Press release: Questioning the involvement of the military in education: a series of public debates

On 18 September ForcesWatch (1) begins its national series of public events that will debate whether the armed forces should be involved in education activities in UK schools and colleges.  Events will take place in Oxford (18 September), Bath (20 September), Edinburgh (11 October), Norwich (23 October) and London (25 October).

On 18 September ForcesWatch (1) begins its national series of public events that will debate whether the armed forces should be involved in education activities in UK schools and colleges.  Events will take place in Oxford (18 September), Bath (20 September), Edinburgh (11 October), Norwich (23 October) and London (25 October).

Speakers, including ex-Army officers, education professionals, local politicians and academics, will join ForcesWatch and teachers, parents and governors, to discuss the ethical concerns around the involvement of the armed forces in young people’s education and the rise of militarism in schools. 

Whilst politicians and senior armed forces officers call for more armed forces-led activity in education, the panel will be responding to the question: ‘Does the military have a role to play in schools?’ The event aims to encourage a healthy debate exploring whether the agenda of the armed forces is compatible with that of the schools they visit.… Read more

RAF and Navy each take on just TEN 16-year old recruits in one year amid fears forces are failing to appeal to youngsters

The number of under 18s joining the armed forces is falling, particularly in the RAF and Navy.

Only ten 16-year-olds signed up for the Royal Navy last year, Ministry of Defence figures reveal.

The RAF also saw only ten 16-year-olds enlist.

The number of teenagers joining the two services has plummeted amid fears the Armed Forces are failing to appeal to youngsters.

The Army, however, seemed to escape the recruitment problems, with 1,475 16-year-olds joining in 2011-12.

In total, only 1,495 16-year-olds signed up across the three services in 2011-12, compared with 4,430 in 2002-03.

The fall was most dramatic for the Royal Navy, which saw 585 new recruits join in 2003-04.

Some 265 teenagers joined the RAF in the same year.

Sixteen is the youngest age at which recruits can join the Armed Forces.

But the MoD figures reveal that, despite the recession and high unemployment, two-thirds fewer are signing up for the military than a decade ago.

The figures were revealed by defence minister Mark Francois following a parliamentary question from Labour MP Alex Cunningham.

MoD sources said the forces had hit their manning targets and recruitment was buoyant.

Talking about recruitment across the three services, an Army source said: ‘There is no problem whatsoever with enlisting people.

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