Should the UK bring back National Service for School leavers?

Question

We live in a gang culture with guns and knives being used on our streets, the government wants to decrease unemployment by raising the school leaving age. Could National Service teach some youths of today discipline while training them for a possible future and lowering unemployment. Would it cost the tax payers too much to be feasible

Answer 1

Good idea - maybe not for all but lets say those who leave school and are still unemployed 6 months later - lets sign them up. We'd need to sort out the immigration problem first though as it seems unfir that the Eastern Europeans etc take all the jobs and leave our kids with nothing to choose from. Or - send the immigrants as well xxx

Answer 2

Yeah. Instead of a really really tiny minority having access to guns, lets actually train them all.

There is a twisted logic in that. If the gangs can shoot straight, they'll take each other out quickly and with less fuss to everyone else.

But leaving my initial sarcasm aside. Even though I vehemently disagree with your theories you expressed them clearly and precisely and you deserve some respect for that. It is rare round here.

I assume by school leavers you exculde anyone who goes on to a level 2 or 1 education and just mean those that leave after or before GCSEs. If so there would need to be a great sharpening of vocational education to ensure many didn't simply sit at school for another two years only to fail unsuitable exams. When people talk of further education they often think of A Levels and degrees neglecting the practical skills we need to run our society.

National service that is often seen with a rosy glow by both those who did it long ago, and those that never had to. I think aside from the many problems of national service as an institution, it also isn't cost effective. I sound like a politician there, I didn't intend too. It isn't cheap to equip and train half a generation for two years.

Answer 3

I think there should be some sort of national service but not the armed services - or that these conscripts should have the right to say no to going to war (especially illegal ones) as no one has the right to make a man kill another man.

We need a sort of social army where kids spend a year working on the land, doing necessary jobs which cannot be afforded at the moment but some skill training must be included and a wage for the job should be paid.

Answer 4

Yes I do, BUT only for those who either:

A) Do not go into full-time further education (They must attend at least 80% of further education classes).
B) Do not have a job 6 weeks after they leave school. (so they must have proof of employment).

Those who do not comply with the following should be made to do some form of National Service whether that be military service or community service for a minimum of 2 years.

Answer 5

I think it is a bad idea to fill the armed forces full of people that do not want to be there. Our military standing as one of the best in the world would quickly diminish.
The biggest problem is that the pace of training has to be adjusted to the level of the lowest quality candidate.
Combined with the short tour of duty, this renders the skills of the conscripts very low. Likewise, the military training of the conscripts is almost universally very rudimentary. It seldom goes beyond drill, shooting practice, rudimentary specialization on one's service branch and weapons and basic battlefield training.

Answer 6

i think a sort of social service wouldn't be too bad, i don't see the point in training people to kill each other when there is such a great need to do 'a good turn' for so many people. i also thought it would be a good idea to send kids to developing countries to help. it would certainly change ideas on things that are important or not, it might even reduce racism.

Answer 7

yes alot of kids leave school believing that they are not capable of contributing to society and not having the sense of duty to try. A spell in the army would teach these people some sense of worth. And not matter how much it cost i'm sure it would cheaper than JSA and prisons.

Answer 8

I think they should bring it back but only as a form of punishment for youths who have no respect or regard for those around them. When I see youths acting like they are untouchable and that they can do as they please without having to take any consequences I think it would be the one thing that could alter their anti social behaviour. It would act as a great deterrent for loutish behaviour and reward good behaviour by exemption from it.

Answer 9

yes they should bring back national service it should be, school until 18 then further education or national service for two years, unless you break the law then national service to fit the crime

Answer 10

Darn good suggestion in view of the moral decline in the UK and in the world today.