19 yr old son and fear of being called up to fight in a war

[User287264]

This is not a thread about "will WW3 start tomorrow", there are plenty of those already

Ds is 19 and has been talking about lot about what would happen if the UK did enter a war and if young people his age would be called up to fight.

He's such a gentle soul, I think this would be his worst nightmare. (Not that many people would relish it I know)

I'm not sure what to say to him. It feels to me like a general call-up WW2 style would not happen nowadays but what do I know?

I guess we all have our different worries about world security right now but I guess his is quite a specific worry. I'm 52 with arthritis, I'm not ever likely to be called up to fight.

It's total speculation and I still dont feel it's very likely, but does anyone have any idea how a massive call-up might work nowadays? Or would the current armed forces and reserves be enough? I'd like to reassure him without just dismissing his fears.

He does have a tendency to anxiety which doesn't help, but he's generally good at handling it. We're having a news-free day (apart from me right now) and going out for a big walk in the rain

Well drones are being used in Ukraine but there are still soliders on the ground actually fighting and getting killed. This is a bit of a flippant answer in a time when many many human soliders are still losing their lives in wars in large numbers

I am sorry your son is worried about this OP. I think conscription to fight is only likely to happen if we in the UK are actually properly invaded, which it seems to me seems very very unlikely. I don't know how you can reassure your son though, as I am not sure there is any real reassurance to be had in the sense that it is almost impossible for his worries to be realistic. I actually worry about this for my own 19 year old son, though I have never said anything of the sort to him and he does not seem to worry about it at all, for which I am grateful.

I can only say that we are living in uncertain times and the UK is gradually leaving that bubble of certainty that we are a fundamentally safe nation. I am not sure of what the future holds but it is no longer that certainty that what is happening in the wider world is not likely to touch us in this 'safe haven' . Since there is very little we can do about it however, I would encourage your son to be brave and to accept that his fears are based on some element of possibily but that they are quite unlikely to come true. That is pretty much the human condition.
Since he can do very little about it however, his energies would be better being used to live his life and not to worry too much about things that have not yet happened. Easier said than done I know but the only advice I can give. That and to let him talk to you about his fears, putting them into some sort of perspective for him. Not dismissing them outright but encouraging him to not dwell on them. Not an easy balance I know.

Most 19 year old haven't got a wife and kids.

I think it's getting boring now taking the piss out of the youth. They are growing up in a different world than we did.

Most intelligent adults agree they shouldn't be fighting for the fuck ups of older generations.

As an ex infantry soldier, I’m not convinced that is exactly true. Ground is only taken when it has boots on it. Whilst drones are important, drone countermeasures are developing at a pace.

Russia is still taking ground very slowly with meat assaults. The NATO way is to establish air superiority and then use that as a platform to suppress opposition before sending in skilled highly trained troops to finish off the opposition.

The reason Russia is advancing so slowly is because they haven’t been able to establish air superiority. The Israelis have done so by using the tech that we have (F35’s).

As for conscription, that isn’t really an option these days. Even after a prolonged basic training, infantry recruits still have to receive further training and experience before becoming effective.

Your 21 year old’s life sounds a lot like Zelensky’s. Funny how things can turn out…he may end up running the country!

TBF, conscription is unlikely, if you remember there was a short up tick for the Falklands and the Gulf Wars in enrolment but I very much doubt we are looking at boots on the ground and people are not overwhelmingly behind this.

What does your son do or what does he hope to do? In any war there are always reserved occupations, people who can go voluntarily but will never be conscripted. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a6652019.shtml

It's raining in the westidlands ATM! Was yesterday too

Omg west midlands 😂

I agree with pps that it would be a nuclear war so unlikely to be a foot soldier type battle but I do believe there is a risk of us being invaded.
I've heard there's talk of a Dad's Army style initiative being started again in case we may be invaded. I mean, it would probably be Russia who would invade our island or possibly China (though I doubt that.)
I'm sure no-one wants to fight but I'm sure those same people would not want to be forced to speak only Russian and have no internet, wifi, TV etc etc. It's a tricky one!
Let's hope common sense prevails. War is so bloody futile.

I’m not sure the modern army would want a load of dopey conscripts.

Tell that to Ukraine and Russian men!

This is one thing that would never even enter my mind to worry about. Nothing you can do about any of it. It’s a waste of time.

You will just have to deal with it if it arises and you will be in full possession of the information then.

No one has any idea how conscription would work today, so it’s pointless speculating about it.

To be fair to this generation, every generation before them has been criticised by the preceding generation. Called soft or daft. My dad certainly did it to me. I see apprentices in work in a job that’s not suitable for snowflakes. We certainly have no shortage of recruits and whilst they’re initially a bit daft, they certainly wise up pretty quickly.

People tend to forget that Afghanistan and Iraq were fought largely by Gen Z and Millennials and at the time the army didn’t struggle to recruit as much as it does today when it’s not really as dangerous as it used to be.

Do online courses in cybersecurity etc etc that may make him a more useful desk soldier?

I wouldn't want my DS to risk his life protecting people like you.

I honestly doubt many would want to help our government.

Can you imagine sending your kids out to die for the safety of a bunch of moaners who do nothing but slag off ‘the youth of today’ online? Fuck that.

Not sure if this is true, but i saw statistics that 30 000 men in Ukraine just didn't show up to where ever they were summoned. Not sure if there will be punishment after the war. But if imagine, same can be done if ther is a war. And people did the same in WW2. Now with professional military, nato, drones, modern warfare, i doubt young men are called that quickly (and who knows maybe it is men and women and then the odds are lower)

Exactly, it just wouldn't happen.

Surely these days it would be men and women, not just men?

Anyway that's a moot point cos I don't think conscription would happen. However I could see national service coming back cos of stupid Reform and their "ye olde Britain" ambitions.

Midlands it pissed it down earlier and it's windy I'm enjoying the break

‘People like me’? It’s not about me, you or your son. The army will not want conscripts unless they absolutely have to. They want people who want to join the services.

Had this discussion with young colleague yesterday. I pointed out the military need driven, motivated young people. He is neither. although his smell could be a chemical weapon

So if he ever was conscripted and went to fight for your safety (and potentially died for it) you would just moan that he wasn’t driven and motivated enough?