Conscription, in this day and age.

[Vebrithien]

Somewhat morbid thinking, but I was wondering what would happen with conscription now days, if it was ever used again.

As far as I can recall, in WWII, it started with young, single men (after volunteers). Then moved up in age, and into the married men.

Given that so many people now have children without marrying, how would the powers that be get around it? Would you be conscripted if you didn't have children? Would absent father's suddenly be claiming their children? Or would it be linked to marital status still. Would there be a rush of weddings? And again, would it still only ever be men? What would happen to non-binary people, or trans people? If women with children were conscripted, would there be fail safes to ensure that their other parent wasn't conscripted?

What do you think?

We just wouldn't tolerate it

people wouldn't even wear a mask last year no chance of this happening

I think I've never been so happy to have a severely asthmatic husband and two autistic children.

If would never work and I wouldn’t want reluctant people defending the country!

They would use the reserves first and then probably look for those who have left the military and ohner volunteers

I also don't think this would work anymore. History tells us the British people have always had a strong opinion and it has influenced the government. The British public would not agree to this and it would be impossible to force nowadays

Style of war has changed a lot in 50 years so while yes foot soldiers are still a part but much of it is done very differently. I am not an expert but was reading something. From what I read conscription would be unlikely a)the change in tactics/style making fewer soldiers necessary and b)soldiers have more training these days so conscription and shipping out wouldn't work the way it did back in WW2.

Are you sure the public wouldn't agree to it? I think that's true of being conscripted to fight in Ukraine. But if Putin doesn't stop there and starts heading for our door? I know my DH would be at the front of the queue if he thought his home and family were under threat (thankfully they'd never take him).

I imagine half the young men of this country would race to sign up without conscription, and the other half would self-identify out of the first rounds of selection.

WW2 was conscription of all men between 18 and 41, who had to register for service, on the outbreak of war. There wasn’t anything about being a father or under a certain age. A year or so later, all single women between 20-30 had to register too. It was then expanded to include all men under 60. Some of this would not be fighting in the front line, though.

@Sirzy

If would never work and I wouldn’t want reluctant people defending the country!

They would use the reserves first and then probably look for those who have left the military and ohner volunteers

Of course it would work. People had no choice. Probably lots of people were reluctant to fight in the other wars too, but they still had to - barring good reason.

I'm not sure it would really work today, would it?

Why wouldn't young single women be conscripted? Female conscription has been on the rise since WWII as 'accepted'.

Feelings of patriotism would rise if we felt threatened - keep in mind how hikes in the cost of living and subsequent job loses could force some hands if a job in the army was an income.

We would probably look at people out of work and insist on service and a withdrawal of benefits.

We would also probably look at the application of gaming ability and cyber security aspects of modern warfare too. So not everyone would go to the front line and there would be numerous 'home front' type jobs going too.

But yes the point about training is an important one.

Modern warfare is also much more invested in medium range to long ranch missle type attacks too. Not necessarily nukes, but still devastating enough. So the front line isn't likely to be the trench in the same way either.

It frightens me.

I think some time in the military would do a lot of people good, to be perfectly frank.

Singapore has conscription - you have a choice of armed forces, civil defence, nursing, police fire etc

Works well - would be a great idea for the UK

I’m not sure the average U.K. estate agent or social media manager would be of much use in the face of the complex and high tech warfare we see in modern times. Just as WWI saw a new type of warfare ( British chaps on horses facing tanks), so will we now.

Ukraine has a huge military, bigger than the U.K. If and when they need our military support, I can’t see how it will be in form of green young men and women.

If conscription was a thing, of course it should be just as much a womans duty as a mans!

The army and other services would be horrified. They don’t need vast numbers of useless trainees. Modern warfare doesn’t need large numbers of people

Crossed my mind too OP.

Ex forces, who are still on the reserve list have already had a letter about the crisis ( DH hadn't as is now in what will be a protected service) so they would be the first after serving Military.

I dont think conscription would be as it was before. There may be call up of specialists in cyber and wargame people of any gender.

I don’t think we’ll see conscription again, not unless we were at the point of an army advancing towards our boarders.

I think the ear will be fought in other ways, longer range weapons, technology, hacking etc.

I can't imagine conscription unless the Russians were invading beyond Ukraine. I do sleep better at night knowing that Putin knows that we have Trident though.

We're not a nation of fit, healthy, balanced, brave people. It would be a disaster.

We were discussing this last night. Family member is in the military. Modern warfare is really more to do with tech, drones, cutting off access to fuel, money, communications. I am far more worried about hacking of systems than guns and bullets.
National service would be more likely to be about providing basic services when technology fails.

@FatCatThinCat

I think I've never been so happy to have a severely asthmatic husband and two autistic children.

Yup, quite content with my severely hearing impaired husband, my old Dad, my sisters with young children although I know that makes me selfish. Nephew signed up of his own free will so its his choice to be there

Given that trigger warnings are now given at universities in case the likes of Dickens, Shakespeare et al, upset the students, I wouldn't put money on a successful conscript army!!

@Maggiesgirl

Ex forces, who are still on the reserve list have already had a letter about the crisis ( DH hadn't as is now in what will be a protected service) so they would be the first after serving Military.

I dont think conscription would be as it was before. There may be call up of specialists in cyber and wargame people of any gender.

What is classed as a protected occupation? I am assuming my son will be in this position as he was in the forces in the last few years.