Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

So pissed off at tories putting military youth groups into deprived area schools

351 replies

trashcanjunkie · 10/03/2016 22:36

We live in Newcastle. Yes it's a deprived area. I feel aghast at the fact the only half decent comprehensive school in our area has a cadet group based at school, with fucking army wankers there recruiting kids. The whole army campaign to get them young and 'make them better people' boils my fucking piss. They're cannon fodder who will likely get shipped out to oil wars, and left up shit creek without a paddle, wanting for basic kit etc. Then they either get blown to pieces, die, or come home horrifically injured or psychologically shattered. Now the government are rolling out another military type program and are putting money into sending them into schools in deprived areas.

Fwiw I've nothing against youngsters learning discipline or survival skills etc. I just have an issue with recruiting cannon fodder from 'us plebs'....

OP posts:
AKissACuddleAndACheekyFinger · 10/03/2016 23:29

And you don't think the military is skilled?!

Original poster
trashcanjunkie · 10/03/2016 23:30

Sorry layzdays I wrote army wankers without thinking. I most certainly did not mean your dp. The pice on the radio this morning started with a drill sergeant doing their special drill shouting. On reflection, shouty drill sergeants was probably more accurate, and what I should have said.

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 10/03/2016 23:30

Our school had cadets and the armed forces came in its a careers talk not recruitment for the Hitler youth calm down

Original poster
trashcanjunkie · 10/03/2016 23:31

Yes kiss I do, I just was meaning there are non military skilled too.

OP posts:
DaftLemon · 10/03/2016 23:31

I live in a shitty area and there no Cadets here. There is at 2 private schools I a big city nearby though. Not sure if shifty area kids are allowed to join though.

There is air cadets at an RAF base 10 miles away too (in the arse end of nowhere)

I know a fair few kids that go to Cadets(friends kids) and only 1 is thinking of joining up. Most do it for a laugh with friends and a fun week away in the summer

I don't see cadets as much different to going to Scouts or St John ambulance. It's a past time. Something to put on the CV and an alternative to drinking value cider in the local bus shelter.

I've no doubt sone cadets decide they fancy a military career but I don't think that many do nor do I think they are planned in certain areas for recruits.

thisismeusernameything · 10/03/2016 23:31

Oh and by the way, my cousin works in the recruitment office now but he was front line. Tours of Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, away from his wife and kids for months at a time and you call him an army wanker while he's serving hid country.

'If it's offensive to service personnel, I'm pretty sure they can handle it.' Yes, as they are taught to be men not molly coddled little darlings who are too scared to play contact rugby just in case their brains get scrambled. I'd love to see your stats on that. I'll start you off: You are more likely to get run over by a car than you are to suffer a dislocation/fracture through contact rugby if you are under 16. Now your turn...

Original poster
trashcanjunkie · 10/03/2016 23:31

MrsJayy Grin

OP posts:
Purplestarssparkle · 10/03/2016 23:34

Drill sgts have to shout so you can hear them from the other side of the parade square they don't follow the squad about asking you to move to the right in threes

Jeeves93 · 10/03/2016 23:34

One quick point - there is no conspiracy with the government putting cadet forces into schools in deprived areas - the schools applied to have one, it wasn't forced on them.

Original poster
trashcanjunkie · 10/03/2016 23:37

Thisismyusername.... Mine do play contact rugby. They're eleven (twins) and have done contact since they were eight I think. I don't like it, because yes, one of them has already had concussion and spent time in hospital. I can't stop them going as their dad takes them. We share parental responsibility so I say nothing. They aren't mollycoddled I don't think. And I'm sure the military personnel I may or may not have offended can handle it. I wasn't being tongue in cheek.

OP posts:
blueemerald · 10/03/2016 23:40

With respect MrsJayy I have been present at two talks by army recruiters at the school I teach at (in 2 1/2 years). They presented the army as essentially a more physical lads' holiday camp. Not dissimilar to the latest round of army recruitment adverts on television. It is inevitable that there will be variation in the presenters/presentations so I am not claiming they are all like this but I am describing my experience of how a group of particularly vulnerable students (I work in an SEMH school so not even sure if most of our students would be eligible to sign up?) were approached.

I repeat that I believe that CCF is a great opportunity for our students and am unaware of any push from those who run the units to sign up to the armed forces.

DaftLemon · 10/03/2016 23:43

Next time there are riots and looting on the streets, infected live stock in your area needed extermination, flooding, a fire fighter or ambulance strike - I expect the army wankers will be there to help you and your community out.

crumblybiscuits · 10/03/2016 23:45

I find "cannon fodder" more offensive than army wanker as I feel it really shows how few fucks people could give for the people that do get injured on tour.

MrsWigster1991 · 10/03/2016 23:47

I find "cannon fodder" more offensive than army wanker as I feel it really shows how few fucks people could give for the people that do get injured on tour.

Especially when many people believe they are doing it to protect their love ones and country.

cdtaylornats · 10/03/2016 23:48

allevents.in/roybridge/blue-flash-challenge/1484092361886540

Load of 50 year old ex-army wankers organising and taking part in an 80km trek for charity.

Mostly tank regiment so not used to walking either.

Feel free to support their main charity www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/

Give them money and you can call them what you like.

crumblybiscuits · 10/03/2016 23:53

Especially when many people believe they are doing it to protect their love ones and country.
Or for medics who work tirelessly to save the "cannon fodder" and often don't succeed.

cdtaylornats · 10/03/2016 23:54

The forces often recruit at University open days as well. Sometimes even the ones who like to hide away like GCHQ, MI6.

If you don't think you will be an officer join the RAF, they send the officers out to fight.

BillSykesDog · 11/03/2016 01:13

Joining the cadets doesn't mean you have to join the military. It can be a brilliant thing for youngsters to have on their CV when looking for non-military jobs as it shows industriousness, capability of team working, problem solving skills, communication skills, use of technology and more. In an area where children may not be getting stellar academic qualifications it can give them a massive advantage in all sorts of other jobs.

jlivingstone · 11/03/2016 02:49

Is was in the CCF at my public school. Think you have a chip on your shoulder OP.

MadamDeathstare · 11/03/2016 05:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FennyBridges · 11/03/2016 06:03

Can be a great career option. Will pay uni tuition fees for medicine and engineering, for example. Yes you join up in return - of course they will want to use the education they paid for, for a bit. Not often for a 22 year career however.

From my personal experience the armed forces do invest in people. And yes, my personal experience is also self sacrifice. It swings in roundabouts.

PoppieD · 11/03/2016 06:04

DH and I both ex 'army wankers' he regs me TA, it's ok have been called worse when out on patrols, covering Firefighters strikes, dealing with rioting.... Well him really, I was medic, have also worked with cadets frequently and could really see the life skills and positive change that joining cadets gave to these young people- and very, very few that I know of actually ended up joining the regulars.

Katenka · 11/03/2016 06:11

My step brother was killed in afganistan. I know the dangers.

We have cadets here. I don't know any cadets that have actually gone on and joined the army or navy. My step brother didn't go to cadets.

Personally I think Yabu because cadets can bring a lot to young people's lives and there is no pressure to go on and join the armed forces.

anklebitersmum · 11/03/2016 06:21

Op, your opinions are outdated and probably fairly offensive to service personnel.

No probably about it.

Cannon fodder and the whole you're thick so you must be infantry is also bloody fairly insulting.

Cadets is a wonderful resource in a similar way to Girl Guides, Scouts and St Johns Ambulance.

You seem to have a massive King Edward on your shoulder. None of Her Majesty's Armed Forces are press ganging teenagers Hmm

Rosa · 11/03/2016 06:35

But if there was nothing put in place for the deprived kids I bet you would whinge anyway... It sounds to me that whatever any government would propose or do you would not be happy with.
At least they are offering something to try and help the youth of today there is no obligation for them to join up. If you don't like it don't send your kids there.....