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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

National service isn't the answer. AIBU?

88 replies

D3LAN3Y · 08/09/2023 18:14

The conversation keeps cropping up time and time again. Should national service make a come back?
I have some relatives (generally older) who seem to think the younger generation could really use something like National Service to "sort themselves out" because they seem to think too many are rude/work shy/lazy/disrespectful etc.
I think it's a load of shit. I have two kids. Most of the teenagers I know happen to be good kids. I don't think they are a lost generation and anyone who works in retail already have done a form of national service in my eyes.

The tories have tabled an idea of a voluntary idea of national service but surely if they are pushing the idea to sort out "troubled youth" it wouldn't hit the audience it intended?

YABU - National service would help
YANBU - ITS A JOKE.

www.lbc.co.uk/news/penny-mordaunt-national-service/

OP posts:

InvisibleDuck · 08/09/2023 19:28

YANBU. I did a lot of volunteering as a teenager because I was trying to build up my confidence as I was very anxious. If it had been coerced or compelled, or I hadn't had a choice in what to do, I'd have refused to take part. Not all teenagers are the same, either - I got a lot out of doing errands and household chores for very elderly people (and chatting to them!) but I'd have hated outdoor/sporty/residential activities with other teenagers.

Volunteering is great. I definitely think volunteering schemes should be advertised more - but not expected or required of young people, or anyone else.

Compulsory military service is a ridiculous idea.

IvorTheEngineDriver · 08/09/2023 19:24

The conversation keeps cropping up time and time again. Should national service make a come back?

No it doesn't. I haven't heard this conversation in years. Anyway National Service was ended because the Services didn't want it. "The Army has better things to do that try to teach unwilling young people in 18 months what society hasn't taught them in 18 years." Field Marshal Lord Slim.

I suspect you're a hack desperate for a story OP.

SiouxseeSioux · 08/09/2023 19:21

I don't think being conscripted into the armed forces is the answer. It requires a person with the passion, determination & belief in defending King & country. We need members of the armed forces who we can depend on in times of conflict & disaster, not someone who has a half hearted attitude to military life. It also costs a lot to put someone through military training, so we need recruits who will put everything into it because they want to as opposed to someone who will do the bare minimum & leave at the first opportunity.

Needmorelego · 08/09/2023 19:18

@Insommmmnia yes I read the very similar thread that was on here a week or so so ago.
All these threads end up with the same thing being said - "Instead of Military like the old days they should get teens to...." and then goes on to describe schemes like NCS or Duke of Edinburgh or Scouts/Guides etc. Schemes and opportunities that already exist.

Fillette · 08/09/2023 19:16

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Itick8outof10boxes · 08/09/2023 19:12

Any future war in this country will be nuclear anyway. Noone is going to go into that lightly.

Fillette · 08/09/2023 19:10

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Missingmyusername · 08/09/2023 19:08

They wouldn’t last five mins, certainly we won’t be winning any wars. YANBU 😂

Highdaysandholidays1 · 08/09/2023 19:08

I know a couple of students who have done the National Citizen Service. I have a feeling that the ones who would opt out are the ones causing trouble so I don't see opt out/opt in as the solution at all. In Iceland, over 14's are paid proper wages to do socially valuable jobs like litter picking, caring for gardens, doing jobs for older adults, all co-ordinated by the national organization, which seems to me a good solution, they get to earn a bit of money in a socially responsible way. Asking people to volunteer to do a thing that used to be compulsory and many hated is not going to work in this day and age, those that can avoid it will.

Missingmyusername · 08/09/2023 19:07

“anyone who works in retail already have done a form of national service”

FFS

Oliotya · 08/09/2023 19:06

You want to "sort out" younger generations start by investing properly in education, reopening non-degree pathways and do away with dead end 0 hours jobs.
You want young people to be productive participants in society, give them the tools to do so!

Fillette · 08/09/2023 19:06

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Itick8outof10boxes · 08/09/2023 19:02

As someone up post said there are plenty of rude, entitled pita older people too.
They can be total arseholes and play the age card, but thinking about it they've probably always been arseholes. I'm old enough to be dm to many posters on here so it's hardly ageist for me to say this. Not that I care anyway.

Insommmmnia · 08/09/2023 19:01

@Needmorelego yes I know. But posters on the thread are generally concentrating more on the first half of the OP rather than the second. Doesn't mean you are the only person to heard of the scheme though there's been other threads on here recently

Fillette · 08/09/2023 18:57

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newnamethanks · 08/09/2023 18:56

Both my grandsons did the NCS and enjoyed it but you wouldn't have found them out vandalising, drugging, drinking and generally being a pita for everyone so I don't know how helpful that is, they went willingly.

Needmorelego · 08/09/2023 18:56

@Insommmmnia yes but the news article in the OP is about the government extending this scheme. Not sending lads off to war.

Needmorelego · 08/09/2023 18:55

Oh the picture isn't there....

National service isn't the answer. AIBU?

Insommmmnia · 08/09/2023 18:55

@Needmorelego nope not the only one who has heard of it but I would guess that the relatives suggesting "national service" to sort the youth of today out are nor referring to a NCS type scheme

Needmorelego · 08/09/2023 18:54

From gov.org website....

Needmorelego · 08/09/2023 18:53

I am the only person on this thread who has heard of the National Citizens Service (NCS)?
Because I am the only one mentioning it.

UnfortunateTypo · 08/09/2023 18:49

Not even my 76 year old Dad did National Service! It ended in 1963, how old is the person you are talking to?

TheAOEAztec · 08/09/2023 18:43

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 08/09/2023 18:39

Yeah those kids are certainly going to be willing participants ha ha ha

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Might be if you catch them early or find a way to force.

Theese things should be taught from young age tbh

RaininSummer · 08/09/2023 18:43

Like single and proud post, I think it's a great idea and should be for any young person not in education, work or training already unless there are serious reasons who it would not be suitable for them.

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 08/09/2023 18:39

TheAOEAztec · 08/09/2023 18:36

I like this.

Ghere are areas where kids run wild , setting up fires to bins, bullying corner shops, throwing rubbish around on purpose etc.
Local community based community swrbocw would be great

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Yeah those kids are certainly going to be willing participants ha ha ha

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