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Just read that the head of the UK army claims if we went to war with Russia then the country would need to consider bringing conscription back.
now firstly, if we went to war I imagine it would turn thermonuclear before any conscription was required, but if it didn’t would you serve?
Personally, unless me or my loved ones were under threat they could frankly do one. No chance I’m risking life or limb for some political agenda. I’d probably be too old to be called up anyway tbf
If they start calling up the over 60s we've lost.
So that's a no from me.
If it gets that bad I'm buggering off to my sisters house in the Pyrenees. Hopefully they wouldn;t want me anyway as I'm 47. My son is 15 so hopefully he's ok for a while too.
unless me or my loved ones were under threat
Which, if we went to war with Russia, they probably would be.
I mean, I'm too old anyway, but if I wasn't then this is one of those questions that you can't possibly answer truthfully until you're actually in the position. It's a bit like when it gets down to the actual fighting; regardless of what you might think now, you don't know if you'd be the one running through walls of fire to save a mate or being a quivering mess hiding behind a wall until the bullets start flying.
Which, if we went to war with Russia, they probably would be.
im not convinced. Russia may have eyes in its neighbours, but it won’t be knocking at our borders any time soon. By the time russia was anywhere near threatening our nation, The world would be a nuclear wasteland and me and my rifle isn’t going to contribute much at all
in the context of ww2, yes I’d probably have fought because of the circumstances. But ww1, no chance (although I doubt I’d have got much of a choice in the matter)
Why would I fight for a country that will leave me to shiver and starve without housing during peacetime while companies boast about record profits?
If they start calling up the over 60s we’ve lost.
That'll just be for the Home Guard Mr Mainwaring Sir.....
Tough question - depends I suppose on the level of threat to the UK etc.
Never understood why we stopped National Service - seems to work well in other Countries - would give certain sections of society a kick up the arse & a wake up call and also keep our defence forces topped-up if needed - especially if as it looks the next War (which hopefully won't happen) will be fought on many fronts against many enemies.
If conscripted, would you actually have a choice?
You could become a conscientious objector, a là Godfey and be a medic, assuming you have suitable training in the first place, or join the emergency services back home and be an ARP a là Hodges. If you are in a protected profession you wouldn't get conscripted in the first place. I don't think IT middle manager will be protected...
Only as a mercenary - for Ireland I'd be a volunteer. Too old now though.
I don’t think IT middle manager will be protected…
Hey, I was a Key Worker during the pandemic 🙂
Why would I fight for a country that will leave me to shiver and starve without housing during peacetime while companies boast about record profits?
tbf my thoughts exactly. History is full of wars fought by commoners for the benefit of the rich and powerful
Hey, I was a Key Worker during the pandemic 🙂
Keyboard warrior is not the same as key worker 😉
Tell all the people who believe what they read in the press
Tell all the folk who stare from behind suburban walls
The enemy is not some nation far across the sea
The enemy is with us every single breathing day
So yes, I will fight for my country
The land that I love so well
Yes, for justice, a land fit for all our futures
Yes, I will fight for my country, the land that I love so well
Hear the voices of our history echo all around
Fight all the ones who divide us rich against poor
Fight all the ones who divide us white against black
Fight all the ones who want their missiles in our earth
Fight all the powers who would lead us into war
No rights were ever given to us by the grace of God
No rights were ever given by some United Nations clause
No rights were ever given by some nice guy at the top
Our rights they were bought by all the blood and all the tears of all our Grandmothers, grandfathers before
For all the folk who gave their lives for us
For all the folk who spit out, never say die
For all the fires burning on our highest hills
For all the people spinning tales tonight
Fight all the powers who would abuse our Common Laws
Fight all the powers who think they only owe themselves
would give certain sections of society a kick up the arse & a wake up call and also keep our defence forces topped-up if needed
You can keep your kick and your wake up call, and stick them both up your own arse.
I'm from a military family. Keep it professional. If you want more people to take up the profession, make it worth their while. Pressing people into service, even if just training, should be an absolute last resort... not something done to make other people feel an odd warm self congratulatory feeling about forcing others to serve.
So, assuming we're at the point where we genuinely need conscription or national service, because an otherwise unbalanced war is heading our way with it being "every man/woman to their post"... then like everyone else I have no idea if or how I would "fight". As others have said, if you're pressed into it, you have no idea how you will actually respond. I'd imagine I would be scared. I'd hope I could do what was needed of me without losing my humanity. Who really knows though.
I'd volunteer if it meant my son was exempt.
Never understood why we stopped National Service – seems to work well in other Countries – would give certain sections of society a kick up the arse & a wake up call and also keep our defence forces topped-up if needed
Go on then, you first.
I'd be absolutely no use whatsoever if conscripted. I'd spend my whole time scared and sad and without the conviction to pull a trigger at another human being. Which is what I suspect a lot of people conscripted in the world wars were.
If they ever get desperate enough to conscript fat old biffers like me then the war is already lost
would you serve?
at 55 I doubt it.
There are lots of non-combat roles that could be filled by old biffers.
at 55 I doubt it.
Home Guard for the likes of us. Wooden rifles at the ready! 🙂
It all depends to what affect .. Being conscripted and dragged to a front line in Europe to bulster Nato powers naa Im good thanks and there are far more people out there younger and fitter than me. Push come to shove and my home and family are at risk then I would like a 10.5 inch barrel on my Demarco please mr Quarter master ! At which point the UK (which in some respects is already lost ) will be in a right sorry state and I would be better off enjoying a long sleep anyway.
It does feel like the world is swinging up to throw an almight pitch very soon indeed.
I’d volunteer if it meant my sons, daughters and grandchildren were exempt.
Fixed it for me
If this happens then we need to be be some kind of MTB Special Forces? Put some big guns on our bikes (assuming you still have room on with your bars with all those gadgets)?
Can you imagine STW forumites forming a Dads Army platoon or such?
It'd be 5pm each day before we could even agree on who our actual enemy were for that particular day.😁
Add to of that, there would be huge amounts of meetings, arguments about if our dogs could come on manoeuvres, particularly trail dogs, or if the word "enemy" was far too decisive to actually use even at a time of war.
Then there would be the epic fallouts about how to light a fire or the best way to soften our artisan army boots up.
It'd make a great movie though.
Keyboard warrior is not the same as key worker
Some of us are able to multitask 🙂
I’d be absolutely no use whatsoever if conscripted. I’d spend my whole time scared and sad and without the conviction to pull a trigger at another human being. Which is what I suspect a lot of people conscripted in the world wars were.
I did a course on the psychology of warfare at medical school. I don't know why. But one thing that stuck out for me is that when new recruits got into battles, most of the ones who died did so without firing a shot.
I'd fight in defence of England or our really close allies e.g Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and maybe even Wales & Scotland if push came to shove 😉 But otherwise it's a firm 'wibble' from me.
I have zero good will left for the ruling classes of this country, far as I'm concerned they should do a turn leading from the front this time round.
Home Guard for the likes of us. Wooden rifles at the ready! 🙂
They'll most likely need them for our frontline troops.
I'm sure the minute war is declared Michelle Mone will set up a brand new company to supply the Army with body armour made from shower curtains.
It’d be 5pm each day before we could even agree on who our actual enemy were for that particular day.😁
So that would a be 8 hours arguing then attacking whoever TJ declared was the enemy at 9am?
My son is 15 so hopefully he’s ok for a while too.<br /><br />
I think not. The current prediction is a world war will occur within 5-8 years. That means our kids will be the prime age in 3 years time as National Service is reinstated as a need for “preparation”. This scares me shitless, I don’t want my kid going off to war.
far as I’m concerned they should do a turn leading from the front this time round.
There would be a national grenade shortage from all the fragging incidents.
Why would I fight for a country that will leave me to shiver and starve without housing during peacetime while companies boast about record profits?
Well, that's a good point - but it's the government that did those things. When you fight for your country you fight for the people in it, including those you love.
absolutely pointless question, we are part of NATO, any war with Russia would probably involve several countries before it reaches us, we have professional armed forces, last thing they want is conscripts, they may recall those required with previous experience in specific areas, but a load of randoms, doubt it!
Conscription could be a consequence of the UK’s Article 5 commitment e.g. if Russia invaded another NATO member like Poland.
The cut-off age is 55 for regulars, so they’d possibly drop that to 50 at most for conscripts. Given the sophistication of the current battlefield environment, it takes 2 years to train regular infantry, quite what utility a conscript with 12 weeks basic training would achieve, unless of course you just need something to feed the Russian meat-grinder?
The only likely scenario is the mobilisation of the Regular Reserve (ex-Services personnel) - it came close around 2007 with campaigns in Iran and Afghanistan.
As even Ukraine and Russia have found, conscription also results in a huge exodus of eligible men - I know 2 families locally who have fled Ukraine because of conscription.
Yes. but only if my job is flying an F35.
If they want me, they've already lost, so I might as well not bother and enjoy the time I have left before our new alien overlords arrive.
Depends on the alternative right?
If it was Go to war and maybe die or refuse and be executed on the spot, I'd grudgingly accept conscription, whereas if you just get imprisoned and/or called mean names by flag shaggers I could maybe deal with that...
I’d be absolutely no use whatsoever if conscripted. I’d spend my whole time scared and sad and without the conviction to pull a trigger at another human being. Which is what I suspect a lot of people conscripted in the world wars were.
Very much my thoughts^^ conscripts are not actual soldiers, not professionals, they haven't chosen to participate in a conflict, they've been made to, their motivations, mindset and capabilities won't match what's needed for the role.
I don't think you could rely on conscripts in the same way as a professional soldier. Hence it's outfits like the Russian Army that end up using conscription out of desperation, it's just bulking the numbers not the same as getting a strategic advantage.
Keyboard warrior is not the same as key worker
You say that but,
I'd like to think that in a wartime situation I'd be of more use to the country by pushing buttons rather than pulling triggers. Times have changed, warfare has changed, boots on the ground is (excuse me) a smokescreen. The next big war will be fought electronically; arguably, it's already started.
Back during covid lockdown, our entire department was classified as key workers.
Considering that thanks to the amount of screws and plates in my ankle my max land speed is 'turbo waddle' I'd be utterly useless in this situation. That said, as mentioned above, if me going meant my son wouldn't called up, I'd be there.
In my youth I would have done in a genuine 'enemy at the gates' situation but not for stupid adventurism (i.e. Iraq 2003).