Why do you think you would you be exempt from conscription?

[Darkling1]

Off the back of other threads. I think I’d be exempt from conscription due to the following:

Severely asthmatic
Diagnosed MH issues
Anaemia
Poor eye sight (-5.50)

What about you?

Because I’m a carer for my disabled son?

it would certainly except him 😂

😂 this!

It takes years to be a soldier, im Finnish and every man has to take a year out of their lives to undertake very basic military training. We share our border with Russia, and we’re occupied by Sweden and Russia for centuries only gaining independence in 1917. Genuinely the idea of young ish British men being made to fight in a war when we don’t have any structures in place to prepare socially or psychologically for this … it will be a disaster. Do hope UK finds a way to improve its diplomacy role and helps find a way to deescalating the current conflict.

TBH I don't think I would be exempted. I have worked in drone research and red teaming -- in purely civilian applications of course! So I would probably be called up like all us nerds, flat feet notwithstanding.

Because when I had my eyes tested at age 13, the optician said that with eyesight like mine, the Russians would be in the Isle of Wight before I got called up.

The big issue is who I would be fighting to support. I’m not doing it for the US/ Israel/Iran or Hamas.
I’d fight to save civilians on any “side” though. Just not the men and states/regimes at the top.
I’m in my 50’s so too old and a bit fat, but I have the perimenopausal
rage and life is shit, so I would
fight and it would be no great shakes if I got splatted.

That’s a thought. I’ve had training in emergency planning, for my sins; and worked in the Middle East in the distant past doing a fair bit of ‘soft diplomacy’ around research projects.

I suppose we all have skills or experiences, really, from cooking to organising and planning, and there’s writing/communications, research & technology, languages, driving, and the endless fucking admin of everything. And of course: negotiating truces. Top skill.

I'd fail every aspect of the physical and psychological and practical testing!

I'm just too fucked? I don't think they take people who are on the sick? If they tried to force me I'd have to just accept being shot as punishment for refusal of service?!

I wonder if we’d be expected to be in some kind of Home Guard? Practice manoeuvres in the churchyard, church hall if raining, that sort of thing?

Female
small children

Too short and my medical history

Ha! By what definition? Capitalism?

Engineer working in manufacturing, peacekeeping equipment for military contracts.
I'd hope I'd be kept busy with that or weapons manufacture etc.

And the rural populations of eg India and China are thought to be significantly under-counted by some demographers.

We’re talking about billions not mere millions on the planet going unnoticed in official population estimates.

Private pike reporting for duty captain mainwaring!?
Or maybe we could be the guy what wears a tin hat with a big W on it?! 🤣

I'd say they'd look at me with my big boobs and thighs and laugh. I'd be useless in combat. However I think I'd be good at logistics and maybe be a driver or help with food prep or distribution.

I'd say they'd look at me with my big boobs and thighs and laugh. I'd be useless in combat. However I think I'd be good at logistics and maybe be a driver or help with food prep or distribution.

In all seriousness, the older I get the more I can imagine myself doing all those Dad's Army type jobs: organising evacuees or driving a bus or checking black-out blinds or something. Anything to feel like part of a community pulling together in the face of something pretty much out of anyone's individual control. I remember looking at all the bright-faced volunteers at the Covid vaccination station, clearly delighted to be Doing Their Bit, and thinking, You would absolutely have been an ARP warden eighty years ago. My DF, God rest him, would have positively relished standing there with a clipboard checking people off while subconsciously defeating Hitler.

It’s happened twice before….

Single parent
On anti depressants

Honestly - this is just scaremongering of the worst order, playing into people’s fears for their children and grandchildren.

@Darkling1 (and anyone) please share the circumstances you feel would give rise to conscription?

@StMarie4me- and under what circumstances?

Many years ago, when I started teaching I was approached by the Head of House and the Officer from the Army recruitment at Careers night. The recruitment officer wanted to know the names my 'misfits' and 'active' boys.
I pleaded ignorance, saying, that I was new and didn't know the boys well enough.
He preceed to show me a list of names. Nowadays, the boys would be identified as autistic and ADHD!

It happened more than once in different schools. Each time I was uncomfortable and uncooperative.

I would be exempt from military service due to age and health. I have a congenital blood disorder that means I am chronically aneamic. Also, a reserved occupation.

However, if we were in a world war I would do what I could to help on the home front.

No one who has ever seen me “playing” tennis would put a gun in my hand. (Also fat, unfit, short-sighted, long history of depression and 53.)
I’m already a civil servant, so I would presumably carry on with that. And knitting.

Quite a few MNers would be good at organising a Dig For Victory programme.