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Original poster

The latest advert for the army makes me uncomfortable

38 replies

StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 14:07

Society predicts you won't amount to much but we see your potential.
While I applaud the sentiment, there will be plenty of disengaged young people for whom the army isn't the answer. Can't work through this but this advert is a bit off.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 14:08

And society needs to improve. Not that these young people should assume they're written off to all but a very small career choice.

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Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 14:17

Bump, had anyone elsr heard it

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TonTonMacoute · 10/03/2019 14:45

there will be plenty of disengaged young people for whom the army isn't the answer

I agree, but the army aren't going to take people who aren't suitable. I think you're worrying about nothing.

This campaign attracted a lot of criticism, but has apparently been quite successful.

boringlyboring · 10/03/2019 14:51

I agree, it was my first thought when I heard it.

For one thing, imagine thinking ‘they’re right, I’m shit I may aswell join’ and then not getting accepted.

It has a bottom of the pile feel to it.

Tootyfilou · 10/03/2019 14:56

The working class are always cannon fodder for the armed forces. Now because of austerity we have economic conscription.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 15:00

Good point. If that's your attitude and then you get rejected..
Actually my issues with it is that it (and presumably this is the government) 'approves' the fact that some young people won't amount to much. While that might be the reality we should be aspiring to so much more, not accepting it.

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Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 15:01

I did like 'be the best'.

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IntentsAndPorpoises · 10/03/2019 15:03

I hate that I only ever see Army recruiting offices in towns that have high levels of unemployment and deprivation. Feels like they are preying somehow.

GrimDamnFanjo · 10/03/2019 15:06

It will have been tested extensively with the target audience...

scaryteacher · 10/03/2019 16:27

The thing is though that HM Forces give structure, self discipline, help you gain qualifications, have a clear career path and help develop your skills. I taught a lad who was going nowhere...low grades, disinterested family, and he joined the RN. He came back to see me about a year after he'd joined, and he was a different person. He had pride in himself, had a purpose, was being given opportunities, and he could see the point in making an effort, which was a new thing for him.

Don't knock it, it can make all the difference to someone. My Dad joined the RN at 16 as a junior rating. He was a Lt-Cdr by the time he was 39. He had a career that someone who only got 4 O levels wouldn't have otherwise achieved.

BeGoodTanya · 10/03/2019 16:42

Agree with Tooty and Intents.

RepealTheGRA · 10/03/2019 16:45

I didn’t like it either, had an exploitative feel to it.

isabellerossignol · 10/03/2019 16:50

I think the armed forces can be a fantastic opportunity for some young people, a chance to achieve things they never would get to do otherwise, and to have a 'family' and sense of belonging that many of them don't have at home. But when their years of service are over, they are dumped back out in the civilian world with all the problems that they had before joining, only now they are even worse because no one who hadn't served as well can understand how they feel. It's heartbreaking.

BeGoodTanya · 10/03/2019 16:50

Mind you, I believe that in some US states, the army actually has recruitment offices at high schools in impoverished areas.

Backwoodsgirl · 10/03/2019 16:56

The military can be a great opportunity for kids leaving school. I have seen a lot of kids flourish who otherwise would be on life's scrap heap

Conscription probably isn't that bad of an idea.

RepealTheGRA · 10/03/2019 17:06

Mind you, I believe that in some US states, the army actually has recruitment offices at high schools in impoverished areas.

They do similar here.

Graphista · 10/03/2019 17:06

This is not new. Half my family and my ex are military. Personally I'd say every last one of them joined up to escape something.

Miserable home life, lack of job opportunities, poverty, deprived home area...

Twas ever thus

They are however quite strict on entry criteria especially now and won't take just anyone.

They also do build people up, give them training, qualifications, great opportunities not only for career advancement but to travel (and not just to war zones!), to participate in high level sports & other hobbies, charitable work etc

I wanted to join up but couldn't for medical reasons (asthma too unstable). I would also have been escaping but I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing.

ShabbyAbby · 10/03/2019 17:08

I have known lads who wanted to join the army or navy and were convinced not to by their left wing friends and families (you don't want to be cannon fodder) only to then do badly in education and work and not really live up to their potential anyway. I can't work out what the answer is. There is a part of me that balks at the obvious targeting of the economically disenfranchised working classes, and another part of me that thinks, well, we need volunteers and maybe this could be the making of them?

I feel massively conflicted, and would struggle to know what to do or say if my DCs one day wanted to sign up. Like, do I say because they are my kids that I need to prioritise them above and beyond somebody else's and let their kids be at risk instead? Do I act like they've been brainwashed, or do I support them if that's their decision? Do I spout Marxist theory at them or do I accept that there will always be a need and role for the forces?

If I tell them not to join, am I a hypocrite? If I tell them to go ahead, am I sending them to be slaughtered over rich peoples oil/greed/money? How do I make peace with it either way?

Or do I just push them to go to "safe" university and commit parenting "nimbyism" by protecting them with the last dregs of middle class aspiration I can muster

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 18:12

I'm really sure tha army is a very positive I fluence in a lot of young people's lives. I have no doubt. But other options should be available.

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tierraJ · 10/03/2019 18:28

My grandad joined the army in 1933 because he was homeless & starving.

I know of many men who joined the army as a last resort & made a good career of it.

So that's the way it always has been.

Moanymoaner123 · 10/03/2019 18:29

Toots speaks the truth

OpiesOldLady · 10/03/2019 18:42

My son is 14 and from being small he has wanted a career in the army.

He's in the cadets and so far, it's been a hugely positive influence on him. He has it all planned out - after his GCSEs he wants to join up and then go to the training school in Harrogate then join the parachute regiment.

The thought of him being cannon fodder scares me hugely but it's something that he's set on, and frankly there's so much worse he could be doing, so I'll support him.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 18:48

Good luck to him opies

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OpiesOldLady · 10/03/2019 18:54

Thank you. He's had a particularly tough few years and it would be so easy - and bloody understandable - for him to go off the rails, but cadets and his long term plan seems to be keeping him level.

FWIW, I agree with your POV.

TonTonMacoute · 10/03/2019 19:45

But other options should be available.

I doubt many people join the armed forces because nothing else is available. As I said in a PP there is a selection process, they don't just take everyone who applies.

You make it sound like the Press Gang, and when the recruiting sergeant used to drop coins into men's beer to trick them into signing up Confused.