Tories Drop National Service Bombshell: Ex-Army Officer Says It’s Worth a Shot!
On the announcement that the Conservative party would introduce twelve months compulsory national service if they win the General Election, defence analyst and former army officer Lt Col Stuart Crawford said:
‘Like most ex-military people I would normally be against compulsory national service, as the services could well do without reluctant and surly recruits notwithstanding current difficulties with recruiting and retention.
However, the element of choice and selectivity being proposed makes this a different kettle of fish; those who are interested in the military could choose to spend their service there, with the others being able to choose other forms of public service.
It is not clear at this stage what exemptions there might be, for example for those already in work at 18 and for those going on to higher education, but the promised commission to look into such issues would no doubt sort these out.
So I think it’s an idea worthy of further exploration. It’ll be interesting to see what the Labour party’s considered response will be.’
Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
Lt Col Stuart Crawford’s latest book Tank Commander (Hardback) is available now
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