If there was a war who would fight?

[kirstyalslap]

I am keeping my head in the sand. No news. But my child has come home from school asking about the Russian War thanks parents of little charlie and I have been noticing more planes and helicopters.

It's making me scared. Who would fight?
Would our husbands be made to leave for war?
My husband is the breadwinner. I don't work at all. I have small children would he have to go? how would i feed the children? clothe? house? wash?

Would women have to go? What would happen now we have 'equal rights'?
If only men would have to go to war would transmen count? What about transwomen?

Is it just people in the army?
please put my mind at rest.

I am so scared please don't call me a scare mongering idiot. My head was in the sand until my child came home talking about something I am trying to ignore. After a bit of further probing it turned out about a 3rd of the class have been told we are going to war by their parents so that is the reason for this thread.

You could head to Switzerland. They’ll probably be neutral.

Ah I wouldn't worry about close range combat. If this escalates to war, it'll be energy restrictions for us, economy will be hit and probably cyber attacks too. Fingers crossed putin doesn't do anything silly with the big red button

Can you imagine the millennial snowflakes being told they need to ship off to Europe to go and fight in a war? OP you’re on another planet.

There may well be a war. I doubt we will actually fight in it - maybe some strong words and sanctions but I doubt even Johnson is stupid enough to take us into war with Russia.

But even if we did, I’d bet everything I own on civilians NOT being conscripted to the armed forces. This would be nothing like the Second World War in the way it’s fought, and a bunch of poorly trained civilians would be of no use to anyone.

I'm not being funny op but you do realise that the British military are specialists at their jobs? They use specific intelligence, are trained in combat situations and modern warfare. They are not about to conscript a chubby barista off the high street to fight a war.

The Army and other services would be horrified by conscription. It takes ages to train people.

What the fuck who is telling their children this. Both my boys have asked this recently. One is eight and one is 13!
No, the men won't be called to war!

As a general point It’s interesting how many upthread think it’s all warfare now is done remotely/by buttons and there can’t be land warfare or trench warfare anymore…have they not looked at the images coming out of the Ukraine showing the trench networks and also the close range anti tank weaponry the Ukraines are getting….the days of really nasty close quarters infantry warfare are potentially still with is (unfortunately)…

As for conscription/being called up…..training even for basic infantry roles takes multiples of weeks, anything more technical months if not a year plus..conscription/call up of members of the general public iisn’t going to happen, certainly not in the Uk.

There is nothing wrong in explaining what is going on in an age appropriate way - especially to a 8 and 13 year old.

@Thatsplentyjack

What the fuck who is telling their children this. Both my boys have asked this recently. One is eight and one is 13! No, the men won't be called to war!

The men? If it came to it I would hope it would be the men, the women, the non-binary, trans. We can’t discriminate.

People in the TA are generally the ones called up who have civilian jobs normally.

I wouldn’t worry, war is very different now. Conscription was necessary because they needed the physical manpower. Technology has come a very long way.

Realistically I’d imagine most people wouldn’t even pass the fitness test to get in anyway.

Seriously, we can't even get everybody to wear a mask or have vaccinations that could stop them or others dying of a horrible infection - there's no way the 'I will not be muzzled' brigade would ever be conscripted.

Those asking ‘who is telling children this?’ I think the children are drawing their own conclusions. The only war they learn about is WWII. So to them war means men being conscripted. I remember having the same worry during the Falklands war.

If we had to rely on the rest of the Men of Britain we'd have Putin in No10 by tea-time.

God, yes this.

I often look at some men and think I wish we would bring back national service Catgender indeed

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Seriously, we can't even get everybody to wear a mask or have vaccinations that could stop them or others dying of a horrible infection - there's no way the 'I will not be muzzled' brigade would ever be conscripted.

Those lot are generally too old anyway.

I’d be interested to see if the ‘we didn’t run away in the war, we stood up and fought’ lot would turn up at recruitment offices.

DH and I are both too old to be conscripted (based on the ages used in WW2) and I think my job would be classed as a reserved occupation (I was classed as a 'key worker' in lockdown).

So, not me.

if there is a war who will fight

The cast of Geordie shore

What a bonkers thread

Modern warfare requires nothing like the manpower of the 1940s because it is all automated.

Tri service jobbie, all current serving and reserves would be pulled in to do things. Chances of a full blow war are slim though.
Having a loved one deployed to areas of conflict is really crappy, especially when you find out about it as an afterthought.

Sorry to say it but world war today means night night all....as soon as one rogue state pushes the red button its Mutually Assured Destruction for all and your best hope is for a direct hit so it's quick. It won't happen though. Do some reading about this situation in Ukraine.

Are you very young or particularly naive? There have been loads of wars we've been involved in over the years- ordinary people have never been called up.

@kirstyalslap don’t you think you have a responsibility as an adult and a parent to educate yourself about this?

I've had my head in the sand too op. But the first thing I thought was, my husband wouldn't last a week. I don't think I'd even bother going to wave him off.