in my views on the TA adverts

[Kinnane]

I feel anger/sorrow/sadness when I see these adverts.

yabu. people know the "horror" that is war. it's on tv everyday, in the papers everyday and all over the internet if they choose to look for it. nobody signs up for the army thinking it's going to be a tea party :/

I certainly don't think 16-17 year olds go into active combat.

My personal opinion is that no soldier under 25 should go into active combat.

But it was definitely the best thing my dh could have done. Joining the military out him on the straight and narrow and taught him respect. He was put on all sorts of different courses and is a better man for it.

What lie? That you could be developed and have an interesting career? I don't understand what lie they are told?

You cannot go to operational theatres, such as Afghanistan, until you are 18 though you can join at 16 with parental permission (like getting married).

You can apply to join the army aged 15 yrs 7months, but can actually join until 16 and that is with parental permission.

In some areas joining up is a good career move due to lack of jobs/opportunity.

I know a fair number of families in such areas whos sons have come out with a trade and have gone on to do well in civvy street.

Also know sadly a few that either haven't come home, or have come home and been very troubled in civvy street. [PTSD]

I do get your point though OP, there was an army stand at a careers fair at my sons school and I had mixed feelings about that, despite my son being keen on a forces career at the time.

You can sign up with parental consent between 15 3/4 and 17. The army is bloody good career especially if your only other option is dead end life or crime.

And the TA is hardly the regs is it?

No is forcing anyone - they are not conscripting children. The armed forces are great as career choices for some people.

Lots of trades do not involved being "cannon fodder" and can teach young people valuable skills that are not simply open to them elsewhere.

Personally the thought of joining an armed force is really not for me. Doesn't stop others benefitting from it. And if you join up at 16 you go to a college.

Wewereherefist - The TA is very much like the Regs now - the big push in TA and RAF Reserves recruitment at the moment is to cover the gaps in the Armed Forces left by the massive defence cuts and redundancy programmes. Anyone joining the TA now can expect to be out on Operational Service doing exactly the same job and under the same conditions as regular personnel.

Sold a lie? Do you have any experience of the military or know any soldiers who have this opinion, Kinnane? I'd be very surprised if you did in the Regular Army, let alone the Territorial Army.

I tried to join the Army at 16, but needed parental permission and my mother refused to sign. On my 18th birthday I walked into the careers office and signed for myself. 3 months later I was on a train to Guildford for my Basic Training.

If someone wants to join, nothing will stop them. If someone doesn't, no amount of adverts will change their mind. You are being ridiculous OP.

I know they're doing more and more operational work, I have a friend whose done two tours in the TA, and DH has mentioned about going back in if they don't conscript the reservists

I don't think I explained myself properly, again. They're not 24/7 Army, so it's not a lie at all IYSWIM?

The army isn't a bad life and my husband has no regrets. (even if his trade is getting slashed)

I'm going to be brutally honest here. I think it depends on what life opportunities are open to you.

Yeah its not good that deprived areas are 'targeted' as such but on the other hand they do give people who might not have too many other options a chance that a lot of other organisations don't offer. I don't see too many employers rushing out to give opportunities to people who might otherwise be considered 'uneducated' or 'a problem' sadly.

Joining the army is a big risk, but its also an opportunity for people to have a different form of education and be treated in a different way and find a role and place within society.

If your alternative is sitting on the dole, with little chance of getting a job and maybe you are the type of individual who perhaps would be inclined to turn to criminal activities as a result... well is that as much of a risk?

The idea that its being sold a lie... not sure I totally agree with that. I think the Army is glorified but only to a degree, but I also think a lot of teenagers who join would be aware of that and weigh it up against their total lack of other opportunities.

I certainly don't think its a black and white issue. As much as I don't like war, I am also aware that having an army is necessary and not all army roles are front line and many campaigns are peace keeping in nature rather than aggressive. I look to Libya and Bosnia as more positive examples than Iraq and Afghanistan.

If the army was all bad, why do university educated people in their mid to late twenties join? The death rate amongst the lower officer levels, I believe is sometimes higher than some of the more junior ranks as the modern British army relies on these men to lead a lot more by example than it did in the past (I could be wrong on this so if I am, please will someone correct me)

We need an army. Without one the U.K. would not exist.
Since there is no conscription (as still happens in some countries) it's necessary to advertise for staff. And it makes sense to advertise where there is the biggest potential for recruitment.
I see nothing wrong with that.

In an ideal world we wouldn't need a military, but this is not an ideal world.

My husband is in the Forces, has been for 13 years. He has a highly successful career that has taken him around the globe. He has never once been in a combat situation despite serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There is far more to the Military than shooting at/being shot at by bad guys.

I do love these threads where the op doesn't know what they are talking about..... And then those in the know march in and put them straight!!

My DH joined the Navy at 16 with hardly any GCSEs. He had sailed to a large number od countries by the tike he was 18. Twenty one years later he an engineering officer with a MSc. He is the second most senior engineering officer on a submarine and absolutely loves what he does although of course, there are risks. He would never have had the opportunities that the RN has given him if he had stayed in our home town.

They will have to physically kick him out of the gatet when his time is up

YANBU

Wewereherefirst slight difference between the two in that the TA can't be compelled to go on tour - unlike the regulars. That's why the cunning plan being introduced as part of the SDSR will not work.

Sorry... Should have 'tagged' penguin73 then, not Wewereherefirst

You're right in that you can officially object to going on operations and your objection may be viewed sympathetically if there are compelling circumstances - but good luck with that! The regulars actually have the same rights.

Anyone in the TA (except the (unpaid) FANYs) can be mobilised. And although either or employer can object, there is no guarantee that those objections will cancel the mobilisation. And you cannot quit the TA during mobilisation, though you can at any other time.

But if you are not prepared to be mobilised at all, then TA s obviously not for you.

There are no areas of Army recruitment that are not in the public domain. There are no secrets. However, in recruiting through tv adverts it is my belief that the way in which this is done is very wrong.