Would British people be forced to sign up if we went to war?

[rileyhaspiley]

If there was some serious war threat and we had to act fast, but we didn't have the military, would our currently government have the ability to make men of 18+ sign up?

Interesting question to me. I was shocked when I learned military service is actually compulsory in South Korea

And if the uk did find itself in a similar situation to Ukraine it’d be a waste not to use the collective National skill gained from teen addiction to call of duty games etc!!! Sorry, very facetious- but I’m really anti computer war games of this nature!!

Asked my DH this question and he said it wouldn’t be needed as it would be a nuclear war.

@JustAnotherBoringUsername

Well it was hard to get some people to wear masks during covid so not sure how successful it would be

Plus some would be more of a liability than an asset (maybe deliberately so)

In previous wars refusing to fight when conscripted has been a criminal offence if you didn't have conscientious objector status recognised.

During WWI conscientious objectors were conscripted to alternative non-combative roles such as farming, mining, railway building or medical roles. Those who refused were court martialled and imprisoned, fleeing the front line resulted in being shot for cowardice.

The law was less harsh during WWII but you could still be conscripted to alternative work (mining, farming, ambulance service or fire service), or conscripted to a non-combat role in the forces (often working in army food or clothing stores). Many were still imprisoned though.

I think the threat of prison would get most co-operating.

@Blinkingbatshit

Have you watched Ender's Game... disturbing.

@GettinTrimmer

What would happen if a conscript had no ability; some people would not be cut out for it, physically and psychologically. Presumably jobs doing other things would be found for them?

As in previous wars, being conscripted just meant being required to join the forces. There was all kinds of selection to ensure suitable people for the frontline jobs and there were loads of unskilled jobs too.

There would be a need for engineers, drivers, mechanics, cooks, navigators, radio operators, intelligence operatives, stores staff, stretcher bearers and ambulance crews, logistics staff, all kinds of things. One of my grandfather in law's jobs in WWII was patching up the runway if it was damaged by gun fire, bombs or crash landings.

@GeneLovesJezebel

Asked my DH this question and he said it wouldn’t be needed as it would be a nuclear war.

he does have a point!

Given that the Government couldn't even get everyone to follow the rules (including themselves) during Covid, I think we would lose before it even began - human rights and all that

@Idroppedthescrewinthetuna

This is something I have thought about a lot! Something that made me think, would they make previous shielders fight? You know all the ones we had to protect? Would we be sending them out now to protect the Country. Stupid question really but late at night my head walks down some very strange avenues.

Most of those who shielded would fail the medical exam for front line or field support military service. That said, we now have cyber forces so they could conceivably be in the armed forces but sitting at home on a computer doing cyber attacks and defence....while still shielding from Covid.

DDs Boyfriend has dual Austrian citizenship and was originally told that to keep it he would have to complete the mandatory 6-9 months of military service. He was very relieved to receive a letter from the Austrian government just prior to his 18th birthday telling him they were waiving it and he could still keep his citizenship. Many countries have mandatory military service but some also have mandatory eligibility for conscription too. Including, surprisingly, Denmark. Most countries only mandate males for service but some, like Israel , also mandate females for service.

Another one wondering how many men will start identifying as women if compulsory enlistment comes in - I bet all the support for transpeople will die a quick death if it comes to pass!

Personally I'd rather shoot my ds's toes off (or hide them somewhere) than send them off to war.

@JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon in addition in WW2 many men who joined the police and some other occupations did so because they were deemed essential and so could not be conscripted.

If you wonder why the police have recruitment crises about every 20 or so years, you can trace it back to the war, those people retiring at certain times in bigger numbers, etc etc.

Yes