Conscription - Good or Bad?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 10:14

Should we re-introduce conscription?



Does it make you a better person?



Is there anyone on here that was conscripted?

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 10:31

What for?



You need to be a bit more logical here - the question you have asked is not simply answered as many things have changed in the world since conscription ended in the UK.



Think of things like, how many per year, who will pay for their food, clothing, accommodation, equipment, medical, transportation, etc, etc? Where do you propose they should be trained? Once trained what do you propose they are used for and for how long?



The big question here - having sold or given back most of the barracks/stations/bases in the UK - where are you going to house lets say 100,000 extra bodies every year and who do you propose will guide them as their NCO's and Officers.



The British military is clinging on by its teeth and has no spare capacity to look after part time servicemen/women when they are barely able to look after their own due to poor support from the government.



My answer is NO to conscription - it serves no purpose and would only cause the military to suffer more.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 10:49

Waddo. Do you think national service made the conscriptee a better person?

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 11:02

I didn't have to do it, but I have a step son that is liable to serve in the Russian forces and some of us my have kids that should serve either for the "TRNC"/ TR army or Cyprus National guard.



I guess if the forces are well run and there isn't institutionalised violence / cruelty it can be a "good" thing..



Too often conscripts are literally "cannon fodder" when older men start wars they expect younger en to fight..



Isn't it better to have willing - well paid volunteers as serving members, rather than underpaid, unwilling conscripts?

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 12:01

At the time and in the days when National Service was a requirement in the UK, I think it gave those conscripts a sense of belonging. For many it was a disturbance to their lives that may have held back their futures but for most I think they all got something out of it.



It taught people that there was no "I" in Team and that you could depend upon others - it taught simple justice for minor crimes and of the National Servicemen that I have met and talked to over the years, none but a very, very few said it was a waste of time.



However, as Eric rightly say's it is a governments way of getting cannon fodder and for that reason alone - I am against it. UK is not in need of conscription, it is in need of a large wake up call.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 12:12

Bring it back I say, it would sort a lot of the youth problems and yobbo's in the UK..give these kids a purpose in life.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 13:19

The only purpose it would serve would be to increase the earnings of thousands of lawyers seeking claims from the poor youth of the country in regard to Human Rights.

The kids in UK already have a purpose in life - more for less is todays moto and you won't change it by conscription.

authentichoccie


Joined: 09/01/2008
Posts: 481

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 13:42

My son is going to do it here, as soon as he is 18 he is going to sign up! Apparently it means he can then get a kimlik card even though he was not born here but will have lived here for 8 years by then (i'm sure if i'm wrong someone will put me right on this!).

I think its a good idea, teach them few skills and can only help him in the future!

Not sure my other 2 boys will follow suit though!

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 14:30

Hey Waddo, re msg 6



"However, as Eric rightly say's it is a governments way of getting cannon fodder"



Did National service not tell you to "know" your "enemy" ?! I'm not "Eric"... ;)



Re msg 6



Dee, ) going by your reasoning re morals - it is then indeed a shame some ladies didn't do National Service.. it might have taught some folk the importance of "keeping one's promises" ?!



Do let us know when you've been Minaret spotting ! ..

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 15:04

National Service isn't the answer to the Armys manpower shortage and if you have seen how the regulars behave in Ayia Napa you will know that to say it would sort out the Yobs is nonsense. Even the USA has given up the draft.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 17:30

Mark,

Deepest and strongest possible appologies to you. Would never wish to associate you with Eric - a slip of the fingers that will not happen again.

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 17:34

waddo: "...a slip of the fingers that will not happen again..."



I've heard that excuse in court a few times, Wads.

Jonesy299


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 367

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 17:44

The British Army (or indeed other services of the UK armed forces) have no problem getting recruitees through the doors (in many areas they have a waiting list). Figures are also improving with the credit crunch - service life is an attractive option to provide a salary in these tough times.



The problem is retention - most want to leave after a few years particularly when faced with the current tempo of operations.



Conscription would not help the armed forces as most conscripts return to civilian life as soon as their conscript period ends - what is needed are individuals to remain in for a full career.



If you speak to most serving personnel, the last thing they want is to train and serve with a bunch of conscripts who don't want to be there....what they need are guys and girls who intend to stay the course.

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
16/03/2009 17:57

All those caught carrying knives or selling drugs should be put in punishment battalions and shipped off to Helmand Province to serve their sentences !