The age of conscription should be lowered to 16

[Lovepeaceunderstanding]

The world looks much less stable than it has for a long while. In the event of war our depleted armed forces will need all the help they can get. We should lower the age of conscription to 16?

As long as you go first.

As a complete aside, Sting is now the same age as Clive Dunn was when he joined the cast of Dad's Army.

When I see people suggest we should send prisoners, I do wonder why our professional, well-trained soldiers should have to fight alongside the dregs of society. Shows what those suggesting it think of the armed forces really.

As for conscription, it’s not going to be needed is it? Everything is done by drones and long range missiles, and if it properly kicks off no soldier on earth is going to stop the nukes.

ODFOD.

Prisons are full … and of actual adults.
I think that’s a better solution to children on the frontline. Weird post,

Off you go then OP, please go ahead and test the waters. Send a postcard back telling us how good it is.

I would agree with this, but it's more like my DDs debating club when they were in Year 9. A lot of us adults were cringing and had to remind ourselves the kids were just that; articulate kids.

We should not have conscripts and the minimum age to enlist should be 18.

If anything it should be raised to about 30 where you've had 12 years to vote in the governments of your choice.

Is your life seriously this insignificant? Honestly. 🙄

Even in the days of boy soldiers, they could not serve overseas until they were aged 18 and had started their "man service".

YABU and talking about matters you do not understand.

Icannoteven
Let’s just stop volunteering other people’s children to be used as disposable resources, shall we? You want to join in a war? Fine, go join up.

This by a million!!

Absolutely not.

Over my dead body would my CHILD be forced to go to war. Sign yourself up if you feel so strongly about it

I agree with pp who says raise it to include only 65-90 yr olds instaead. They arren't working so they have lot's of spare time on their hands anyway and already had a decent amount of life.

If we're sending people in for cannon fodder then the large ageing population is clearly more expendeableperienced than a bunch of schoolkids.

there’s a difference between joining at a young age and going through a military academy/training and conscription

16 is a child and they should be protected

if conscription was to be a thing it should be 25 and over

Wonder why OP didn't come back 🤔

Even if we did have it l, which we don't, they are not having my kids.

if you don't already know the answer to this question, and understand what the word "conscription" means, maybe you'd be better off spending some time on a bit of research before starting such a ill-informed/ clueless thread?

There's at least 9 European countries that have conscription, plus a whole lot of countries in other continents. Some countries that got rid of conscription have reinstated it recently.

There's a war going on right now that is using huge amounts of soldiers. Its not all drones and long range missiles theses days, how can anyone still think that when they see what's going on in Ukraine?

Since you're willing to force 16 year olds into active service Im assuming you'll be the first one volunteering to fight? Otherwise you're a giant hypocrite as well as someone who's willing to see kids die.

WTAF

My husbands been in 22 years. I wouldn't feel safe knowing he was fighting with a 16 year old or a prisoner who both didn't want to be there.

Quite , find someone someone else to save your shitty arse instead of someone else's kids .

We should bring back conscription for both men and women at 18. Doesn't do anyone any harm but it does make men and women out of children. It gives a strong focus on discipline and patriotism- something severely lacking in todays youth. You only have to read about knife crime, and it would help reduce the number of migrant men if they knew they'd be conscripted. .