Are you worried about conscription… *trigger warning - discusses risks of war**

[Shushhh]

I don’t know why, but I feel like a huge penny has dropped for me today, on the risks we all face in such uncertain times. I have thought about my nephews, who are 17 and 16. If WW3 happens, they would be at risk of conscription I would imagine, as they turn 18. This has petrified me. They are still babies to me (although I know they are older and wiser than I give them credit for). My husband is a soldier, so I am aware of the risks he faces. Of course I am worried for him too. But I’m just worried for us all. I am worried for our children. Where will they go? Will it be like old war times when they were evacuated? Will my brothers be conscripted? Will females also be put on the front lines? And ultimately, will we survive this.

I know this is scary, and I’m hoping my anxiety (previously diagnosed) is getting the better of me here. But it doesn’t feel like anxiety. It feels like real fear and a real threat.

AIBU?

I have kids in their 20s and as a family we're all very politically aware and following the global news (in a rational way, not doomscrolling). I'm not remotely worried about them being sent to a WW1/WW2-style front line and neither are they. In the unlikely event it were to happen, I suspect conscription would consist of being deployed non-voluntarily to work for GCHQ or similar, or in drone manufacture/operation. I'm not saying I'd be happy about that but I'm certainly not up late at night worrying about their survival. I do think the world is going to hell in a handcart though.

Any future conflict is much more likely to want you money than your life.

Would also be my guess.

In 1940 this still felt like a country. The majority of people were descended from those who had lived here for centuries. People felt part of a 'tribe'. They lived in a country with a shared history and shared culture and shared identity. That has all gone. When immigration happens on a massive scale, and the majority of immigrants either know nothing about your country, or, frankly, hate it, you've got a problem.

Also, in 1940 the Left had not got control of the universities or the publishing industry. People hadn't been taught to despise their own history and culture. Their national heroes hadn't been ridiculed and demonized. My ancestors fought in both WW1 and WW2, but if war broke out tomorrow I wouldn't lift a finger. MY enemies are the sneering, Oxbridge-educated Left, not Putin or China or Iran. You think I'm going to risk my life to defend Owen Jones' new Britain? No chance! As two-tier Keir said, this is now an "island of strangers". Who wants to die for a island of strangers?

This is beginning to worry me as well. My DC are very young, but the way things are going it wouldn't surprise me if there were more wars etc when they become old enough to serve.

My son has autism and requires constant supervision; his needs are quite complex. I was wondering if there would be a pardon for people with SEN on mental health grounds, but not sure at this point.

I imagine a lot of soldiers in WWI AND WWII had numerous (probably undiagnosed) mental health disorders before going into war in the first instance. It concerns me so many went back a second time whilst also suffering with PTSD, and if this was the case, then I reiterate, would much thought be given to sending off SEN individuals to war? Very concerning.

It won't work in the UK. Too many people will get out of it with 'issues'. Ie MH, Adhd, anxiety, stress, etc etc. Today's young aren't resilient. Theyve had a much more cushioned and entitled life. People would just refuse to do it. In previous world wars, you could get imprisoned (or worse in WW1) for refusing to be conscripted. These days if people were threatened with prison they'd just get lawyers to step up and get them off on some sort of technicality, with appeal after appeal, until the war was over, so they'd miss being called up. So, to summarise, if we are depending on conscription of our young/able bodied to save us, then we're all screwed.

Instead, will they be looking for those with specialist skills, including hacking, cybersecurity and Ai related expertise?
E.g. those who specialise in making microchips for Ai etc.

No sons of fighting age but DH is. There’s no way he’d be going anywhere. I’ll shoot him in the foot myself. The farther of my 3 children isn’t being cannon fodder I don’t give a fuck.

Maybe we could conscript everyone who never fought or did any national service themselves, but nonetheless feel entitled to whine at the young for not doing it.

I can't see how this would happen but I'm glad both my DS's have an nhs autism diagnosis. They wouldn't get through the initial training anyway.

I find this a really weird attitude and yet so many people voice it.

Do you really think, in a conscription scenario, a young person could just say “sorry got ADHD, no can do” and avoid it?! Have you lost your mind?

plus, young people didn’t behave like this in the only world wide crisis in our lifetime, Covid. They behaved excellently, and we should be grateful.

its vile how much some people hate the youth. Don’t you remember when you were young and the silent generation hated you? Do better.

@Shushhh op any reason this is your first post?

You think that risking your life and potentially killing people is behaving excellently? Why should they risk their lives because the ruling psychopaths decided to start a war?

what do you mean? I said young people behaved excellently during Covid. Are you saying they were running around taking risks and killing people? Just checking because you know, everyone has conspiracy theories about Covid so you never know……

Not quite sure what the training for being shot at is ?

Can you drink a bottle of gin and get shoved on a boat to run for you life at the other end (d day vibes)

maybe they show them squid games in training?

I don’t think they will but if they did It would be boys and girls of a certain age, can you imagine the backlash if it was only males that were conscripted the government would bd hailed as being sexist! We can’t ask for equal rights and then not include females!

I don’t think they can put the burden on young people, we’ve treated them dreadfully over the last few decades.

If it’s just canon fodder even more reason to protect the young!

How about you go and fight first, show them how it's done

Like we did in COVID, you mean ?

Indeed!

Like what during Covid?

Not sure they’d want me. I’m mid 50s, but if they can use me, I’d sign up. Of course I would. What’s the alternative? The able bodied protect the ones who can’t. In all wars, it’s always been thus….

Have you read some posts on here? At least one person has asked the question as to if her child has Autism/adhd, would they be exempt. It’s really not beyond the realms of possibility that people would absolutely use that as an excuse. But if you have complete faith that we can muster up enough people to fight a war (outside of the army of course), you could be right. But I’m doubtful. And I didn’t just mention the young btw. You can be able bodied in your 30s and 40’s, and some in their 50’s.