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Teenagers

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

Conscription fears for teen son

224 replies

Hazlenuts2016 · 15/12/2025 21:37

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

UK's 'sons and daughters' need to be ready to fight, amid growing Russian threat, says head of armed forces

In an extraordinarily blunt intervention, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton warned that Russia's military strength is increasing and is something to fear, with Russian troops now battle-hardened after spending the past nearly four years waging a f...

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

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Fernsrus · 29/12/2025 22:12

Same

Hazlenuts2016 · 29/12/2025 22:19

@ZenLikeAlways 100%

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GaIadriel · 30/12/2025 04:40

People make out like it wasn't just as horrible for the mothers that lost their sons in WW1/WW2, some only being 16yo. Other than a modern dollop of entitlement we've got no better arguments than they had for not sending their children to war. For starters, the population is much bigger nowadays so there'd be less of an issue repopulating.

Natsku · 30/12/2025 05:54

My son will be conscripted because I live in a country with conscription. Over 70% of people in my country are willing to fight for our country and our reserve force is close to 1 million thanks to conscription. I think the uk would be wise to consider starting to train the youth now, rather than wait until shit hits the fan.

Hazlenuts2016 · 30/12/2025 07:12

@GaIadriel what, feeling entitled for our sons to not be used as canon fodder? I'd say just more awareness of the brutality of war. I couldn't give a toss about repopulation. I just don't want my son to die. Is that unreasonable or entitled? I'm not pretending there are any easy answers to defence. Would you be happy to send your son to war?

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GaIadriel · 30/12/2025 13:19

Hazlenuts2016 · 30/12/2025 07:12

@GaIadriel what, feeling entitled for our sons to not be used as canon fodder? I'd say just more awareness of the brutality of war. I couldn't give a toss about repopulation. I just don't want my son to die. Is that unreasonable or entitled? I'm not pretending there are any easy answers to defence. Would you be happy to send your son to war?

I completely understand and I'd also hate for any family member of mine to risk their life in a war that wasn't their doing. What I meant is that it has likely always been the same for the families of those that get conscripted.

I think that we've been largely shielded from the realities of the world/humanity for many decades now. We all know that there are a lot of bad humans out there but we're in a more fortunate situation than the people of Ukraine or the women in Afghanistan who are right at the pointy end. We mainly hear about this stuff on the news and even horrific events like the Manchester bombing don't affect our day to day life unless we were unfortunate enough to have had family members/friends who died there.

We're used to having freedom and most all of us take it for granted even if we say we don't. National security is something that is maintained by others on our behalf.

I don't actually think we're likely to be invaded or that most of us would face conscription and be fighting in infantry combat, but in a hypothetical situation we've not really got our heads around the idea of having to fight to keep the existence we have as people in Ukraine have had to. A lot of people think they could just opt out in that situation and it'd get magically sorted by others.

Hazlenuts2016 · 30/12/2025 13:58

@GaIadrielif I thought it would get magically sorted by others i wouldn't be worried! Agreed we have been shielded and underspent on defence for decades. I'm sure mothers in the 1940s also went through hell when their sons were conscripted. But I'd like to think we have evolved as a society and would no longer force people to fight against their will. Whether enough people would want to defend us is another matter, and I'm aware that could leave us very vulnerable. Hopefully this will remain a hypothetical debate.

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GaIadriel · 31/12/2025 05:33

Hazlenuts2016 · 30/12/2025 13:58

@GaIadrielif I thought it would get magically sorted by others i wouldn't be worried! Agreed we have been shielded and underspent on defence for decades. I'm sure mothers in the 1940s also went through hell when their sons were conscripted. But I'd like to think we have evolved as a society and would no longer force people to fight against their will. Whether enough people would want to defend us is another matter, and I'm aware that could leave us very vulnerable. Hopefully this will remain a hypothetical debate.

I think it's more likely that people who refused to support their country would lose certain privileges. There was a time when only rich men or those that undertook military service could vote.

Most people don't realise that signing up for the draft (selective service) is already a legal requirement for US males. Whenever I've seen it raised on here (usually to point out that the system doesn't always privilege men) people say that it's just a formality and we haven't had a draft in decades. However, I'd be less nonchalant as a male having signed on the dotted line in light of recent world events.

Selective Service System registration is required by law. By registering, a young man remains eligible for jobs, state-based student aid and employment in most states, Federally-funded job training, and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men.

A man who fails to register may be ineligible for opportunities important to his future. He must register to be eligible for state-funded student financial aid and employment in many states, most federal employment, job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men.

If required to register, failure to register is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment. Also, a person who knowingly counsels, aids, or abets another to fail to comply with the registration requirement is subject to the same penalties.

www.sss.gov/

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 07:38

That's scary!

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curious79 · 31/12/2025 07:47

At the outset of WWII the army was effectively a conscription army and very inefficient and badly working because of it. I imagine the same thing would happen and hopefully we get good enough again in time to prevent being totally overrun. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that our kids will see war and need to fight in some way. Terrifying

Natsku · 31/12/2025 08:25

curious79 · 31/12/2025 07:47

At the outset of WWII the army was effectively a conscription army and very inefficient and badly working because of it. I imagine the same thing would happen and hopefully we get good enough again in time to prevent being totally overrun. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that our kids will see war and need to fight in some way. Terrifying

That's why conscription should start long before war is likely, so there's time to train properly.

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 08:32

@Natsku if you're in favour, do you have a son who would be eligible? I'm presuming, but maybe I'm wrong, that the people on here who are pro conscription or more relaxed about the prospect don't have to worry about the reality of war for their sons.

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Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 08:35

@Natskujust read that you do! I have more respect for your perspective knowing that.

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notimagain · 31/12/2025 08:42

Natsku · 31/12/2025 08:25

That's why conscription should start long before war is likely, so there's time to train properly.

Agreed.

If we really must run analogies with WW2 you'd possibly be of the opinion it's already started and we're at the Phoney War stage (Late 39>spring 40, country in eastern europe invaded, not much happening in the west)...with forces in those western countries various trying to get their acts together...

If the UK was serious about significantly upscaling the forces now, especially the army, HMG would have already been buying back/reactivating former training areas and facilities and procuring trainers....

itsthetea · 31/12/2025 08:46

War is horrible
innocent people die , all have their lives changed for ever
it is also sometimes unavoidable - unless you want a Russian government. Which some people would accept to save their lives.

StandingSideBySide · 31/12/2025 09:35

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 07:38

That's scary!

It’s a register but they can still be conscientious objectors

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 09:35

To people without close family who could potentially die fighting in the war, defending us, conscription may seem like a no brainer. But behind these numbers are boys and men who are adored by their families. I think a lot of people are talking like they are just collateral damage.

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StandingSideBySide · 31/12/2025 09:36

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 08:32

@Natsku if you're in favour, do you have a son who would be eligible? I'm presuming, but maybe I'm wrong, that the people on here who are pro conscription or more relaxed about the prospect don't have to worry about the reality of war for their sons.

And daughters

StandingSideBySide · 31/12/2025 09:37

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 09:35

To people without close family who could potentially die fighting in the war, defending us, conscription may seem like a no brainer. But behind these numbers are boys and men who are adored by their families. I think a lot of people are talking like they are just collateral damage.

Agree

Natsku · 31/12/2025 09:40

notimagain · 31/12/2025 08:42

Agreed.

If we really must run analogies with WW2 you'd possibly be of the opinion it's already started and we're at the Phoney War stage (Late 39>spring 40, country in eastern europe invaded, not much happening in the west)...with forces in those western countries various trying to get their acts together...

If the UK was serious about significantly upscaling the forces now, especially the army, HMG would have already been buying back/reactivating former training areas and facilities and procuring trainers....

Indeed, it's a bit too late already, should have started preparing in 2014 (well shouldn't have stopped being prepared after the cold war ended but that's hindsight)

HoppityBun · 31/12/2025 09:41

itsthetea · 31/12/2025 08:46

War is horrible
innocent people die , all have their lives changed for ever
it is also sometimes unavoidable - unless you want a Russian government. Which some people would accept to save their lives.

There’s always such a drama and overwhelm of emotions on Remembrance Day and other celebrations marking the end of World War II and World War I. Surely it’s things like this that bring home so much more thoroughly what sacrifices were made in the 20th century by those who fought?

All the marching bands, last posts and wreath layings are so performative. It’s the reality of conscription that brings it home. This is what people have had to go through in the past. This is the fear they felt.

Natsku · 31/12/2025 09:42

StandingSideBySide · 31/12/2025 09:36

And daughters

I have a teenage daughter who may be conscripted but probably not, I doubt the laws will change in my country before she turns 18 (only compulsory for males at the moment, women can join voluntarily)

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 09:44

@StandingSideBySide very unlikely.

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MyNattyCrow · 31/12/2025 09:46

I absolutely do not worry about conscription. 21st century warfare just doesn’t work on the throw as many poorly trained bodies at it as you can find principle.

there are plenty of things to worry about…but the state forcing our teenagers to fight seems unlikely. .

StandingSideBySide · 31/12/2025 09:48

Hazlenuts2016 · 31/12/2025 09:44

@StandingSideBySide very unlikely.

Think this was discussed earlier in your thread hence I disagree.