Should we introduce National Service in the UK?

Question

Would it solve the anti social behaviour that is blighting our society today. Is it time to let the army deal with the good the bad and the downright ugly and instill a little discipline in young people?

Laytonforce... a prime example of an absent father.

And not only discipline, but also a little pride in themselves too and a sense of purpose.

John is 101 - Any one of these kids can enlist in the services anyway, so not sure on the point you are trying to make.

Realist... now you need to get real... what a racist remark, I think you'll find that a tiny percentage of kids are not British, certainly not half.

And to answer the question, of course ALL children from ALL backgrounds should do it, there can be no discriminating if this is to work.

Answer 1

As a ex-RAF NCO & now TA SNCO,yes.
BUT and it's a big but, with all the human right's & Health & Safety,I doubt it would work.
When I joined up in 1984,we ran in army boots.Not allowed now for H&S reasons.You cant swear/yell or beast recruits & now we have 'sensitivity classes'.
I had a Cpl in the RAF,Glasweigan.If you messed up,you got a choice.Go to jail (Charged) or his punishment (Smack in the gob & beers in the NAAFI)Most of us chose the latter.
But in all honesty,I doubt the 'play station generation could hack it.

Answer 2

National Service should never have been stopped - worst thing that the government of day did. Quite a lot of our European neighbours still have conscription and yes it does instill discipline. As to whether it would solve all of societies ills well I doubt that. The anti social behaviour issues we have now are a result of the breakdown of family values. Parents, but not all parents are absolving themselves of the responsibility for bringing up their children. Discipline and respect for others starts in the home, but too many these days seem to think it's the responsibility of schools and/or government to teach children these values. The other thing that hasn't helped either is the liberalisation of society along with the introduction of the "Human Rights" act. When I was a child I knew that if I did something wrong then I would get punished, but these days the children know that if they do something wrong or even illegal nothing will happen. Police won't do anything about unruly children until they have had over a dozen complaints - I know because I've spoken to police officers on this matter.
The answer then is to: bring back National Service, repeal the Human Rights Act, re-instate Borstals and incarcerate unruly children, and finally punish those parents who refuse to take responsibility for the upbringing and social education of the offspring.

Answer 3

Yes definitely though I rather think the age level should be dropped to 10 or 12 years of age as that seems to be when the trouble now starts. Doing a stint of National Service would give the 16 yr olds and upwards a good sense of how to be considerate to other human beings apart from getting them off the streets, pubs and clubs.

Answer 4

I think that you have a point, but only if there were no escaping,...that is, no excuses why a person can't be in. Everyone being treated equally and everyone in the national service for a time. The problem with that is how do you ensure that everyone gets their chance? make the time period shorter, which would be a great increase in spending for training. Would the ends justify the means, if the country had to do with less, in order to supplement the national service commitment?

Answer 5

Yes.
it's exactly what the kids of today need.
It should be for every young man over 14 not in education.
They will be given a choice: volunteer and choose their career path (although they'll be serving 5 years instead of 3) or be assigned a place wherever they're needed.

Answer 6

Hey Mucky, i couldn't agree more.Most kids in our day and age have no purpose in life. I say if they have an idea of what they want and go to college or stay on at school then leave them to it but, if they start to mess about or don't go to college/school then make them do National Service,same goes for anyone that just leave school and do nothing. At least it'll give them a career and teach them some respect

Answer 7

Something has to be done about the UK and their lack of backbone these days.

Churchill is spinning in his grave at the handling of the Iran crisis.

Do you think Churchhill would sit around calling for "stern measures".?

No! He'd call a firebombing raid on Iran pretty quick!

P.S. - Mucky, you are pretty hot!

Answer 8

it wouldn't hurt to try, asbos are next to useless we need something. may be a spell in the army instead would be a good thing. it would probably cost as much as sending them to live in the lap of luxury in a young offenders institute with their PlayStation's and wide screen TVs anyway.
and remember there are girls that are just as bad if not worse than the boys.

Answer 9

Absoluetly....I've been saying this for ages. The likes of my dad had to do their NS an he is so proud of being a Royal Marine. As for people asking who would pay for it - court costs would be down, vandalism/gbh/murders etc would be safer to walk the streets. I wouldn't grumble about my taxes going to NS instead of useless government funding.

Answer 10

I think this is definately one solution worth looking at.......I would not however have been a happy bunny if someone had tried to make me join the army. Maybe it could be given instead of community service