If you agree with the so called National Service proposals

[Outdoorsygirl1]

Would you still agree if it applied to everyone over 18 not just 18 year olds?

So everyone able bodied over 18 had to either complete a year in the military or undertake 24 days of unpaid work.

If not then why not?

Thanks for answering the question and giving an honest reply.

You make good points.

I would say though that I also have children and still do some voluntary work. So it is very possible. A lot of the football coaches and scout leaders work full time and have children but still volunteer.

There could be exemptions for certain reasons.

The people that this will affect can't vote yet. That is extremely unfair.

The future 18 year olds may often be living at home/childfree, but they will have driving lessons to pay for and house deposits to save for. They are going to have a tougher future in many ways than we have had.

No because people over 18 have mortgages, children and FT jobs. They’re not fresh school leavers with little responsibility and they don’t often need the same opportunity to develop life skills.

They’ll hand over billions to their mates to run it. It will be like Track and Trace / PPE all over again.

@GCAcademic exactly

Massive contracts to run it, massive contracts for all the uniforms, massive contracts for ... whatever. Before it is quite shelved when they realise only about
5% of the population are interested and that it brings no value whatsoever to the outcomes for young people

Do you really believe that these proposals are going to be life changing for all of these 18 year olds?

It is generalising to say that 18tear olds have little responsibility compared to the rest of the population.

Is the scheme going to be worth the financial cost to the country?

This.

An infuriating waste of time and money.

Why aren't you?

If this government genuinely care about opportunities for young people and public services then there 2 billion better ways for the money to be spent than their bonkers community service scheme.

So talk us though how you think it would work. Who is going to organise it? Where will the conscripted live? What will the programme be made up of - who will decide? Who will manage it? Will they wear uniforms? Will they have any choice or will they be told what to do? How do you see it benefitting their CV in any way that couldn't be achieved by doing any one of the multitude of volunteering programmes that already exist, or doing cadets if military appeals ?

I thought it was one weekend.

The fact that they are branding it as National Service shows the type of person they are looking to appeal to.

I would agree if it became a requirement to be an MP. We need politicians who have done something in the real world, not those who never deviated from the path of born into wealth -> Eton -> Oxbridge -> Parliament.

I agree @scalt . Every prospective MP should have to undertake some voluntary work/time in the armed forces. I think it is a bad idea for 18 year olds or anyone starting out in life given the challenges for young people these days but maybe a good idea for society in general (i.e. voluntary work).

My teen already volunteers for sports coaching disabled DC. He was pretty pissed off when he heard on the news Sunak's plan. Many 18 year olds have a full time job and like weekends to relax. This is very stupid plan.

My answer is the same as it was on the 3900 threads about this yesterday.

I actually think something like this could have merit. A common complaint from employers is that young people are not ‘work ready’, they can’t manage simple things like getting to work on time, knowing how to speak at work, being reliable. A supported scheme to help them develop these skills is not such a bad thing.

I absolutely would support it for all able bodied adults who are not in employment, training or education, excluding those with caring responsibilities. Why not ? Sounds like a great idea.

@Neurodiversitydoctor I totally agree.

OP. Surely the answer to your question is obvious. Part of the point of National service type schemes is to give young people the discipline and skills that are useful to them in gaining employment. These are skills now lacking from many young people.

Older people already have these skills. There are also more likely to have other commitments, kids, elderly parents, careers.

@Whiteglasshouse

There are already numerous schemes/options available to 18s and under
Army/Sea cadets
Scouts
National Citizens Service
Duke of Edinburgh
and I'm.sure there's more

So are you saying that young people are lacking in skills and abilities compared to a different time?

As far as I'm concerned, if you've worked in a low wage job or have been a key worker then you've done community service. People say our society runs off the back of volunteers but it also runs off the back of minimum wage workers. If anyone should be doing community service it should be the people who earn a load of cash and contribute nothing of societal value.

i don’t think this concept should be applicable to everyone 18-68.
i don’t see how 1 yr of service is equal to 24 days volunteering BUT
i could see a program for people who are unemployed (not in education) being a requirement prior to applying for government support.
My trio had to complete 100 hours of “work placement” in order to graduate from high school. Dd did some sports coaching which she was qualified in, sons worked at the fish hatchery (school found placement).

How exactly do you think some people are going to be able to afford to manage 24 days unpaid work? Honestly, what a bloody stupid proposal.

I choose when I want to volunteer thank you very much. In my time and when it suits.

I guess you could do a one off for everyone over 18, after that everyone will have been 18 so no longer necessary. You would need to stagger it or there wouldn't be enough jobs to go round. Oldest first? Year one 18 yr olds and 90+, then 18 yr olds and 80-90, then 75-80, 70-75, then two year intervals down 68-70, until you get to the youngest who just missed out. Would people be allowed a sabbatical from their jobs if they fancied a year in the forces?