To think the army shouldn't be allowed to 'avertise' in schools?

I think at the moment all the CCF people who thought it was a jolly are coming down to earth realising it can mean real action and they might die and I think they don't always get a choice actually now. But they should have always realised that.

I would like to see more employers in schools and children told about the huge range of careers that they are out there which they often aren't aware of. I wasn't very popular when I bought 2 children careers books in their Christmas stocking one year but I thought it was useful.

I think it's fine for people to make a real choice, and understand what they are letting themselves in for, plusses as well as minusses. I'm just not sure the recruitment images I see emphasise that.

I was in the air cadets, and loved it. I met some wonderful people who I am still good friends with, went to some wonderful places, and tbh, I can't see why it is such a big problem having the rmy in schools for information!

pinkveto - my ex saw service in n ireland and Bosnia and saw some difficult things but still feels it was a fqantastic opportunity and believes that he was serving his country (obviously an old-fashioned beleive amongst some there )

Dont' understand your argument about the local grocer, primark??? I beleive believe that all essential services (including nursing) should be allowed equal time in schools on careers talks.

re TA - see my post below about DS's consultant who was called up and spent 6 months in Iraq.

PinkVeto: I'm not saying he wouldn't. But it is the derring-do that gets advertised, not the main military purpose of the army, and not grim stints in NI. It's a bit misleading. IMO.

Agree with Blu, you can't ban an entirely legal career option (although given the illegal invasion of Iraq, joining the army might involved you in illegality - look at the reports that troops were ordered to ignore the Geneva Convention on treatment of prisoners, for e.g.). But I do think it is cynical to target children who may have little understanding of what is really involved.

NKF, think it was Not the Nine O'clock News who did a spoof - something like 'join the army, see the world, meet interesting people, then shoot them'.

TA people shouldn't rely on 'we'll only ever be asked to volunteer', btw. If we had a big war, I bet they'd be called up. Especially as the forces are so short-staffed.

I think you are being unreasonable. We had a number of differect career talks when I was at school.

TA is something that kids can do now. They cant go nursing for an hour once a week. Er, can they?

But hed have done it blu, and did in fact spend time in Ireland (which was grim).

I think where the forces are going wrong, (and the solution is more recruitment!!) is that people go on non stop tours - bosnia then ireland, then bosnia again, then afghanistan. They get little opportunity to return to UK, and get fed up. They used to play carrot and stick when posting recruits, so for my dad he had a really grim 5 years in the very north of scotland in the 1970s and then cornwall, before landing Oz.

Love it, DevilWearsPrimark. And nearly blind from computer games.

My daughter's friend from a boy's boarding school was put through university by the army. I think they also partly subsidised some of his school fees and then on graduation he goes to Sandhurst. My children did D of E awards not CCF things and I hope they form their own political views which differ widely between the various children but I don't have a problem with the army going into school. Clearing left wing pacific teachers out of the education system might be a better aim..... I think it's the low pay, so they end up being a bit left wing, some of them. It's always been the way. Even one of my daughters commented on it - a kind of assumption (and this was at a private school) that there was one view and no one could possibly support armies, war, free markets etc etc I hope she put her views forcefully back.

On Wales we have the issue that if you live there you don't pay prescription charges and if you live in England you do. Similar differences on dental treatment. If we want to be a single country then we need the same rules on all these issues - university fees, NHS charges etc otherwise it's not fair and the English will get resentful and we'll take action. Apparently the oil technically belongs to the Faroe Islands who say they wouldn't vote to join Scotland if there were break away. We might have to send English soldiers up there to keep the Scots out!

Agree about fancy adverts

However, nephew in TA, he loves it (has made really nice friends), it will look great on his CV and he has learned loads bout responsibility, teamwork etc..

Joining the military is a diff thing altogether imo.

DeJager - as I understand it DS's consultant is a member of the TA. She was 'commandeered' to go to Iraq.

I don't know if it was as a regular TA squaddie or because of her specialism in bone trauma. But she was ordered, and went.

PinkVeto - quite (re Iraq / Afghanistan) or spent years in Northern Ireland - as many many army recruits did.

blu, my dads just retired from the airforce and he has written a bit of a biog. for my dd before he forgets it all.

His life was essentially a non stop boys own adventure.

He was taught to fly age 17, was sent to cyprus, germany, scotland, australia, singapore etc.

He displayed aeroplanes at flying shows, got dropped on tropical islands for survival exercises, hunted russian submarines off norway, retrieved crashed planes in iceland.

He had a brilliant job that he loved. He might have been less keen if hed been involved in Iraq/Afganistan though.

I think the Army is wonderful, almost like an extended family...I joined the TA years ago, I loved it. The people were great, I loved the team building, the energy, I loved being on the go, outside, camping...it was very hands on. Very intresting and in a way exciting!
They not going to send anyone to war, and the training is beneficial in many aspects.

They will never send a TA to war, we had to volunteer to go.
I don't do it anymore, obviously the going away twice a month was a definate no no with kids!!

They won't accept Ds even in the (highly unlikely) event that he ever wants to jpin - so i might resent time spent on something essentially discriminatory in schol!