, who didn't want a large bunch of hangers on who had to be kept occupied on mindless and meaningless tasks and who produced nothing.

2. Cost - even if you don't pay conscripts much you still have to keep them which costs a bomb. (not literally...)

Or maybe you are suggesting they should pay to be there, like students?

[Toureman]

On the news today some Wally in the government suggested that if young kids did voluntary national service they would be allowed to start driving at 16.

The mind boggles !

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think it's just us yoghurt knitters Loosehead I think the armed forces will choke on their cornflakes too!

I suggest you ask that question to any General or Admiral.

I suspect you'll get an answer along the lines of "I'm not your baby-sitter! don't you go messing up my nice professional fighting force with a load of spotty oiks who don't want to be there!"

And I don't think it was the Government this time Toureman wasn't it another hair-brained Cameron scheme?

I do hope he starts listening to the grown-ups before he writes a manifesto

[Catso]

National service (meaning service to/for the nation) doesn't necessarily have to be in the armed forces. Many countries have (or had in the recent past) 'conscripted' labour forces.

[kwicky]

They stopped recruiting for national service in 1958 and then the service was just made up of regular soldiers. There was some animosity when the NS consciptors found that their pay was way below that of regulars some of whom were only doing a 3 year enlistment. Because of their dislike of the forces it had a bad affect on those who had chosen it for a career. Although WW2 had finished in 1945 the forces were needed to cope with the cold war involving Russia and the communists. If they brought back conscription many problems of the above would re-emerge.

[reinganum]

First part of your question - the last call-up was on 31 December 1960 and the last national serviceman was demobbed in May 1963. (This has been answered elsewhere on AB.)

Bring it back? See answers above. Our forces are much much more technical than they used to be.

How about tax breaks for volunteers for reservist forces? Then the country would have trained reservists ready at a moment's notice if the need arose.

[maviscoull]

afterwatching ' lads army ' i definately think they should bring it back...........i know not all youths are louts but it would definately sort out the ones that are.