Ready yourself for the Citizen's Army

[ChedderGorgeous]

Is the head of the army being sensationalist to highlight lack of army funding or is the reality of a citizen's army in the UK a step towards a new era of conscription? Both parties would play anything like this down in an election year.

I think it would be unlikely to see women sent into combat roles except in exceptional circumstances. If we’re at the point we need to conscript things have gone disastrously wrong. You’re more likely to see women put into military support roles- manufacturing, intelligence, logistics and many other jobs where physical strength isn’t so essential. The average modern soldier is toting around somewhere between 50-90 lbs of kit. I’m not being sexist I think to suggest that most women (and probably plenty of men) would not be capable of lifting that, let alone being able to move that weight on a routine basis.

There are more than enough roles in the military that mean women would have things to do, I just think that as a general rule of thumb front line combat is not where women would end up.

I think a lot of people would fight those who brought the war to our doorstep first before anything.

Virtually none of the servicemen and women who have been butchered in wars in the past hundred years have died "fighting for their country", that's a massive cynical con. They died fighting for the careers of politicians/American oil interests/various other grubby and venal causes. War is predominantly working class people being slaughtered to protect the interests of the rich and powerful. Nothing to be proud of there; plenty to be angry about, though.

This is what I think. What he wants (and probably needs) is a larger, better funded professional army.

Who’d want an army of idiots with no training?

I think he’s (probably successfully) putting the frighteners on everyone to make us realise we need to pay for our defence.

Funnily enough the club exists.

It's called NATO.

I think he’s (probably successfully) putting the frighteners on everyone to make us realise we need to pay for our defence.

Is he putting the frighteners on, Is anyone really worried about this?

The daft bugger has been forced out of his job anyway. Just making a bit of noise before he goes.

He's quit though, going in 6 months, fallen out with the head of the armed forces, admiral someone.., the blokes breathed in a bit too much mustard gas, claimed this war (Ukraine) was a 1939 moment 2 years ago.

The admiral, who is actually in charge, doesn't agree and the general coming out with this nonsense will be an ex general in 6 months.

Literally nothing to see here, Daily Mail hysteria.

I was thinking the same. The number of people who would be excluded from signing up due to mh issues/ adhd etc would be enormous. Everyone would just go to their GP and get sickness exemption surely ?

Can you imagine how triggering many people would find it to be shot at, with actual bullets, they would all be calling in sick.

The rest would be saying "nope, if I cant fight this war WFH, i'm out"

I would rather kill myself than someone else... especially if I was shooting at someone who had been similarly conscripted.

Any country that shares a land border with Russia (Finland, Estonia) knows war is a real possibility from the day the Ukraine war started. The countries next on the line (Poland, Sweden) have been vociferous with NATO.

The UK is obviously not in danger of invasion and it is grotesque to fantasise about it. But remember that Russia has already carried out attacks against individuals in the UK (novichok, polonium) without any real consequences. On the other hand Putin has to die at some point...

I read it as not conscription, as they’d have to pay them. I read it as volunteers - so members of the public would volunteer from their paid jobs to go and get beasted, train to use weapons and happily lose some income.

Yep, that’ll definitely happen.

We're all too fat to make it as far as the frontline.

Also, given how quickly people take offence these days, we'd all be too busy citing each others' micro aggressions to get our bayonets fixed in time.

Do you think the vast swathes of people on UC, who are so say crippling the country financially, will be made to sign up or face sanctions?

Totally agree, and of course if all the foot soldiers could have the presence of mind to say, bugger this, we're all going home, war over! sadly people take orders from politicians.

Quite a few countries still do - including some in Europe

@DewinDwl Putin will only die by laughing at us I think this is a stunt to make him laugh so hard that he has a heart attack or something

Well yes, being shot at is quite triggering. That's why lots of soldiers end up with PTSD.

Asking for me - made me lol 😆 needed that tonight!

I guess there is a good reason he is leaving the army shortly……

DD is in the process if trying to get into university to do biochemistry

we spoke about this earlier she's worried about how she might be pushed to use her knowledge and skills if this came to pass in a few years time. I pointed out she's more likely to be expected to counter nasty things than create them but she's not convinced
😣

agree with PPs top many Brits are unfit and it would take a lot to integrate them into the army

It is a take on the "asking for a friend" trope.
I am mid 40s, obese and riddled with MH issues. I wont be a top pick for fighting for anyone. Hell, I can't even fight my own battles, let alone the country's.

They mean working class people right. Including those living in social housing
Because im sure they would be happy to step up after being told they are entitled and should be grateful , that they are more likely to have problems and that they affect the value of privately owned houses nearby.

Yeah Fuck off!

Working people living in social housing DID step up during Covid many in essential roles as key workers and yet afterwards its back to the default as ive listed above.

Ever heard the saying............fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me

DWP will introduce a new fitness to fight assessment !