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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bring back National Service!

197 replies

AlternativelyWired · 05/10/2022 20:48

This was often the cry of my late dad who did do his a National Service and my own thoughts wander in that direction at times and wonder if it would be a good thing?

To be fair I know next to nothing about it, I think it's just an automatic brief thought I have (thanks to my dad) when parts of society are behaving appallingly especially with antisocial behaviour locally. They'd have to start about age 10 or 11 in some cases though!

Is there a good and non-biased source of information on this? I'd love to know more about it and wish I could ask my dad about his experiences but sadly he's deceased.

We were a military family. My grandad served in WW2, my brothers were military, my dad did his National Service, uncle in the Army along with a cousin or two. Only the males of the family showed interest until I came along but I have bad asthma so couldn't join.

Part of me thinks the general concept of independence, discipline, respect, team work, learning skills etc would be a good thing and that's the reason for those brief thoughts.

On the other hand, on a very personal level, I would hate for my ds to be gone for 2 years at such a young age. They are still so young at 16. My brother joined up at 16 and broke my mother's heart and mine. I was only 2 and for years I would be deeply upset whenever he had to go back to wherever he was stationed around the world.

I also think that whilst many would benefit, far too many would find it traumatic to be away from their families and there be no choice about it.

Why just males too? If it were brought back (highly unlikely I would have thought) would females also be signed up?

I think my dad's generation saw it as doing their bit but I don't know what it involved so I'm going to go and find out more. If anyone can point me in the direction of a good book I'd be very grateful. I'd also love to hear the thoughts of others on this. Do other countries still have this? Why? What do they do?

A lot of questions, I know. I'm autistic and this has as of tonight become my latest special interest.

OP posts:
Magenta82 · 05/10/2022 20:50

From my understanding the biggest opponents of national service are the military. Its hard enough training willing volunteers, why would they want people who are forced to be there.

WildOats5678 · 05/10/2022 20:50

Absolutely not! There’s already a lot of people in the military that don’t want to be in it and they signed up for it. Working along side the people that obviously don’t want to be in and are waiting to leave the military is such hard work and makes life harder for everyone.

strawberrysea · 05/10/2022 20:51

You can't be serious

the80sweregreat · 05/10/2022 20:51

It's just one of those things that are said but the reality is someone on the government payroll would make money and nothing will change.

Genvonklinkerhoffen · 05/10/2022 20:52

Could not agree more, my current team are apparently ambitious and on the cusp of promotion, it's next to impossible to get them to finish a task. Cannot imagine conscripts.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 05/10/2022 20:53

They have it in Norway and Denmark. In Denmark all the young men have to go and essentially pick a number out of a hat. Then the military takes the first however many they need. I think it's for 4 months. I really hope it's abolished before DS turns 18.

OoooohMatron · 05/10/2022 20:53

Absolutely not. This crap is usually churned out by baby boomers who never actually did national service themselves.

MerryLeg · 05/10/2022 20:54

Nah.

I find that a lot of people who had to do National Service went on to become fairly shitty people and parents.

reigatecastle · 05/10/2022 20:54

The only people who talk about national service are those who are too old to have to do it. Very few people alive now actually had to do it.

And nobody owes the state anything. There was a similar discussion about volunteering in retirement - it's nice if you do but you don't owe anyone anything. The only obligation is to obey the law and pay your taxes. That's it (I am also against jury service).

TiredButAlive · 05/10/2022 20:55

Definitely not. If you've done nothing wrong you should never have your freedom taken away from you. I also dispute this idea that military types are disciplined and well behaved. There's a lot of bullying in the military and the behaviour of some, when let loose off camp, can be feral. I've witnessed it!!

reigatecastle · 05/10/2022 20:55

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 05/10/2022 20:53

They have it in Norway and Denmark. In Denmark all the young men have to go and essentially pick a number out of a hat. Then the military takes the first however many they need. I think it's for 4 months. I really hope it's abolished before DS turns 18.

Yuck.

I'm also not convinced of the wisdom of teaching everyone how to use a gun.

WotsitsQuavers · 05/10/2022 20:56

Why not volunteer your child

Ship · 05/10/2022 20:57

reigatecastle · 05/10/2022 20:54

The only people who talk about national service are those who are too old to have to do it. Very few people alive now actually had to do it.

And nobody owes the state anything. There was a similar discussion about volunteering in retirement - it's nice if you do but you don't owe anyone anything. The only obligation is to obey the law and pay your taxes. That's it (I am also against jury service).

I’m also against jury service! I can’t believe you have no choice in it!

the80sweregreat · 05/10/2022 20:58

It's but a fantasy.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 05/10/2022 20:58

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have two years of guaranteed work and pay for young people with decent training but instead of the military why not get them picking between caring and working in food, trades etc as a sort of paid national community service doing the jobs we need? We don’t really need that many people in the army, there were huge redundancies a few years back, but we need more carers etc! I was doing that type of work at that age and would have loved a guaranteed job with training and guaranteed full time hours.
I know, I know, it’s probably not practical for the state to do this but its a shame because I reckon dependable employment, good accommodation and enough working hours would really help a lot of social issues in younger people.

the80sweregreat · 05/10/2022 20:59

You can get out of jury service with a good enough excuse I believe?
.. not sure tho

LaQuern · 05/10/2022 20:59

My dad did NS and loved it, getting up to sergeant level.

It wasn't for everyone though and if you hated it, what's the point of slogging it out for 2 years?

Suprima · 05/10/2022 20:59

Finland does a great job with national service. If you don’t want to join the military, you take a role elsewhere within the state. I met a pacifist who was doing one of his years as a school receptionist.

hard to replicate here with a much bigger population though

I’m not opposed to it at all. Currently on a bus stop and just watched some teenagers throw one of those e-scooters over a bridge. They could be doing something a bit more productive…

Original poster
AlternativelyWired · 05/10/2022 21:01

Some posters haven't read what I've said beyond the title but I suppose this is AIBU🙄

I can't imagine it in our modern world at all. Certainly not in this country. I wish my dad were still here to ask for his experiences. He did tell me about army rations and his once you'd had those you'd eat anything. I'm hoping that wasn't a dig at my cooking 🤔

OP posts:
Cwcwbird · 05/10/2022 21:02

Hell no. My son is nearly 16 and there's no way I'd want him forced into the military.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 05/10/2022 21:03

My father had to do national service. He was stationed abroad and loved that aspect of it, but I think the experience left him with a deep mistrust for all things military. He despised the army, and hated every moment of serving in it...I don't think he saw any positives at all, and he was glad when national service was abolished.

I would hate for my dd to have to do something like that.

AdoraBell · 05/10/2022 21:07

FIL used to say this. Saw him last weekend and I think that’s the only time he hasn’t ranted about it.

TheHateIsNotGood · 05/10/2022 21:08

I'd reverse it - for early retirees under State Pension Age bring in National Service - not the kind you get paid for before the public sector workers consider themselves absolved - the kind you don't get paid for; visiting the elderly, helping down your local CAB with filling in forms, picking up litter, helping at the youth club. All sorts of things.

It's a short term version of National Service as State Pension age is put back more and more the likelihood of early retirement for most will be a distant memory, an anachronism of a bygone time. Most will be too knackered by retirement to do much more than look after themselves.

Original poster
AlternativelyWired · 05/10/2022 21:09

@PeekabooAtTheZoo I agree that something like that would be of benefit. Im not sure about the care jobs though unless the young people chose to go into that area. I wouldn't want anyone caring for a vulnerable child or adult if they only chose it as the best of a bad lot type of thing. I know there's the be in education or an apprentice or employment between 16 and 18 now but I don't know how much benefit that has been to young people compared to in the 90s when I was a school leaver.

OP posts:
entropynow · 05/10/2022 21:09

AlternativelyWired · 05/10/2022 20:48

This was often the cry of my late dad who did do his a National Service and my own thoughts wander in that direction at times and wonder if it would be a good thing?

To be fair I know next to nothing about it, I think it's just an automatic brief thought I have (thanks to my dad) when parts of society are behaving appallingly especially with antisocial behaviour locally. They'd have to start about age 10 or 11 in some cases though!

Is there a good and non-biased source of information on this? I'd love to know more about it and wish I could ask my dad about his experiences but sadly he's deceased.

We were a military family. My grandad served in WW2, my brothers were military, my dad did his National Service, uncle in the Army along with a cousin or two. Only the males of the family showed interest until I came along but I have bad asthma so couldn't join.

Part of me thinks the general concept of independence, discipline, respect, team work, learning skills etc would be a good thing and that's the reason for those brief thoughts.

On the other hand, on a very personal level, I would hate for my ds to be gone for 2 years at such a young age. They are still so young at 16. My brother joined up at 16 and broke my mother's heart and mine. I was only 2 and for years I would be deeply upset whenever he had to go back to wherever he was stationed around the world.

I also think that whilst many would benefit, far too many would find it traumatic to be away from their families and there be no choice about it.

Why just males too? If it were brought back (highly unlikely I would have thought) would females also be signed up?

I think my dad's generation saw it as doing their bit but I don't know what it involved so I'm going to go and find out more. If anyone can point me in the direction of a good book I'd be very grateful. I'd also love to hear the thoughts of others on this. Do other countries still have this? Why? What do they do?

A lot of questions, I know. I'm autistic and this has as of tonight become my latest special interest.

Well my Dad was regular forces and would often say the very LAST thing they wanted was a load of reluctant amateurs, so I vote nope

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