Comment, analysis, news

Charities pairing ex-military staff with disadvantaged pupils get £1.9m

18/01/2013

The Guardian

Extra education cash for charities is part of Michael Gove's ambition to boost military ethos in schoolchildren

When soldiering gets sexy: the militarization of gender equality and sexual difference

19/12/2012

openDemocracy

How does militarism change social and cultural expectations of gender roles and relations? This is a huge question. This article by Vron Ware considers three areas.

Bullying ‘seen as acceptable in Army’ as survey reveals every woman questioned was victim of unwanted attention

19/12/2012

Telegraph

Bullying is perceived as “acceptable” among some in the Army, according to an internal report that found every single woman questioned said they had been the victim of unwanted sexual attention.

Army discipline rules are ‘bullies charter’

19/12/2012

Defence Management

The rules on handling discipline and complaints in the British Army have created a 'kangaroo court' system and act as a 'bullies charter' for senior officers, an Army officer has reportedly claimed.

The suffering of veterans

14/12/2012

Owen Everett, ForcesWatch

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


Concern over Government schemes promoting ‘military ethos’ in education

07/12/2012ForcesWatch press release
The organisation ForcesWatch (1), which monitors the way young people are recruited into the military, have expressed concern about the announcement made by Education Secretary Michael Gove of four projects which promote 'military ethos' in order to improve achievement among pupils disengaged with education

We shall reach them in the classrooms: promoting a ‘military ethos’ in schools

28/11/2012

ForcesWatch comment

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. This article was originally published on Bright Green

Militarising Education

27/11/2012ForcesWatch comment
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.

Judge fears ‘Deepcut’ culture remains after ‘cover up’ of army recruit sexual abuse

27/11/2012

Telegragh

Military staff have failed to learn the lessons of the Deepcut Review and continue to turn a blind eye to the bullying and abuse of young recruits, a judge has claimed.


“It’s not a game”

26/11/2012

Owen Everett, ForcesWatch

Each of the episodes from both series of Our War focuses on a different platoon or company, with varying missions during their tours in Helmand Province (which dated from between 2006 and 2012). Common themes to each of them include the youth of those involved, and the gravity of what is being asked of them.