Poll: National service not a bad thing?

[koooowweeee]

Only if it's paid as a real job, not "work for your benefits" otherwise it's open to abuse.

Or get the job center to do their job...they are now useless and don't help those out of work.

I don't get how it's abuse. I know there was a big thing about it a few years back, something about a girl at pound stretchers, or something like that.

But they could easily say we have you a part time job littler picking, if they refuse it then they lose there benifit anyway. Government has no back bone to pit stuff like this in place.

 

[Whitewater]

I don't think it's a good idea around the time young adults would normally be going into higher education, but I think that more can be done to target and provide incentives for school leavers who aren't going into higher education or a job.

 

[hornetstinger]

I don't get how it's abuse..

Were you ever in that position?

 

[Art]

It's not wholly fake, though, as the writer ~100 years ago was referring to complaints apparently made in ancient Greece. Supposedly, he'd just clumped them together.

Yeah, I discovered that when I couldn't remember who said it and Googled something vague. There was a whole page of quotes from various ancient Greeks complaining about the same things. It's interesting how each generation thinks it's a new phenomenon.

 

[George Hincapie]

For what purpose?

It would ease some pressure on professional soldiers for a start, but on a personal level it's incredibly beneficial. And generally very fun too. The bonds you form are very different also - quite unique. It's a win/win for the state and the individual IMHO.

 

[inflames]

I have voted yes, but those on national service should not serve on the frontline, that should be the job of those who have volunteered and made that decision on their to serve there country. Unless the time came and we needed them.
National service should be about team building, discipline, respect and social belonging. Also during the term, time to train to have a skill ready for when they leave, such as HGV licence, mechanic’s and other skills that maybe required. They should be used when firefighter go on strike, times of emergency and so on.

 

[easyrider]

And 12 months later they're probably back to square one.

Most likely with a whole new outlook on life.

 

[Mucky_Pup]

No, I'm not a fan of draconian forced government servitude for anything other than grave exceptional circumstances such as impending invasion, and I don't view a few stroppy teenagers who haven't grown up yet as a exceptional circumstances.

 

[Greebo]

Most likely with a whole new outlook on life.

Yep. Same with university. My old form teacher told my parents that Uni was less to do with getting a degree, it was more to do with growing up and developing oneself.

There were things I hated about the 2 years CCF. The frog marching, the polishing of your boots, the forced marches with packs, assault course every week etc. But the things I loved was learning how to read a map, survive in the woods, snare and prep a rabbit, cross a river with ropes, learn basic mechanics, more code, operate a radio, shoot a rifle properly, fire a Bren machine gun.

By the time the two years was up I was certainly more disciplined, i knew how to get a good shine on my shoes which is something I still believe in today, how to iron a shirt, had more confidence, was fitter, had a few basic skills in lots of different areas.

 

[Art]

Most likely with a whole new outlook on life.

A "new outlook" isn't necessarily a "better outlook". I signed up for the UOTC when I was an undergrad, hated every moment of it and quit. I don't regret trying it, but I would have been clawing my own eyeballs out if I'd been forced to do a year of it just because older people thought younger people were useless. I'd probably have had less of an issue with something less military but at the same time I would have felt like I was wasting a year which I could have spent training for the career I actually wanted.

Forcing all young people to do a year of "service" just to get something nebulous like a new outlook on life isn't worth the disruption to what they could have been doing with that year. I don't doubt that some people would benefit but others would at best feel like they were wasting time or worse, come away from it feeling bitter about being forced to do something they didn't want.

 

[easyrider]

A "new outlook" isn't necessarily a "better outlook".

A new perspective on life can only be a good thing no?

Forcing all young people to do a year of "service" just to get something nebulous like a new outlook on life isn't worth the disruption to what they could have been doing with that year.

Like Playing gaming consoles and bumming about the streets? I'm not saying all but there is a culture among the young..I witness it on a daily basis.

I don't doubt that some people would benefit but others would at best feel like they were wasting time or worse, come away from it feeling bitter about being forced to do something they didn't want.

Aww Diddums....

We all have to do things in life we don't want to...Its part of growing up.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I think they should bring this in to be honest.

I joined up after leaving School (Royal Signals) and it was the best thing I ever did.

Got to see the World, allowed me to do many things that most will never have the chance to and set me up with a well paid Career.

Short term (Basic Training). Taught me that the World does not owe me a thing, if I want something I had to get it myself and work for it, work as a team and look out for each other and that actions have consequences.

Hardest but most rewarding part of my Life.

Youth of today could benefit greatly from learning some of the Values learnt from such an experience.

 

[koooowweeee]

Were you ever in that position?

In a position where I've been told to get a job? No, I got a job the day after I left school. Worked non stop for 17 years

 

[hornetstinger]

In a position where I've been told to get a job? No, I got a job the day after I left school. Worked non stop for 17 years

Then you really don't have a say.

 

[Begbie]

I have spoken to a few young people who are bored...

They cant get a job, have little money and and feel confused and angry...

They would relish some kind of Path for a while...

Having said that they are all still annoying little !"£$%

I don't understand why most people in this situation join the military.

I mean the wages are better than most unskilled jobs in the UK. I myself make more money than I reckon I ever would in 'civvie' life. I make more than most people I know who went to university, albeit I am in a trade.

 

[Art]

A new perspective on life can only be a good thing no?

Why is that? It's entirely possible for people to see the world in a less pleasant or darker way. Other people in the thread have made comments about abusive situations: these would certainly change your view of the world but not in a good way.

Like Playing gaming consoles and bumming about the streets? I'm not saying all but there is a culture among the young..I witness it on a daily basis.

Just because some people do it doesn't mean all people do. I see plenty of adults doing these things, and I see plenty of young people who are actually doing useful work. You're making massive generalisations which undoubtedly apply to some people but not all people.

Aww Diddums....
We all have to do things in life we don't want to...Its part of growing up.

First of all I don't think there's a useful argument in there because it could be used to justify literally anything. Don't like having to pay *all* of your wages in tax? "Aww Diddums....We all have to do things in life we don't want to...Its part of growing up.". It's a non-argument.

Second, there is usually a reason why we have to do things we don't like. Taxes pay for infrastructure, the NHS etc., and working a job (usually) helps society to function in some way in reward for money to pay for the necessities of life. For many people I'd bet there would be no meaningful benefit to a year of national service, you'd simply be holding them back a year from what they actually want to be doing.

Like I said I don't doubt that some people would benefit from it, but making entire year groups do it because some people would benefit? There's not a lot of sense to that and there's no guarantee at all it would make the person a more productive member of society.

 

[zophiel]

Short term (Basic Training). Taught me that the World does not owe me a thing, if I want something I had to get it myself and work for it, work as a team and look out for each other and that actions have consequences.

and this is why the vast majority of the youth do not wish to have anything to do with it.

 

[Mr Joshua]

I voted no, I have no desire to do it myself and wouldn't dream of making others do it.

I would never fight in any sort of war for this country either, those who have benefitted most from society can do that or the place can go to hell in a hand basket.

 

[WillyNelson]

I don't think it would benefit at all. Hideously expensive and largely pointless to implement.

The vast majority of young people have plenty of opportunities for education, apprenticeships, employment or training. Money and efforts need to be channelled into the few areas which don't have these opportunities available, to either provide better social care structure or attract industry that can provide jobs.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I voted no, I have no desire to do it myself and wouldn't dream of making others do it.

I would never fight in any sort of war for this country either, those who have benefitted most from society can do that or the place can go to hell in a hand basket.

The freedoms you have today were paid for by people willing to what you would not it seems.