National Service. Did those advocating bringing it back serve? ?

Question

The last UK National service man will be about 69 years of age so he finished his service over 40 years ago. After that time many look back with rose coloured spectacles. I was too young for National Service by about two years and I am still not sure if I should be glad or sorry. However, I do not equate having your balls shot off in Malaya Kenya Afghanistan Aden Cyprus Korea Iraq and Northern Ireland etc. with becoming a law abiding peaceful citizen. Will someone giving their age please explain

Answer 1

From the US.  I think some kind of national service ought to be promoted. I like how Israel provides a university education for some kind of committment as well.  Maybe citizenship should be earned as well.

Navy, 1969 to 1972.

I am not supportive of much of what countries do with respect to how military forces are utilized.  I still think some kind of national service is a good idea.  Perhaps it may serve to have leaders carefully consider the use of force, when the public has more of a stake in what follows.

Answer 2

Those of us serving full time in the armed forces saw many instances of unruly youths tamed by the discipline imposed by their colleagues who had to put up with them for 18 months. Probably less than 5% of the input were troublesome but by the end of their service the majority of them were acceptable young men.

It probably wouldn't work today because PC has infiltrated into the armed services, I understand there are cases were our servicemen  have to access if the enemy is likely to mean to hurt them before they open fire. Remember the wasters (excuse the use of a polite word) who complained when a certain enemy ship was sunk during our last war because it wasn't steaming in the right direction.

Answer 3

Good luck with this one, mate.

I'm way too young for national service to have affected me, but then I signed up anyway.

Not sure it made a law abiding peaceful citizen out of me though. I can name quite a few mates who don't fit the image.

Think it's a myth that a return to National Service would transform the country. People seem to think that the abolition of it was the only thing to contribute to the decline of society in this country. People, as you've pointed out, tend to wear rose tinted glasses in any case. And as a result, people tend to be wrong.