Soldato
You've clearly forgotten about the TA
Haha
to be fair, I've worked with some very capable part timers... On the other hand, holy moly have we been in a pickle due to the incompetence of some.Poll: National service not a bad thing?
- Thread starter easyrider
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Haha
to be fair, I've worked with some very capable part timers... On the other hand, holy moly have we been in a pickle due to the incompetence of some.
I didn't go in the forces no...But I wouldn't have had any issue if it was compulsory for a year when I was younger.
I'm too old.
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Soldato
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They are just ideas and thoughts, nothing wrong them. It's good to see varying opinions.
Educated or not, ambitious or not, naturally intelligent or not, many people in this world have little choice but to accept what they have. You and I are privileged, many are not. We are lucky to have been born where we are. I think everyone giving a little to the world for a short period of their life somehow isn't a bad idea. NOte that I am talking about more than military service here though - more about giving to the world in general, doing our bit to help those less privileged around the world than joining a force to protect just our own little country. Great in theory though I know
.I would have hated to have to do something especially < 25 but I think it would have been good for me too.
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For all those posting "I spent my formative years doing XYZ in the army etc and it taught me XYZ".
Well I spent my formative years pretending to study electromechanical engineering at a top tier university, mostly alongside privately educated over privileged *****.
I spent nearly every evening attempting to self induce a comma via alcohol in dingy clubs. I dropped off my course (after a couple of years), fell out with the idiots I was studying/living with, went on the dole and was quickly put into work for the civil service as a Admin Assistant.
I also met my missus, made life long friends, left the civil service and found a steady job in IT, a field I continue in to this day.
Unlike other posters though, I'm not likely to suggest, this as the one true route all our youth should take, it worked pretty well for me though.
Perhaps we can start a national youth, pretending to study, drinking too much and dossing about plan
Well I spent my formative years pretending to study electromechanical engineering at a top tier university, mostly alongside privately educated over privileged *****.
I spent nearly every evening attempting to self induce a comma via alcohol in dingy clubs. I dropped off my course (after a couple of years), fell out with the idiots I was studying/living with, went on the dole and was quickly put into work for the civil service as a Admin Assistant.
I also met my missus, made life long friends, left the civil service and found a steady job in IT, a field I continue in to this day.
Unlike other posters though, I'm not likely to suggest, this as the one true route all our youth should take, it worked pretty well for me though.
Perhaps we can start a national youth, pretending to study, drinking too much and dossing about plan
I think this is a bit of an issue, there are a lot of people saying "it worked for me, so why shouldn't all young people do it?", as if every young person will respond to it in the same way they did. I did a PhD and also spent a couple of years training for and running marathons, both of which really developed me as a person, but I wouldn't in a million years suggest everyone should do these things.
The other factor is that generally they're people who willingly signed up for it and presumably felt some motivation and desire to be there in the first place. If you mandate it for all young people that is going to be far from the case.
Why would it need to be compulsory for you to do it? You'd have had plenty of opportunities to join a reserve unit and deploy somewhere over the past decade or so. Yet you didnt! Bit hypocritical to advocate for something you didn't have the conviction to do yourself.
Doubtful, RAF takes old folks...
Soldato
They take on medical officers up to the age of 55.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/how-to-apply/eligibility-check/
That's a bit specialist... but other folks can still join in their 40s IIRC
The army reserve has some specialist IT units too - can get a commissioned as a captain and you do the 'vicars and tarts' commissioning course along with other 'professionals' going into rear echelon type roles.
The army reserve has some specialist IT units too - can get a commissioned as a captain and you do the 'vicars and tarts' commissioning course along with other 'professionals' going into rear echelon type roles.
Soldato
No there are medical officers at every R.A.F. base around the world. I know because I dealt with them.
No it isn't...
Joining the Forces is a choice.
National Service would not be...
The two are completely different things.
Yes, clearly. However you're advocating for people to serve but lacked the conviction to make that choice for yourself. You're a bit of a hypocrite. The option is there for you to serve and gain some of the benefits you believe you could gain from doing so yet you didn't and won't but think others should.
That they're deployed around the world doesn't contradict that it is a bit specialist.. generally would be more amenable to actual medical professionals rather than any civvies wanting to join the regs or reserves later in life.
Soldato
Did you serve in the R.A.F.? I did. I'm just conveying my experience when I say medical officers are not specialist like you say. Every R.A.F. base has a medical centre and in each one there are medical officers. What's not to understand?
Associate
The problem I see is that, whilst a good thing for society, it's not a good thing for individuals.
If everyone has to do it, it gives no real bonus in finding work (because it doesn't set you apart from everyone else). Once they've finished, they'd need support going back to normal life.. they'll need help finding accommodation, jobs and the like...
If people want to sign up, then that's fine but chucking every 18 year old into a randomised national service role isn't going to help anyone.
If everyone has to do it, it gives no real bonus in finding work (because it doesn't set you apart from everyone else). Once they've finished, they'd need support going back to normal life.. they'll need help finding accommodation, jobs and the like...
If people want to sign up, then that's fine but chucking every 18 year old into a randomised national service role isn't going to help anyone.
Did you serve in the R.A.F.? I did. I'm just conveying my experience when I say medical officers are not specialist like you say. Every R.A.F. base has a medical centre and in each one there are medical officers. What's not to understand?
No I didn't serve in the RAF. I think you've missed the point and are trying to make some rather odd semantic argument. You can perhaps re-read my posts in context or perhaps I can expand. You've pointed out to the OP that medical officers can join up to age 55... that isn't necessarily useful information to him (unless he's a medical professional)as it is a specialist role that requires a qualification such as a medical degree. It is hardly applicable to someone (in general or the OP) wanting to just experience service for a short period of time.
If you're taking my use of the word 'specialist' to mean something else then that is where the confusion is. Hope that clears things up.
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Soldato
But it does help. It gives people qualifications in most cases that they can use in civilian life. I spent two years studying in the R.A.F. and the qualifications I gained got me jobs once I left. So personally I see the benefit of national service. If you've never served then you don't know.