Forum menu
Oh and by the way Territorials or what ever thay are called always get battered, read your history
I seem to remember from the recruiters at my university officer training corps that they mostly send you on ski trips? Is that still policy?
Seems like there’s an awful lot of people in this thread who like the rights and privileges of living in this country but want no responsibilities to go with them.
Mark… is that you…?
Oh and by the way Territorials or what ever thay are called always get battered, read your history
The Army reserve haven't been mobilised en masse since WW2, prior to that many regiments of the British Army were yeomanries raised by the landed gentry made up of volunteers and pressed men in their ward as the 'professional' army was still quite small.
In war everyone gets battered, only ****ing planks turn it into a competitive league table.
Going by recent events in Ukraine and Palestine you'd stand a very good chance of being blown up by your own side.
I seem to remember from the recruiters at my university officer training corps that they mostly send you on ski trips? Is that still policy?
Looking at my social media feed this month, that seems to be the case.
Navy here and Kelvin has it spot on ref conscription, keeps the Daily Mail happy, just a drain on resources otherwise.
Hate to break it to those breathing a sigh of relief in their fifties. Fifty two here, recently extended to sixty and just as liable for sea duty as anyone else.
Yes - if they want an obley old git from their 7th decade.
But careful what they wish for - the enemy is far far closer to home.
Seems like there’s an awful lot of people in this thread who like the rights and privileges of living in this country but want no responsibilities to go with them.
I remember having a lot more rights and privileges once.
Hate to break it to those breathing a sigh of relief in their fifties. Fifty two here, recently extended to sixty and just as liable for sea duty as anyone else.
Eff that, bobbin around the oggin is not for me.
and one go AWOL
Reporting for duty Sir!
It's an interesting topic.
I was voluntarily involved in my yoof. "For my country" takes a bit of unpacking - there's a hell of a difference between 'in the name of my country's government' and 'for my country to stop it being blown to bits'. With the benefit of hindsight I was involved in the former. That's no place for a conscript as history has proved many many times.
But in the case of the latter.....that's a lot more personal. It might well be the difference between life (actual life or life as we know it) for your family and loved ones. There have been a lot of inverse internet hardmen stating there's no way they would accept it and no one can tell me what to do. Put yourself in the position of a Ukrainian almost exactly 2 years ago with the Russians marching in and destroying your towns - the very situation the UK general was envisaging the need conscription. Would you still be having your hissy fit then? Would you have needed persuading?
For clarity I would seriously struggle with the first scenario (and wouldn't ever put myself in that position again voluntarily) but would play my part in the defence of the nation (and by nation, I mean me, my family, your family and even you miserable sods).
Tbf it won’t happen for at least 5 years as its would be a massive vote loser for labour.* The tories however, with their geriatric supporter base whom most of which would probably struggle to wipe their own arses without home help, let alone go to war, would be bang up for it.
* tbf it won’t happen regardless
Should have read his speach, shouldn’t we… nothing about conscription, more a third tier of reservists… offered training and being asked to be available when needed… a citizens army not being trained from scratch should the need come. Nothing about it being anything other than voluntary.
Yes but that doesn't have the same ability to stir up forums as shouting "CONSCRIPTION".
More worrying was this comment "We will not be immune and as the pre-war generation we must similarly prepare...".
So we are the pre-war generation? War is coming?
The tories however, with their geriatric supporter base whom most of which would probably struggle to wipe their own arses without home help, let alone go to war, would be bang up for it.
I refuse to go and check it out in person but I bet the Daily Mail comments page is fwapping itself silly at the mention of conscription. It's a red rag to a bull - all it needs is some anti-cyclist rhetoric in there and it'd be a full house on the Daily Mail Bingo Card.
And they'd be the same people who get in the SUV to drive to the shops cos they can't possibly walk half a mile while carrying a loaf of bread. They can fondly imagine themselves sprinting across the battlefields like something out of a Marvel film but put them near enemy fire and they'd be the first people crying in a ditch.
They can fondly imagine themselves sprinting across the battlefields like something out of a Marvel film but put them near enemy fire and they’d be the first people crying in a ditch.
Only because they're unaware of the 'I'm up, he sees me, I'm down' mantra to fire and manoeuvre.
I’m reminded of the debate in the Oxford Union which passed the motion: "This House will under no circumstances fight for its King and country". 1933 I think it was.
I’m reminded of the debate in the Oxford Union which passed the motion: “This House will under no circumstances fight for its King and country”. 1933 I think it was.
The Oxford Union motion was proposed by Kenelm Hubert Digby of St John's College, Digby addressed the packed chamber: "It is no mere coincidence that the only country fighting for the cause of peace, Soviet Russia, is the country that has rid itself of the war-mongering clique.
Awks.
Still going i see, this is basically just the outgoing CGS making a statement that's saying spend more on the MoD to stop it shrinking, as before, there is no chance of 'conscription', we aren't going to be fighting in Europe, in this day and age i can't see Russia ploughing through Europe to make it viable, and we don't really have enough equipment to require more than the current armed forces, reservists and so on to operate and maintain.
I'm inclined to agree with Convert. I've always been a hippy peacenik type, so my first reaction is along the lines of this:
I was born here by accident. Does that oblige me to fight and kill other working people from somewhere else so our masters can keep their power and riches? They can f*** right off
But... What is the alternative case here? In ww2 the very vivid threat was of being invaded and ruled by one of the worst regimes in history. Right now, Putin is menacing Europe, a far right dictator with no regard for human rights or democracy.
If they were at the gates?
I wouldn't fight to protect the Tories, but would I fight to protect my Jewish in-laws or my immigrant mum? I probably would. Sunak can get ****ed but I still don't want to live in a country where you can get life in a Siberian jail for criticising a politician.
If the time comes I just hope this man has my back... and my sides and my head.
https://youtube.com/shorts/PXpslj9kyX4?si=FbvPjNEhcVLlLhi9
This comment on Reddit got me laughing:
If there is a conscription Capita will be hired and it'll take a year to process the conscripts and by the time that's done the war will be over.
Then every conscript gets a medal for being signed up even though they didn't go.
Everyone wins.
^^ That's just ridiculous. They would hire G4S.😉
Only because they’re unaware of the ‘I’m up, he sees me, I’m down’ mantra to fire and manoeuvre.
Hang on, are you saying that the response from every hero in every action film (running, ducking a bit and firing from the hip while enemy rounds explode all around you, miraculously missing any vital organs) is not the correct way?
**** that, I'm out.
😉
Hang on, are you saying that the response from every hero in every action film (running, ducking a bit and firing from the hip while enemy rounds explode all around you, miraculously missing any vital organs) is not the correct way?
OPSEC. I could tell you, but then I'd have to bore you to death with shit dits.
Do people genuinely think we're at risk of a war on our doorstep because of a failed attempt to invade the Ukraine? I'd say Russia's failure is as good an argument as any to cut military funding at spend it on the more present and imminent threats of climate change and biodiversity decline.
If it's taken two years to not even get through Ukraine, how many years is it going to take to get through Poland, Germany and the Netherlands? Unless there's something happening on our doorstep there's no need for the UK to get involved. We seem pretty good at sticking our beaks in where we're not needed, wanted or relevant which seems as good a way as reducing the number of trained people to defend the UK when the threat actually arrives as not getting involved and reducing military spend.
If there were a real threat of war at our gates, I would just leave.
**** conscription I would volunteer, but only if I got to lead the charge with a supped up armour vehicle with a muzzled Jacob Rees Mog strapped to the front (mad max thunder road style) straight towards the ruski front. Some sacrifices are worth making.
Do people genuinely think we’re at risk of a war on our doorstep because of a failed attempt to invade the Ukraine?
I'm taking this as more of a hypothetical discussion. More of a discussion about where we are as a society today than anything particularly practical about an imminent threat.
MSP
Full Member
also, given the lack of resources our military apparently has, how much damage do you think we could inflict launching bojo at the enemy with a trebuchet?
I'm willing to find out.
Though we could send them Truss first to crash their economy?
munrobiker
Do people genuinely think we’re at risk of a war on our doorstep
Reminds me of the milkman turf war of '87.
Do people genuinely think we’re at risk of a war on our doorstep because of a failed attempt to invade the Ukraine?
Ask us that question again after the US Presidential election...😕
Do people genuinely think we’re at risk of a war on our doorstep because of a failed attempt to invade the Ukraine?
No. In fact having seen said failed attempt I think we're less at risk than I did before. But it's still an interesting discussion.
**** conscription I would volunteer, but only if I got to lead the charge with a supped up armour vehicle with a muzzled Jacob Rees Mog strapped to the front (mad max thunder road style) straight towards the ruski front. Some sacrifices are worth making.
@Kryton57
Source please for the following:The current prediction is a world war will occur within 5-8 years
Happy to fill in the gaps: it was actually Madame Sosostris, a famous clairvoyante with a bad cold, known to be the wisest woman in Europe - other than Liz Truss obvz - anyway, she dealt out the drowned Phoenician Sailor, Belladonna, the Lady of the Rocks and some other shite. Clearly points to the Chinese launching a seaborne, land invasion of Wales shortly.
If it’s taken two years to not even get through Ukraine, how many years is it going to take to get through Poland, Germany and the Netherlands?
This ^^^
It will be 10 times harder to fight the Polish and Germans.
Unless there’s something happening on our doorstep there’s no need for the UK to get involved. We seem pretty good at sticking our beaks in where we’re not needed, wanted or relevant which seems as good a way as reducing the number of trained people to defend the UK when the threat actually arrives as not getting involved and reducing military spend.
Invade UK? LOL! There is practically "nothing" worthwhile in the UK to go for apart from grief and plenty of whinging lot. All they need to do to wind up the Brits Govt is to stick to inflation, and let the politicians have the circus. Job done. Nobody dies and no resources wasted.
If there were a real threat of war at our gates, I would just leave.
I am not bothered even if the bombs drop left, right and centre to me so long as I can still drink my coffee and bbq, if they are still available that is. I ain't high value target nor bother about whoever is in govt. I am sure the victor will have a "good" time governing the whinging lot. LOL!
What would conscription look like nowadays?
What age group? 18-->?
All genders?
What would constitute a protected profession? I'm NHS but work in the background in a lab which potentially could operate on a skeleton crew in an emergency I guess, but wouldn't be sustainable though.
And yesterday, our LIMs (the system we use to report all the results) encountered a problem and the supplier had to perform some background tasks and restart in order to prevent it totally crashing. If the LIMs goes down, that would shut the hospital. So what would happen if all the IT bods that work for the supplier had been conscripted? Where, in the "modern" world do you draw the line at who can be spared?
What would constitute a protected profession?
Probably doctors and nurses only.
Energy sector? I doubt there will be an energy sector if there is a real fight coz that's the first to disappear.
No. In fact having seen said failed attempt I think we’re less at risk than I did before. But it’s still an interesting discussion.
It's about as interesting as asking if people would be prepared to jump in front of a speeding steam locomotive to save a puppy from certain death since it's about as likely to actually happen.
Moreover, 'would you fight for this country if conscripted?' You wouldn't have a choice, that's how conscription works. You're in the army now etc.
Belladonna
Yeah, I can see how someone's going to get ****ed if she's in play...
It's a really interesting question and for me, as many others have mentioned in the thread, I think it would depend on the context of the war and whether the war was realistically going to result in fighting in/over the UK if nothing was done. WW2 at the time where there was genuine fear over a German invasion and Britain was being bombed, or a cold war gone hot situation where soviet tanks were steaming west and the soviets were launching missiles and bombs our way.
Conscription for something like Vietnam again? Almost certain to never fly.
And what about Trident? If a threat is so severe as to directly risk the freedom of the country then where does the line draw in increasing nuclear rhetoric that will either settle the situation down via the threat of MAD, or result in the end of the UK, vs conscripting the country into a devastating war on our home turf?
Thankfully since the fall of the berlin wall, there's no realistic situation where either question would come into question imo.
also, given the lack of resources our military apparently has, how much damage do you think we could inflict launching bojo at the enemy with a trebuchet?
As with a lot of modern munitions, it's not so much the intitial impact that causes the most damage, it's the shock wave and exponential release of super heated gasses (or hot air, if you will) that does the real damage.
So with that in mind, I would hypothesise that Boris Johnson being launched via trebuchet could be a highly effective anti-personel weapon.
The main consideration would be whether the trebuchet is positioned at a safe enough distance from the target to avoid the initial blast radius of super heated hot air upon impact.
What would conscription look like nowadays?
neither of my grandfathers were called up in 2nd world war - one was a miner the other a manufacturing joiner (windows, doors, big timber stuff).
I’m sure major IT jobs related to national security would be protected - web designers not so much.
I’m of the option it won’t happen though - what countries realistically are going to back Russia if they escalate things?