Month: December 2014

Armed Forces visit state schools as many as 20 times in two years

by

FOUR out of five of Scotland’s state secondary schools had visits by the Armed Forces within a two year period, sparking claims they were related to recruitment.

Scotland’s largest teachers’ union said “disproportionate numbers of visits” to schools in areas of deprivation could raise concerns “over the motivation behind such a concerted PR drive”.

A report by pressure group Forces Watch and the EIS and based on figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force showed the military visited state secondary schools in Scotland an average of twice each year.

Visits were concentrated in the east of Scotland and the central belt. It said 31 schools in these areas were visited over 10 times during the period and six over 20 times.

The MoD said it would be “wrong and misleading” to claim the Armed Forces recruit in schools.

Earlier this year The Herald revealed how state school pupils in the most affluent areas are more likely to be visited by the armed forces than those in the poorest, new research has found.

The new report analyses the type of activities the Armed Forces provide in schools, with over one third of visits about promoting a career in the military.

… Read more

New report raises concerns about armed forces visits to Scottish schools

by

A new report published today shows that the armed forces visited four fifths (83%) of state secondary schools within a two year period, between 2010-2012. The report argues that the purpose of many of the visits is related to recruitment into the armed forces.

The report is published by ForcesWatch and is based on figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.(2) It has been co-sponsored by the Educational Institute of Scotland which has expressed concerns that some armed forces visits may have a recruitment purpose.(3)

The figures show that the armed forces visited state secondary schools in Scotland an average of twice each year. Visits were concentrated in the east of Scotland and the central belt. Thirty-one state secondary schools in these areas were visited over 10 times during the period. Six schools were visited over 20 times.

The report also analyses the type of activities that the armed forces provide in schools. Over one third of visits were about promoting a career in the armed forces. Other activities are related to the curriculum or the personal development of students; although these activities are less obviously linked to recruitment, evidence suggests that they are likely to include a promotional element.… Read more

Get the armed forces away from universities

by

Now that the new academic year is starting, vans painted in camouflage colours are present in university campuses across the country. Next to these vans, smiley and well-groomed soldiers are trying to lure students into enlisting in the Naval Service, the British Army or the Royal Air Force. The promise is that their fees are going to be payed and a prosperous career in the armed forces is to be expected.

Surprisingly, there is very little criticism of the presence of the armed forces in the universities. Hidden under the cloak of heroism and necessity, the military, navy and air force are beyond scrutiny.

Now that each student is expected to pay £9,000 to get a place in a Russell Group university, it is pertinent to question whether it is permissible to have the armed forces in campuses, promising fee weavers and blooming careers to young undergraduates who are financially struggling to pay their way through university. Are the armed forces exploiting needy students who are in a weaker bargaining position?

The main criticism ought to be directed towards the Universities. As far as the armed forces are concerned they are doing nothing wrong. To the very least, they are doing what their contemporaries around the world do – they are appealing to those sections of the society that are needy enough to be willing to fight wars that the rest of us do not really bother with.… Read more

YouGov poll finds that Britons tend to think less of the Army’s importance the younger they are

by

As the British Army struggles to recruit new soldiers, YouGov polling finds that Britons tend to think less of the army’s importance the younger they are.

The British Army faces a recruitment crisis as the government’s decision to close dozens of recruitment offices and hand a £440m contract to outsourcing firm Capita is failing. New research by YouGov finds that the further down the age-scale you go, fewer Britons see the Army and the Army Reserves as important.

While 90% of 40-59 year olds and 93% of those over 60 see the army as important to Britain’s national interests, 82% of 25-39 year olds and 54% of 18-24 year olds feels the same.… Read more

Questioning the military’s presence and influence in UK schools and colleges

by

Did you know that the UK armed forces recruit 16-year-olds? Owen Everett from ForcesWatch explores the UK military’s wide influence in the education system and the concerns that arise from this.

The UK is the only country in the European Union that recruits 16-year-olds, and the influence of the UK military within UK schools, colleges, and universities is increasing. This article focuses upon the military’s influence in secondary schools and colleges, and challenges the ethics of the UK’s military recruitment.

The armed forces have been involved in schools for years through the cadets and armed forces visits1. The Government has recently also been promoting a ‘military ethos’ within schools through a Department for Education’s Programme2. The armed forces make around 11,000 visits to schools and colleges each year encountering approximately 900,000 students. State schools are visited more frequently than private ones, and the programme is aimed at schools in more deprived areas. Vulnerable social groups, including those from poorer backgrounds, are thus targeted.

Visits to schools include careers events and presentations, military?focused ‘development’ exercises such as team-building, leadership and interview techniques, interviews for pre?recruitment courses at armed forces bases, and sessions with staff. Students also visit military museums and military bases for work experience…… Read more