legislation & policy
Service Schools and more cadet forces – an exercise in recruitment
Over the past month, amid announcements of major cuts to the armed forces, came some unexpected news on public spending: £10.85million to expand cadet forces into state schools, a £1million grant to promote a military ethos in schools and senior Labour politicians calling for a series of 'Service Schools', staffed entirely by former members of the armed forces, to be established. Unexpected, that is, to anyone who hasn't previously been aware of the importance that military policy makers place on access to young people within education.
The Armed Forces (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2011
June 2011
New legislation (from 22 July 2011) which grants under 18s the right to leave after a 'cooling off' period. Prior to this, discharge of 'unhappy minors' was at the discretion of the commanding officer.
Imprisoned Navy conscientious objector to appeal conviction in High Court
12/10/2011ForcesWatch press release
ForcesWatch press release
Navy medic Michael Lyons, a conscientious objector convicted of disobedience, who was detained in July, stripped of his rank and dismissed from the service, will be at the High Court 13 October to appeal his conviction. A recent European ruling recognises conscientious objection for first time as human right.
Court martial for Navy medic conscientious objector
02/07/2011ForcesWatch press release
A medic in the Royal Navy will face court martial on Monday 4 July despite declaring that he is a conscientious objector.
Campaigners and churches back Armed Forces Bill amendments on recruiting children into the armed forces
13/06/2011ForcesWatch press release
Organisations and churches who have questioned the recruitment of under 18s into the armed forces are backing an amendment which could see children no longer able to enlist and bring the UK into line with international standards.
Campaigners welcome new right to leave the armed forces for under-18s
19/05/2011ForcesWatch press release
ForcesWatch press release
The government has today promised to give teenage soldiers the right to leave the armed forces up until age 18 if they are unhappy. ForcesWatch and other NGOs have been campaigning on this and other issues relating to under-18s in the armed forces as the Arned Forces Bill does through parliament.
Court martial raises fears over forces personnel’s right to conscience
19/05/2011ForcesWatch press release
A medic in the Royal Navy, who is facing court martial, will argue in court tomorrow that he has a legal defence. Michael Lyons has been charged with "wilful disobedience" because he asked not to participate in rifle training last September after having applied for conscientious objector status.
Armed forces report reveals MPs’ confusion over recruitment of under-18s
18/03/2011ForcesWatch press release
ForcesWatch press release
The report by the House of Commons Committee on the Armed Forces Bill has rejected proposals to raise the minimum age of recruitment to 18. But ForcesWatch, an NGO that submitted evidence to the Committee, suggests that the wording of the report reveals a lack of clarity over the law in this area, even among MPs and senior military personnel.
The Armed Forces: time for change
24/01/2011The Friend
The present recruitment age of sixteen is too young to enter full time military training. If you are not old enough to vote, buy a pint in a pub, to ride a motorbike or even to buy fireworks are you not also too young to join the army?
Informed Choice? Armed forces recruitment practice in the United Kingdom
November 2007
An independent report by David Gee, published in 2007, highlighting the risks posed to young people through joining the military, how young people from disadvantaged communities are targeted, how information available to potential recruits is often misleading and how the terms of service are complicated, confusing and severely restricting. The research found that a large proportion join for negative reasons, including the lack of civilian career options.