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Unpacking 'recruitment': what does the MoD mean when it says the armed forces do not run recruitment activities in schools?

12/03/2013

Our education campaigner looks at the MoD's assertion that the armed forces do not go into schools for recruitment purposes. This is based on a definition of 'recruitment' that limits it to 'signing up' there and then. We argue that the armed forces are indeed recruiting in schools and that 'recruitment' is a broader activity that involves interesting young people in the idea of enlisting by engaging in the range of activities from careers talks to visits to bases.

15/02/2013

2012 was the the first year 'in at least a generation' in which a greater number of currently-serving US Army soldiers killed themselves (177) than were killed in active duty (176).

The suffering of veterans

14/12/2012

A play about and starring injured veterans, and recent government data and policies, highlights their suffering.

28/11/2012

This article was originally published on Bright Green

Earlier this month the Department for Education published a statement on their website outlining their ambition to promote a military ethos in schools across the country. Through developing projects such as Troops to Teachers and expanding schemes such as the cadets and other alternative military provision in schools (such as Challenger Troop), the government is now actively encouraging schools, especially newer Academies and Free Schools, which tend to exist in more disadvantaged areas, to foster a military ethos.

Militarising Education

27/11/2012

This article was originally published on openDemocracy

The incursion of the military into the British education system will mean that alternatives to war and peaceful ways of resolving conflict will be more difficult for young people to explore. In the long term we will all pay a heavy price.

"It's not a game"

Critical portrayals of life in the armed forces in two West End plays

Recently....on the Olympics, strike-breaking and the armed forces

Recently... on militainment

Recently...sexual assault and bullying in the armed forces

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our projects

Advocating for change

ForcesWatch has been working with others to raise concerns, including the recruitment of 16 and 17 year olds into the armed forces and the lack of discharge rights to all under 18 year olds, the lack of recognition of conscientious objection, restrictive and unclear terms of service and lack of political rights.

April 2013: One Step Forward: The case for ending recruitment of minors by the British armed forces
This report published by Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch in April 2013 outlines the numerous ethical and legal concerns related to rhe recruitment of under-18s, including the disproportionately high level of risk they face and long-term consequences for their employability, as well as detailing how much more it costs than recruiting only adults. See more

Military Out Of Schools

The armed forces visit thousands of UK schools each year, offering presentation teams, free resources such as lessons plans and military-led activities and other activities that lead to recruitment. The Department for Education are futher integrating military-led activities into Britian's education system as 'military ethos' is presented as a solution to educational problems. The Government's initiatives include the expansion of cadet forces within state schools and military-led provison for young people who are deemed to be failing. Other developments could see military academies and free schools run exclusively by ex-forces personnel or sponsored by the MoD and the armed forces. Should the armed forces by given access to children within schools and colleges? Is the military's agenda and the development of a 'military ethos' appropriate within education?

Join the debate!

ForcesWatch has organised a series of debates around the UK on the theme of 'Questioning the presence of the military in education' with a range of speakers including academics, education professionals, policy makers, forces veterans, politicians and others. The next event is in London on 7 May 2013. See here for details.

Help fund a documentary on Young People & the Military

ForcesWatch have commissioned the journalists' charity Headliners to work with young people aged 8-18 years old to make a short film about the way the military seeks to engage with them: in schools, through cadet forces and public events such as Armed Forces Day, on TV and online, and through video games and toys. The military spend millions each year on attracting young people – this film is a chance for young people to say what they think about that.

Help us raise £3414 by 10th May - pledge a donation at WeFund.com or see more information here

ForcesWatch briefings

Questioning the presence of armed forces in schools: a ForcesWatch briefing for parents, students and teachers concerned with military activities in their school. Download

Military activity in UK schools, September 2012 Download

Expanding the Cadets and 'Military Ethos' in UK Schools Download

The military in society

ForcesWatch observe and respond to ways in which the military is being promoted as a normal part of everyday life. We believe that uncritical support for the armed forces stifles concerns about how young people are recruited and limits debate on alternatives to war.

See more here

your questions

whats the problem with military recruitment?

ForcesWatch believes that armed forces recruitment practices in the UK are largely unethical. The military are reaching out to children and young people using sophisticated strategies to interest and involve them in military activities which do not deal adequately with the risks of an armed forces career but tend to glamorise and sanitise war. The military also fail to adequately inform young people of the legal obligations of an armed forces career.

See here for more.

what are your other concerns?

Taking an active part in conflict involves serious ethical questions regarding the justification of killing and the political purposes of military action. The armed forces fail to adequately address these concerns during recruitment and for serving personnel.

The more government and national initiatives which are created to show support for the armed forces, the more difficult it will become for individuals and society to reflect on the ethics of conflict and peaceful alternatives. See here for more

what should I think about before I join up?

There are ethical questions and questions about why you really want to join up and about what risks you face and what happens if you decide you want to leave. There are some very useful independent sources of advice about your legal situation as a member of the armed forces and other issues. We also have a selection of materials looking at some aspects of what it is like to serve. See here for more.

what can I do about military recruitment activity in my school or community?

The military make visits to many schools and colleges and are also active at local events. If you are unhappy about the presence of the military in your community, here are some ideas of how to address it and some materials to use. See here for more.

what have other people said about their experiences?

Very often the most useful insights into what it is like to be involved in anything is to hear directly from other people about what they have experienced. Here are some accounts of both what it is like to serve in the armed forces and what it is like to challenge the presence of the military in a community. See here for more.

how do you respond to those who don't agree with you?

We don't expect everyone to agree with us but we think there is significant cause for concern about military recruitment practices and about the way that a climate of uncritical national pride in the armed forces is being fostered which makes debate about the activities of the armed forces difficult to question. We think there should be more room for that debate. See more here.

Join us for a discussion on the role of the armed forces in mainstream education. Not only do the armed forces visit thousands of schools each year but the military is becoming more integrated into Britain's education system with 'military ethos' presented as a solution to educational problems,

We invite you to come and discuss the issues and whether it is appropriate for the military to engage with young people in schools and colleges.

Next event: London, Tuesday 7 May 2013, 7pm

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London Venue details and map here
With Victoria Basham (University of Exeter), Tom Burkard (Centre for Policy Studies), Ben Griffin (ex-SAS and founder of Veterans for Peace) and others.
Chaired by Alex Kelly (The Access Project)

See more here

help fund our film

ForcesWatch are working with the charity Headliners and young people aged 8-18 years old to make a short film about the ways the military seeks to engage with them. Help us raise £3414 by 10th May - pledge a donation at WeFund.com or see more information here

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We look forward to input from many different individuals and groups and welcome ideas, comments and suggestions. Please use the contact form to email us.

Support our work

You can make a donation to our work here or find out more about how you can help.

Watch on YouTube
The Militarization of Boys

Watch on YouTube

A 4 part investigation into 'the soldier myth' - talking to front-line soldiers about recruitment, training, fighting and coming home

Watch on YouTube

With Ben Griffin (Veterans for Peace, ForcesWatch patron and ex-SAS) and Jo Metson Scott about The Grey Line, her photographic project reflecting on war told from the perspectives of American and British soldiers who have spoken out against the invasion of Iraq.

Child Soldiers International reports argue for the age of military recruitment to be raised to 18.

Public support for raising the army recruitment age

In an April 2013 poll, 70% of respondents who expressed a view thought the minimum army recruitment age should be at least 18. See more

latest resources

One Step Forward: The case for ending recruitment of minors by the British armed forces

This report published by Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch outlines the numerous ethical and legal concerns related to rhe recruitment of under-18s, including the disproportionately high level of risk they face and long-term consequences for their employability, as well as detailing how much more it costs than recruiting only adults.

Unpacking 'recruitment'

what does the MoD mean when it says it does not recruit in schools?

Expanding the Cadets and 'military ethos' in UK schools

A ForcesWatch briefing on the Government policy of expanding cadets and promoting 'military skills and ethos' in schools.

Who are the real heroes in war?

Short films from Channel 4 exploring the idea of 'heroes' and the morality of fighting, November 2012

Military activities in UK schools

A ForcesWatch overview of current and proposed armed forces involvement in education.

Lesson plans: Another look at Armed Forces Day

An alternative view of Armed Forces Day, conscientious objection and life in the army.

The Kill Factor

These BBC radio programmes explore the effect of killing on people in the military, how many are unable to kill and others live with the effects of having killed for the rest of their lives.

Questioning the presence of armed forces in schools

A ForcesWatch briefing for parents, students and teachers concerned with military activities in their school.

latest news

Alex Cunningham MP: Stop armed forces recruiting children

21/05/2013 Central Lobby Ahead of his debate today, Labour MP Alex Cunningham argues that the UK’s "routine" practice of recruiting 16 year olds into the armed forces has to stop.

Army launch recruitment drive for 10,000 new young soldiers ahead of redundancies

20/05/2013 Telegraph The Army has launched a campaign to sign up 10,000 new recruits just weeks before thousands of experienced soldiers who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan will lose their jobs.

Last of the boy soldiers? Bid to end centuries of tradition by banning the Army from recruiting under-18s

19/05/2013 Mail on Sunday Sir Nick Harvey describes policy is 'increasingly anachronistic'; Believes 16 and 17-year-olds more likely to die or be seriously wounded; Also claims millions of pounds is wasted due to high drop-out rates

The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

18/05/2013 Independent From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.

Conscientious objector Joe Glenton on being jailed for refusing to fight

15/05/2013 Metro Joe Glenton, a former soldier in the British army, has served his country and risked his life in Afghanistan. He’s also been called a coward. The reason? After returning to Britain after his first tour of Afghanistan, he became a conscientious objector (CO) and refused to go back.

Millions 'wasted' on junior army recuits, report claims

23/04/2013 The Telegraph Tens of millions of pounds is wasted on training young soldiers for roles that could be filled more cost effectively by adults, a report has found.

Army recruitment at 16 'should stop'

23/04/2013 BBC The "outdated" practice of recruiting 16-year-olds into the Army is wasting up to £94m a year and should stop, two human rights groups have said.

Recruiting British soldiers at 16 isn't just morally wrong. It's bad economics

23/04/2013 Open Democracy The Ministry of Defence wastes £94 million every year training minors for army roles which could be filled more cost-effectively by adult recruits, says a new report launched today by human rights groups Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch.