Page 6 | National Service returning to the UK?

TheQuirkyMaker · 2025-11-27T11:23:25+00:00

Due to the threat of Russian aggression and US indifference, Europe is having to re-arm. France is going to re-introduce national service (compulsory conscription of youngsters into the armed forces for 2 years). Am I right in thinking UK young people won't accept this?

notimagain · 02/12/2025 11:09

Badbadbunny · 02/12/2025 10:55

The armed services don't work like that. The likes of dental hygienists for example aren't on the front line, most will never even get close to a war zone. My friend who's a dental hygienist never went near any active battlefields. Yes, she went abroad, but was based dozens/hundreds of miles from the front line, basically just doing routine dental checks/scales&polishes etc to the soldiers and other support staff in a "pop up" dental clinic working alongside dental nurses and dentists, who likewise never went anywhere near danger zones.

My FIL spent a couple of decades working in logistics for the RAF. Again, never anywhere near active fighting. He ran various warehouses, again miles away from the front lines, organising the supplies, organising ordering of supplies, issuing supplies, etc. When he came out of the RAF he had no problem walking into a job as store manager for one of the UK's largest car manufactures, running one of their huge warehouses, which he did for the last couple of decades of his working life. He often said it was one of the safest jobs in the military as the stores/warehouses were heavily guarded and protected!

There must be several "background/support" staff for every front line soldier when you think of the medical support, logistics, catering, administration, etc.

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Thing to be aware of though is that the thinking certainly was, maybe still is that if push comes to shove , everyone can end up being a soldier in the generic sense.

For example once upon a time come exercise season the admin staff in station HQ on a RAF base could find themselves with a war role of base protection..running around with a rifle.

OonaStubbs · 02/12/2025 11:20

They should bring it back and anyone that refuses to do it should be denied the right to vote. And also be ineligible to claim any kind of benefits, including the state pension.

DonicaLewinsky · 02/12/2025 11:23

OonaStubbs · 02/12/2025 11:20

They should bring it back and anyone that refuses to do it should be denied the right to vote. And also be ineligible to claim any kind of benefits, including the state pension.

You first. Not sure threatening to withhold the state pension is much of a threat to 19 year olds, after all. You have to be old enough to actually expect to get one for that to have any teeth.

Badbadbunny · 02/12/2025 11:34

OonaStubbs · 02/12/2025 11:20

They should bring it back and anyone that refuses to do it should be denied the right to vote. And also be ineligible to claim any kind of benefits, including the state pension.

Very few youngsters expect there to still be a state pension for all in 40 years when they come to retire, so that kind of threat is pretty pointless.

Ukefluke · 02/12/2025 11:39

CoralPombear · 27/11/2025 22:47

I think it could benefit certain youngsters who aren’t doing very much of anything else. I don’t understand people saying they wouldn’t fight for the country, when it comes down to it you’d have to either fight or be killed surely?

I will allow my children to fight when the children of the rich and powerful are also there on the frontline beside them. But they wont be.

genesis92 · 02/12/2025 11:45

ILoveHotChocolates · 27/11/2025 11:31

I would leave before serving this country

Guessing you’ll just be happy for everyone else “to serve this country” if we ever get invaded then

Hallywally · 02/12/2025 13:03

Many veterans sadly end up in prison or in trouble with the law- I’ve seen the ill effects the forces have on men.

Hallywally · 02/12/2025 13:04

I’m 45 and am not overly optimistic I’ll have a state pension, let alone young people! 😂

DonicaLewinsky · 02/12/2025 13:22

Badbadbunny · 02/12/2025 11:34

Very few youngsters expect there to still be a state pension for all in 40 years when they come to retire, so that kind of threat is pretty pointless.

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Lol I know, whatever next- threatening them with having to pay tens of thousands for uni and sod all social housing?!

Pedallleur · 02/12/2025 13:53

OonaStubbs · 02/12/2025 11:20

They should bring it back and anyone that refuses to do it should be denied the right to vote. And also be ineligible to claim any kind of benefits, including the state pension.

You and your family can be the first to volunteer.

Pedallleur · 02/12/2025 13:56

NemesisInferior · 28/11/2025 14:58

It's always amazing that these ideas are suggested by people who would be too old to do national service, isn't it.

Yes and v.likely they were too young to do it when it existed here.

Pedallleur · 02/12/2025 14:01

LlynTegid · 28/11/2025 10:24

Russia may not send tanks, they will harm our society in different ways. Such as bribing now former leaders of Reform, or their role in the illegal drugs trade.

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Let's not forget Boris and the still to be published Russia report. Also his friendship with Evgeny Lebdev, son of a former KGB agent (an organisation that I didn't think you could retire from)

Katflapkit · 02/12/2025 14:10

surreygirly · 27/11/2025 11:34

France is voluntary at the moment
Other counties are looking at it Norway Netherlands Sweden Germany
We will have to as there is a real threat from Russia
I think it would good to help people to be independent and be far more resilient

I am British living in Sweden with Swedish husband and our 18 year old (British born) twins. Every 17 year got full questionnaire to complete and they now have to travel to Stockholm (6 hour train ride) in January to complete a mandatory one day physical assessment for National Service. A couple of early born 2007's are doing it already. One is interested in doing it, the other isn't so keen.

Staringintothevoid616 · 02/12/2025 15:35

Best thing we can do is increase patriotism in this country. Stop the slagging off of British history (all the developed world was trying to do became. We were just better at it at that point in time). Ensure schools and teachers focus on patriotic values. Stop all the anti British monotony on esp the BBC. Ensure that actually we can return to pride in our country - then people will fight for it.

it’s almost like there’s been a concerted effort to undermine pride in Britain and create division to stop people wanting to fight for it. Now who could have done that? It wouldn’t be the first time Russia has allied with certain groups to weaken the enemy

DonicaLewinsky · 02/12/2025 16:09

I wonder if some of the bring back national service teach the kids some respect stuff doesn't have a Russian origin, actually. Obviously some people actually mean it, but who's to say what motivated our now disappeared OP? If you were looking to sow generational discord, that would be an effective mechanism.

Hallywally · 02/12/2025 23:17

As PP said, I hope all those who are keen for youngsters to enlist would be willing to fight themselves? It would be men and women nowadays. And why haven’t you joined the Armed Forces sooner?

NemesisInferior · 02/12/2025 23:41

Hallywally · 02/12/2025 23:17

As PP said, I hope all those who are keen for youngsters to enlist would be willing to fight themselves? It would be men and women nowadays. And why haven’t you joined the Armed Forces sooner?

Of course they wouldn't. The idea is only ever suggested by people too old to serve themselves.

LancashireButterPie · 02/12/2025 23:51

Poor bloody kids eh!
Paying thousands for a uni education to become a barista.
Unable to afford a home.
Paying pensions for their grandparents and watching their parents spend their inheritances on campervans and cruises that they themselves will never afford.
I cannot believe the passivity of our youth, my generation would have been rioting in the streets. It's not Russia we should be afraid if, it's our youth when the scales from their eyes and they realise how much their own country has shafted them

Badbadbunny · 03/12/2025 11:00

LancashireButterPie · 02/12/2025 23:51

Poor bloody kids eh!
Paying thousands for a uni education to become a barista.
Unable to afford a home.
Paying pensions for their grandparents and watching their parents spend their inheritances on campervans and cruises that they themselves will never afford.
I cannot believe the passivity of our youth, my generation would have been rioting in the streets. It's not Russia we should be afraid if, it's our youth when the scales from their eyes and they realise how much their own country has shafted them

Sad but 100% true. But instead of being angry and doing something about it, many are just becoming withdrawn from society (not helped by the internet and social media), suffering MH problems, and far too many are barely leaving their bedrooms, claiming disability (MH) benefits etc. It's a national scandal and needs investigating. Many of those who are working, usually in top professional roles, are actively thinking of leaving the UK to work/live abroad. We've really shafted our young!