Conscription fears for teen son

[Hazlenuts2016]

Anyone else with a teenage son getting more and more worried about conscription? Just saw this article and found the language scary. It's as if they want us to accept our sons and daughters dying as a sacrifice worth making! I know politicians wouldn't be talking this way because it would cost them votes, but maybe this is what is being explored. Posted this on another recent thread by the way, but then thought it would be better to start a new one.
https://news.sky.com/story/uks-sons-and-daughters-need-to-be-ready-to-fight-amid-growing-russian-threat-says-head-of-armed-forces-13483860?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOtTyBjbGNrA61PBGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkoNStuMIR_04jEkekyh8IWQLQSQ2u3II0v-yEkA24TkmjZQF0fjeZ5art6J_aem_obDX_-el5u0dybYW31A3RQ

Make ourselves as undesirable to invaders as possible. We've mined out almost all of our minerals, so make sure everyone knows it.

Basically, the national equivalent of "no tools left in this van overnight".

Where would we run too? they'd be war in mainland Europe first, the only escape would be to the US and at present, that wouldn't happen.

The best course of action is to have a strong military, the amounts proposed to spend on defence is pathetic at the moment, only Germany & Poland are taking the threat seriously.
So either governments around Europe don't think it will happen or they are very stupid.

As to the style of warfare? to hold and take back land, you need troops, artillery and armour, planes/tech/drones only go so far, look at how the Russian/Ukraine war is being fought and casualties?

Extra defence spend is good for jobs, R&D etc etc, we need to get on with it and increase significantly the amounts too.

Russia aren’t after what we have, that’s not their motivation. If (God forbid) a Russia-NATO war did happen, we’d be fighting in Europe not the UK, and the UK would be a target as part of the alliance, not because we might have any kind of resources. Best to do all we can to avoid it

In an all-out war which seriously threatened and disrupted our way of life, I imagine any refusers would be very harshly treated by the community. Prison would be the least of my worries. The breakdown of society and mob justice for the 'cowards' is a terrifying prospect.

In a lesser scenario, where maybe there is fighting further afield but not on our shores, there may still be community issues to contend with. Not as far as being dragged out the house and shot, but harassment, shunning, abuse and and so on. I guess it depends how many object.

It would be impossible in this day and age. For a start, the mental health issue would come up - for nearly everybody. There would be mass refusal.

And this country is no longer a monoculture. Millions are not just wedded to another country and culture, they hold the passports to just leave.

Social media would be in overdrive riling people up and encouraging civil disobedience.

Who says social media would not be shut down? Or that borders would not be closed?

Two problems:

• Defence spend increases the national debt.
• We've mined out all our iron ore, so we have a supply chain problem. Remember the U-boats were sinking convoys in the Atlantic during WW2? You'd be looking at that with knobs on, now that drones exist.

Patriotism in this country is extremely unpopular

Are you sure you don't mean "nationalism" ?

Patriotism is alive and well as far as I can see.

I love my country. I just don't feel the need to tit about with flags up poles or defacing roundabouts to remember I live in Britain. I paid attention at school.

@MagicFox

If (God forbid) a Russia-NATO war did happen, we’d be fighting in Europe not the UK, and the UK would be a target as part of the alliance

IMHO the last part of your comment is really important.

I'd agree with the commonly held view that we are not going to see Russian tanks in London but that doesn't mean the UK population would get a free pass and could sit this out watching the war on TV.

On paper at least a couple of arms of the Russian military have the capability to inflict some physical damage on the UK mainland with conventional weapons, albeit probably not for a prolonged period.

It has to be said that if Russian rearmament continues that capability could increase.

I don't think conscription into the Forces, certainly for a short period of service, is the complete answer (for starters it takes too long train for the really pecialist roles) but I do think a case could be made for mandatory training for civil defence and associated type roles.

I do think a case could be made for mandatory training for civil defence and associated type roles.

This is more similar to Swiss national service and I would support that for both sexes. I'd rather the nation's women were armed and trained than not, if the tanks do start rolling down the streets. That doesn't mean that it's in any way sensible to send the people with the uteruses into combat en masse on purpose!

I was told by someone in the business that a lot of those who sign up to the armed forces actually fail their induction or whatever it is called - often because they fail the physical fitness tests, the number of unfit young people has probably increased since then, given the obesity/junk food crisis.

This may be of interest and I need to retract back what I said about time for training for at least one specialist role...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/women-flying-drones-ukraine-frontline-casualties-recruitment-combat

Only 2% of those living in England and Wales have multiple passports. And some of those will be above or below any conscription age.

Mob justice? Do you actually think people are going to go round in group lynching randomers who refuse to fight in a war no one bloody wants? It won’t be same as ww2 things have changed not only here but in many countries in Europe there’s certainly not the same patriotism and most countries have the same problems and issues with their government as we do.

Ecery government has cut military budgets but don’t worry the plebs will die for them so they don’t have to put more money into it. This is in the news now and people are talking about it not because Russia is an imminent threat but they are getting us used to it early for when the time comes.

Absolutely. I’m not middle aged. I’m 61. Fit as a flea with a generous dollop of crossness that could be put to good use 😁
Our daughter is 30 with a young child who needs his mum and dad. My husband is not physically fit but he’s sharp as a pin and could absolutely operate remote warfare instruments.
makes far more sense to employ older people.

@whattheysay in 2007 there were terrible floods where I live. The water was off for 2-3 weeks. People started fighting each other in the supermarkets drinks aisle, and outside water bowsers placed in the street, because one person was perceived to be taking more water than they should. It was utter chaos.

In 2020, neighbours starting calling the police on neighbours, because they were leaving the house when they shouldn't have been, leading to arrests and prosecutions.

In some imagined future war, where we are under a huge threat and people's children, brothers, husbands are being sent off to fight and die, if you think those who refuse and stay behind will be patted on the back, you are wrong.

Are you under 60 and in good health? Many countries can introduce emergency laws and up the age limit to 60 in state of war/crisis and this includes both males and females

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62dyp9pgd2o.amp

What I mean is that running away from an attacker in the street is different to running away from an invasion. The latter is like voluntarily letting somebody take your house and all your belongings.

If someone bigger and stronger and better armed than me was threatening to kill me in my house, you bet I'd flee and leave them to get on with looting my stuff.

They will fight from their bedrooms!

And probably be very good at it

What is your opinion on that idea?

@TopPocketFind hopefully just a sensible move to boost recruitment rather than the first step in a big strategy where conscription is the ultimate goal.

I can see it appealing to young people thinking about joining but who aren't completely sure.

I don't see it as a strategy to conscription.

Yup. Same.