Army recruitment of unemployed youth

Hayfever ,?
That surprises me my son wouldnt pass the medical as he has diabetes and is insulin dependent but i can understand that.

I was talking to a retired detective.

After he left the Police he was involved in the Former Iraq War Crimes Inquiry

His comment was that the Army created a lot of problems by recruiting poorly educated young men who were desperate to get away from home who then bonded in an unhealthy way that resulted in them acting very badly.

Putting disadvantaged young men into the Army etc will simply perpetuate these problems

I'd consider what other options disillusioned, isolated and vulnerable young people - men especially - have at present.

quite.

Exactly. I had four great uncles, siblings, who were in the British army during WWI, only one of whom survived — they’d joined up years before because they were poor, in a place with few other options for WC boys. It’s not new. There are still words originating in Hindi in the local slang because so many were in regiments posted to Raj India in the late 19th c.

And for young women too.

Yes and those are young ppl who want to be in the armed forces, who were committed to giving it their all, not young ppl who have their arms up their backs.

I mean, tbf has there ever been a time when the armed forces weren't trying to hoover up working class youth without other options?

I’ll agree with the last part 100%.

When I was in, I couldn’t have given a fuck about “Queen and country”. The political bullshit that leads you to a war zone doesn’t enter your head.
All I cared about in the moment was that I was watching my friends and colleagues die or suffer life-altering injuries (to be fair even the non-lifethreatening ones like my lovely burn scar between my norks from a rogue shell casing 🫠)…..and that pissed me off.
Rage. Pure unadulterated rage.
The patriotism is reserved for the politicians on telly who like to make the public feel better about servicemen dying.

Sadly, that’s true and I have firsthand experience of that.
There was a lass in the same cohort as me for basic training. She wasn’t the brightest spark - not just academically. She just struggled with absolutely every aspect of it, including the basic life skills. She’d never seen an iron let alone used one. She didn’t know you’re supposed to add detergent before turning on a washing machine.
Living in such close proximity, we all got to know her well and helped her out as much as we could so she didn’t feel embarrassed about not knowing basic stuff in front of the instructors. Then families day rolled around, where parents and other family members are invited to come and spend the day with us and get some insight into what we were doing. She wasn’t the only person who had no family coming, but she was the only one who seemed relieved that her family weren’t there.
Turns out she came from a family where her dad was abusive, her mum was mentally unwell and had 6 other children at home. She’d been pretty severely neglected her whole life - hence the lack of knowledge of how to do basic, every day tasks like use a washing machine.
After we all went our separate ways to different phase 2 establishments, most of us stayed in touch. Last I heard of her, she’d dropped out of phase 2 training, shacked up with some bloke and had a baby. The baby was then taken from them by social services and she dropped off the face of the earth 😔 No idea what happened to her since then.

I believe it's now pinnacle.

Is Carillion Amey still doing the maintanance of forces accomodation

Some of you are talking like it's a choice between the infantry or going to uni and becoming a lawyer.

There's lots of roles in the military, some have better prospects than others. The benefits aren't what they were but still not bad. I know someone living in the singles accommodation and they are only paying £70 a month in rent.

What's the alternative? If it's minimum wage, struggling to afford the rent in even a room in a shared house and living on beans on toast, then I would argue that's a far worse situation. Especially if you are vulnerable.

Well who are they going to spend Christmas day with at home, and why is it better to have no family at Christmas in the UK when everyone else does, than be abroad with friends and miss out on one phone call?

Also how are they targeting the vulnerable exactly? Army recruitment are at most careers fairs, village fetes, they do school and university visits etc round here, this would reach all types of people. A few years ago they ran a lot of TV and radio adverts. I don't see them targeting or pressuring anyone - it's usually just information .

The armed forces can be fantastic for many young men who would otherwise do nothing. An opportunity to learn real life skills and have a career.

I don't know, care leavers are very vulnerable out in the world too. In the army there's structure, a career, a home, friends, a purpose. It's better than drugs and prostitution.
It's certainly got to be worth giving care leavers the choice. Not advocating forcing anyone. But deciding they are "too vulnerable" seems a bit daft when there's no safe option like with your daughter who can call her parents for advice and practical and financial support if she's having problems in her accommodation or job.

I only know one female in the infantry and she loves it, no complaints about harassment. So can't really comment on that aspect. It would certainly worry me to have women on the frontline because of the risk of sexual abuse if they were captured by the other side.

I know young care leavers don’t have any family support, hence why I don’t believe the armed forces is the place for them. It’s very isolating when you’re half way across the world, at 19 or 20, on Christmas Day and there’s a time difference but most parents don’t mind a phone call at daft o’clock. Who is a care leaver calling? No one. It just makes them feel worse, more isolated and impacts their mental health.

I don’t think it’s right to target vulnerable groups like care leavers. I don’t think it’s right to target anyone tbh. If people want to join the armed forces, they will. If they’re not, and too many are leaving then look at why, and do something about it.

National service would be a good way to staff care homes and nurseries. It doesn't necessarily have to be the army, that is one option.

It hasn't really

I'm 44 and perimenopausal. But thanks.

The Army will be overjoyed (not)

I think the point is maybe these young people are too vulnerable for a place like the armed forces

I mean I’m not sure I’d like my own daughter there despite having 2 parents as being a women makes her vulnerable to all the rape and sexual abuse that goes on in the armed forces

JFC, I was only giving two examples.

You could be doing the admin at the care home and learning accounting and wage management, working on the bin lorries, doing council street sweeping, working in a kindergarten with the children or using existing skills in roles that serve the country in other ways.

It wasn't a dictat that conscientious objectors be used to wipe bottoms of babies or elderly people - in fact they had choices. Lots of choices. My friend chose to do the hospital porter work whilst doing his PhD even though he could be excused.

Why don’t you feel like serving members and veterans are treated well? I am in the military (female) and am treated well. I have had an amazing career so far with lots of opportunities. I would actively encourage my children to sign up!

Young care leavers don't have any family support though...they are often living independently at 16 with minimal support and no one who actually loves and looks out for them.

Not saying the army is the solution but what is this strong network? It simply doesn't exist for the majority. A high proportion end up in jail .