Army defies child rights campaigners, intensifies intake of 16-year-olds for riskiest roles
Child Soldiers International press release
Parliament considers military visits to schools petition
ForcesWatch press release
More media coverage of our petition to the Scottish Parliament
various
The British Legion wants us to ‘Rethink Remembrance’ but they are not the only ones
ForcesWatch comment
Pushing ahead with cadets in schools
Various
The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, choose the Conservative Party conference to announce the next phase of the Cadet Expansion Programme with 25 new cadet units being set up in state schools.
Under-18s in army ‘face greater injury, death and mental health risks’
Guardian
Recruiting children aged 16 and 17 into the British army places them at greater risk of death, injury and long-term mental health problems than those recruited as adults, according to a new report.
Tory boost for cadets in schools needs fighting
ForcesWatch comment
This article was first published in the Morning Star.
The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, recently announced that 25 out of 150 proposed new school cadet units would soon be opening. Despite the presentation of this development as new policy, the Cadet Expansion Programme promoting cadet forces in state schools, was first announced in 2012. While the Government heralds the cadets as a silver bullet in terms of improving pupil attainment and development, the sight of ranks of pupils as young as 12 in military gear and handling weapons will ring alarm bells for many. That this is happening within education raises additional concerns.Scottish Parliament asks for more information on military visits to schools after hearing from ForcesWatch
ForcesWatch comment
Media coverage of our petition to the Scottish Parliament
various
On Thursday 15 September, ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland went to the Scottish Parliament to give evidence to the Public Petitions Committee about armed forces visits to schools.
Petition on Military Visits to Scotland’s Schools being heard in Parliament
ForcesWatch press release
A petition calling for increased transparency and scrutiny of armed forces visits to schools in Scotland comes before Holyrood this Thursday 15 September.