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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Military recruiters in schools

85 replies

Nix32 · 16/02/2023 08:43

My year 10 son's school has recently been visited by marine recruiters. They seem to have glamourised the role and it seems to have motivated and inspired him.

It scares me. It's not a route I'd want him to take but I would obviously support him. He hasn't really had a clue what he wants to do - although he's quite money motivated - and is a really bright kid with high grades being forecast.

Will the interest just fade? What should I do?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 16/02/2023 08:46

Tell him to research it properly. Pros and cons.

And point out... with the Forces, the more qualifications (gcse/a level/degree) you have the more career options open to you and more money you can earn. Might help put him off for a few years to mature.

PaulHeymanHairline · 16/02/2023 08:50

I went to a really bad secondary in a poor area and the military were in a lot! I think they actively recruit those boys from troubled backgrounds, with a fair bit of trauma and chaos. Kids who find the idea of regime and finding a second 'family' appealing. I see the same in the prison system, if you haven't ever had regular meals, routine, predictably, prison can be appealing.

Original poster
Nix32 · 16/02/2023 09:33

I'm quite angry about it - it feels like brainwashing. No problem with them being at careers fairs, along with many other professions, but to have them in like this feels wrong.

Thanks for the advice - those were the strategies I was planning, along with visiting 6th form colleges to show him what else is available.

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 16/02/2023 09:41

Suggest he looks for a local Cadet unit as well.

For some teenagers it is better than the alternatives. But the fact the UK still recruits so young in comparison to other countries Is unsettling.

KangarooKenny · 16/02/2023 10:00

I agree that it’s a good route for some kids, gives them routine and discipline, with the opportunity to go far.
I suppose it’s no different to the various religions that are invited in.

hekissedmybottom · 16/02/2023 10:09

They always have. Just speak to him about it and don't downplay risks. Any country is going to promote it's own armed forces that's just common sense so I'm not surprised it's in schools. So are things about the Royal family even though not everyone agrees with them as it's part of the country's fabric. Do the police come in and fire brigade?

NHS? You'd think so, but ultimately the armed forces have the most money I suppose to fund recruiters.

You could always show your child Michael Moore documentaries as they're really easy to understand and really critical of military recruiting.

vera99 · 17/02/2023 05:30

By their very nature they need to create controlled psychopaths that aren't afraid to kill another human being if necessary. I would be worried if anyone I cared for joined up. Particularly so in the threat of a kinetic war is so much likely now than ever before.

freezingpompoms · 17/02/2023 06:09

I think schools should let parents know beforehand if the army are coming in to groom young kids. It's disgusting.

LynetteScavo · 17/02/2023 06:10

It would irritate me if the military came in to my DCs school to try to recruit, but having discussed the military with my DC I'm confident it's not a path threat would follow, and they know I wouldn't be supportive if they did. The HT of their school campaigned for the minimum age to join the forces to be 18, so it wouldn't have happened in the a school they attended.

Mollymalone123 · 17/02/2023 06:12

The army came into our grammar school in the 1970’s and were always at career days so it’s nothing new.I would have loved to Join the medical side! Agree with others to explore the options not just the marine front line which would be pretty hard to get into to start with.

VanillaSox · 17/02/2023 06:14

You can get the military to sponsor you through university /wish mine had been tempted!

MadamAndTheAnts · 17/02/2023 06:22

Ask him if he really wants to become a professional killer.

WhenAGrapeIsBorn · 17/02/2023 06:37

Nuclear submarine commander came to speak to DS year group to encourage them to keep a modern language. DS isn't keeping it but is still interested in the armed forces

Dinogeorge · 17/02/2023 06:42

Some of these comments are disgusting. Happy to have the military drive ambulances and assist with floods and all the other things they do aside from being “psychopaths” though

RedRiverShore3 · 17/02/2023 06:55

What a horrible thread about our armed forces.

flowerycurtain · 17/02/2023 07:03

Completely agree with the last two posters. Nasty comments about psychopaths killers are incredibly harsh.

Grumpsy · 17/02/2023 07:05

Agree with the last few posters, atrocious attitude to our armed forces in this thread.

Goodread1 · 17/02/2023 07:05

Good point

I notice the Police and fire service are never invited into schools,

I wonder why that is then?,

I don't agree with Army recruitment coming into any schools,

Grooming children into becoming professional killers too,
Sounds schiopathic tendencies ,

Different if they are at careers fayres ect

AliciaMayEmory · 17/02/2023 07:06

Yep, some awful replies. DS is in the air cadets and will be applying for the RAF when he’s finished education. I will be very proud of him. Psychopaths ffs.

OddsocksinmyDocs · 17/02/2023 07:09

Being 'angry' is a bit of a dramatic response...

AliciaMayEmory · 17/02/2023 07:09

I’ve spoken to the military recruiters in schools. There was no grooming involved. They talked about becoming engineers, aircraft maintenance, medical personnel etc. There are so many jobs within the armed forces. It’s not just army frontline jobs, you know. And I think that without those men and women defending us we’d be in a lot of trouble.

Throwncrumbs · 17/02/2023 07:10

Yeah, this has always happened, it isn’t brainwashing kids ffs, this is a ‘not my child’ post, but it’s ok that other peoples children to do it or are doing it. My husband was armed forces, he joined at school, he’s done ok, got a profession from it. My friends son is in the navy, he’s done really well. It isn’t about being a ‘professional killer’ unless of course we have a war, when everyone will be shitting themselves because no one ‘wants to do the job’ … not everyone can be ‘famous’ which is the thing nowadays!

Doingmybest12 · 17/02/2023 07:10

I would say be fairly neutral, realistic until they are 18 years, get them to do their own research etc but if at 18 they are still keen then support what they want to do.

Restlessinthenorth · 17/02/2023 07:14

Hard agree that some of these comments are horrendous. However, so are the military's recruitment tactics. My husband served 22 years. It is well known that the infantry (i.E front line fighters) will recruit heavily in disadvantaged and deprived areas for reasons described earlier in this thread. You don't get Officer Training Corps or the engineers, intelligence corps etc recruiting in these areas. They will be off at the private schools. So in terms of equitable and inclusive recruitment strategies, it's miles away.

What I will say though, is that 25 years ago, my husband, from a dreadful background on a dreadful estate, essentially had the choice of prison or the army. He chose the army. 22 years later, he was a Regental Sgt Major with an incredible pension and the skills to get a ridiculously high paying job on civvy street. For some, the army is a life changer/saver

TeenDivided · 17/02/2023 07:15

I agree some of the comments here are unfair.
I have the greatest respect for our armed forces. Of course anyone entering should do so with their eyes open, but they are our front line of keeping us safe, and can be a great career.

I wonder if they are 'invited in' or ask whether they can come in. Maybe the NHS / Police etc should invite themselves?