Military recruiters in schools

[Nix32]

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?

As someone who has organised careers events the military are by far the keenest to attend and always have the best and biggest stands. It's very hard to get certain organisations to attend as they don't tend to have a whole division dedicated to recruitment.

I cannot stand how they target teens, especially in deprived areas, and schools allow it.

Is Public Services still a course option at 16?

I'm a Christian pacifist I take Jesus's words "thou shalt not kill" and "turn the other cheek" as articles of faith. I wouldn't want my children to have the armed services in. Not unless there could be a devout pacifist putting the alternative case.

Yes public services courses still exist, they have a wider focus than just the military. Students interested in policing, paramedic, fire service etc. Quite a few students on these courses go onto sport or outdoor education related courses at University. Can be a good option for those who are interested in the military but parents prefer a wait and see approach.

It's a great career for many. The recruitment process is long with lots of checks and balances, it's not like you can just walk into the forces, especially the marines. Dd is in the military, is currently gaining very sort after civilian qualifications all paid for by them whilst she's earning, only pays very low accommodation costs and big bonuses when on deployment, she's loves it, she's an officer.

For some youngsters it's ideal as it gets them away from their home town where they are in with the wrong crowd. For others they want adventure and not a normal 9-5. In DD's role she will never be required to handle weapons etc (she has had training)

But I presume you would expect armed police to turn up and be prepared to shoot if you were being held with a gun to your head or caught up in a terrorist attack? And you'd expect the military to be deployed if the country came under hostile fire? As long as the people who do it aren't recruited anywhere near your own children!

My son’s been looking at being a plumber in the forces, total psychopath obviously 🙄

@bollihigh

In DD's class at officer training there were 3 ordained clergy (different religions) in training to be chaplains, they don't carry guns either

@MrWhippersnapper

Tell him to go for it, he might have dd as his boss!

I'm ex military family, husband served in the Royal marines for 9 years. Great opportunities for the serving members, unsettling for the family. I have two daughters very interested in following their dads footsteps, one can't wait to go to the RAF & tge other the army. They are still young and impressionable ofcourse. Military doesn't mean war, there's plenty of roles that hold opportunities but won't include war. I would say the most damaging part of the military is when they leave & are re introduced to civvy life. It just never goes well. Inside of the military there's a deep-rooted band of brotherhood/sisterhood, plenty of women in the forces too. All for one & one for all. The second they leave that all falls apart & that's usually where the damage occurs.

With regards to war injuries & deaths it's what they sign up for if they choose a front line roll. My cousin was army & died. He was a sniper. I don't hold any pride of he died for his country. I think it's a lie sold to us to feel better. He was a number & his number got called. He signed on the dotted line knowing what it could mean & that's what happened.
You don't get looked after with regards to death, my auntie has had three letters for recall even though he is dead. It's disgusting.

The Armed Forces are able to go into schools because they have dedicated recruitment teams with specific programmes set up. I would often organise for them to come in and they would do team building out on the field and careers talks inside.

Organising the Police, Ambulance service and Fire and Rescue service was always far more difficult and they had to leave mid presentation a couple of times to attend to their duties when emergency calls came in. The dog section came in a few times as they are needed less but that required additional risk assessments for having the dogs on site.

I hate to sound thick, but what is a kinetic war?

That is my faith , the cycle of violence creating violence seems to be endless. I would rather die than take another life , that is my belief and the teachings of Jesus.The op is about schools as adults we are all free to make our own choices. My grandfather fought and was seriously damaged in WW1 and my father fought in WW2 so I know the damage war can do to the people who have to fight it.

I have always wondered about chaplains how they square their faith but I take it they are not expected to fight and are there to provide pastoral care to service people.

Could you see if there is a local Army Cadet Force in your area that he might like to join. That will at least give him a taste.

I know young people who have joined these and have gone on to have amazing lives in the forces and at every level.

The problem is that young people just don't know what sort of amazing experiences that could have in a chosen career unless they are able to have a glimpse to see if it's for them - your son has had his first glimpse.

My DD wants to join the Marines. It’s partly a big f you to everyone (parents, extended family, school…) who thinks a bright academic girl like her should be aiming for Oxbridge.

It is fine to be a pacifist if that's what you really believe, but it does mean that people like Putin would just do whatever they wanted.

However I think I prefer to believe in 'just war', which if memory of DD's RE GCSE serves me right means: Good Cause, Winnable, & Less harm in fighting it than in not fighting.

@bollihigh the chaplains etc (from all faiths) are basically Welfare... they are someone to talk to as well as leading the religious services. They can use a weapon to defend if necessary but not to attack (international law of armed conflict).

id Be furious- unless it was part of a wider careers fair with many other employers. It’s so glamorised in the TV adverts to

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for OP to be concerned about the idea of her child joining the armed forces. It’s a tough and potentially life threatening existence. I would have the same concern about the police/fire service. Yes, it is a ‘not my child’ type post and so what? Who on Earth doesn’t put their own child first. There’s not a loving parent on the planet who doesn’t.

That said, they have always recruited in schools and I would just encourage your child to do their own thorough research. If they’re still wanting to join then they will, despite your misgivings.

We have them in at my school along with various other recruiters, 6th forms etc. It’s a route that some pupils choose to take and can be an excellent career option for some.

I think that it is wrong that the army is allowed to sign up such young recruits. My cousin's son signed up when he was 16, although he did need parental consent. The family live in a very deprived area, virtually no one in the family has ever worked. Lots of criminals and drug use in the extended family. He mum and dad were keen for him to go as it was one less mouth to feed and they could stop pretending that they were making any effort to parent him.

I knew it wouldn't last. He had no experience of routinue and discipline. He hated being told what to do and when to do it. He fell out with the other recruits in his first week. he lasted just a few months before being kicked out due to going awol and stealing. I don't believe any kind of proper vetting was done before he was accepted. A ten minute conversation with him would have made it clear he was not going to be suitable. He was utterly miserable the whole time he was there, but his parents felt that they had done their duty by him and did not want him home.

I know his prospects were always bleak - but the army was never going to be the answer to his problems. I agree with earlier posters - the army do target deprived areas. They have been know to be in some struggling schools on GCSE results day. Not the best time to be talking to upset 16 years olds on a day when many will be collecting disappointing exam results.

The armed forces are essential but I do not feel comfortable with one that uses vunrable teenagers to full it's lower ranks.

I see you mentioned that he’s bright and academic, with the implication that therefore it would be a waste to go into the army.

Obviously it depends which role he’s going for but some of the officer and engineer type roles they really want bright academic kids.

A very good friend of ours is in the Army. He did CCF at school, then went to Cambridge. I’m not sure at what point he applied for sandhurst etc, and this was nearly 20 years ago so the process will probably have changed but… the army supported him financially during at least his third year, not sure if it was all of it. He then went to sandhurst for officer training. We’re in our late 30s/early 40s. Since then the army have supported him and paid for him to do an MA and a PhD.

He is very happy. He did serve 3 tours in Afghanistan so it’s not been without risk. But he’s also been all over the world on various training things. He has very very cheap accommodation. We haven’t visited him at his current posting but the last one was a very nice 4 bed family house.

I doubt he will leave the army.

Oh and as one of our oldest friends, I can say he is a good person through and through- not a bloody psychopath for ffs!

I have a close female friend who is a barrister in the navy.

I work with some superb security specialists who are ex military.

I know the op mentioned marines - but 90% of the roles in the military are not front line.

Better to be sucked into the university lie, and spend rest of your life clearing student debt though. All so you can work in a call centre, and just want to kill people.