EVERY 16-year-old in Britain could be signed up for 'National Service' scheme

[SerendipityJane]

Presumably their first "civic exploration" could be to rebuilt their schools...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12463729/Penny-Mordaunt-backs-National-Service-automatically-enrols-teens.html

Judging by many threads on MN where young people stick the boot into 'boomers', it would appear to be that it's the younger generation who hate older people.

Dd has basically done this with Duke of Edinburgh award and a week of work experience age 15. Many schools have the option of dofe or cadets so it’s just aligning all the schools rather than signing all 16yos up for a year on the front line.

I'm interested to know that whether @Shinyandnew1s post that nobody under 83 did compulsory service was accurate or not

Peacetime National Service (in the military sense) was abolished in UK in 1960 (with the last batch who had to enrol in 1960 finishing in 1963). It was for men aged 17-21, for 18 months, with a further reserve commitment of 4 years (that was never used).

So I make it that no-one under 76 could have done it at all, and not everyone under 80

The last man to do National Service - BBC News

@BIossomtoes I'm
aware of Penny's age. Why do you think they have made a thing about this??

Thanks @RoseAndRose

Because they love encouraging divide and rule. While you’re busy boomer bashing you’re not blaming this apology for a government.

Judging by many threads on MN where young people stick the boot into 'boomers', it would appear to be that it's the younger generation who hate older people.

But this thread is about a specific policy. Are there any policies designed to attract the younger generations?

It wouldn't have crossed my mind that it's a Tory vote winner tbh.

I think the proposal to add all 16 year olds to the list of potential participants who might be interested in doing it, is just that. A way of promoting something that may or may not be interesting/useful to a 16 year old for a few hours.

I'm no Tory but I genuinely don't think there's much more to it than that.

I do think (as others have said) that it could be a very valid experience. A couple of my students have done it.

Because they love encouraging divide and rule. While you’re busy boomer bashing you’re not blaming this apology for a government.

I'm not boomer bashing 🙄

Im fully aware they want to encourage divide & rule. My point is that many obviously buy into it otherwise this "policy" wouldn't be headline news!

Are there any policies designed to attract the younger generations?

Not Tory one’s, no. Why would they bother when half of them don’t vote and the ones who do predominantly vote Labour?

Have they ever met a teenager they aren’t responsible for themselves or the house let alone doing tasks outside of it

Vote bait bollocks

Personally I don't think the answer to unskilled & unhappy young people is national service.

@BIossomtoes so you do think this policy appeals to some older voters?

@stripeyjug

It wouldn't have crossed my mind that it's a Tory vote winner tbh.

Looking at the press & even this thread many do just think it's a way of getting votes.

@Shinyandnew1 thanks. I think I was confused by @Lisbeth50s response to your post!

But 'the detail' won't be. We all know that. Underfunded, managed by a Tory donor hedge fund. A pointless waste of everyone's time.

This is a government whose own Apprenticeship Scheme yields 'apprentice barista'; 'apprentice childcare worker'. Costas and, I don't know, someone like BusyBee (apology if not them) grifting to pay kids a couple of quid an hour to avoid paying them minimum wage.

The Germans would run tight rings around thus.

We're too crap to even contemplate it.

But, 'Back in my day!...' etc.

In fairness, most people on this thread seem to think their children are about to be airlifted behind enemy lines wearing camouflage rather than have the possibility to do a bit of volunteering if they want to.

'So the quality of NCS varies MASSIVELY by area and promotion of it is just as varied. It could really do with centralised coordination, but that's the Tories for you - subcontractors taking their cut everywhere'

Doesn't that sum it all up? Everyone after a slice of a pie, not looking to provide a meaningful, sustainable service.

Can you imagine?! Have they met any 16yo's? Mine is terrifying. I wouldn't meant to be in charge of getting her to put down her eyelash curler and do anything helpful. She certainly would wear high vis!
She's actually great but still moody/grumpy/sleepy and uncooperative!

they have the option of doing volunteering now tbf & many do.

Nonetheless the vibe is that it's perceived to be a vote winner. It's a bit like the inheritance tax idea mooted a few weeks ago. Very popular despite it not affecting many.

The BBC article on the last man demobbed from National Service says he was 22 in 1960, and that some of his cohort were 4 years younger than him.

So that last batch included men born between 1938 and 1942

I must have added up wrong in previous post (by 18months, as I think it's duration I mucked up - peacetime conscription was initially 18months, but was extended in 1950 because of the Korean War).

Despite what first hit on google says, the youngest on the final cohort would be 80 turning 81 this year.

This is just clickbait to try to keep Mail readers onside till the election.

This is a government that won't put adequate funding into education, or even into keeping school buildings in decent repair. They are not in a million years going to provide funding to make this little scheme work.