legislation & policy
Welsh bishops urge army to raise enlistment age to 18
08/11/2013Wales Online
Wales Online
The Ministry of Defence has come under pressure from the Church in Wales and campaign group Child Soldiers International which is calling for an end to recruitment of under-18s to the Army
Bishops attack army on recruitment of minor while teen enlistment figures plummet
08/11/2013Child Soldiers International
Child Soldiers International
Recruitment of 16-year-olds down 40% on previous year; former Armed Forces minister says “Time is right” to review recruitment age
Open letter to Minister of State for the Armed Forces on armed forces recruitment age
08/11/2013
"We call for the minimum recruitment age to be returned to 18 years. This would be a fitting memorial to those thousands who, whether unlawfully recruited as minors during the First World War or recruited to fight in other conflicts, were exposed to death, injury and trauma that no child should ever experience."
Mental health warning for young soldiers
05/11/2013British Forces News film report
British Forces News film report
Young soldiers from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to suffer from mental health problems, according to a report out today published by lobby group Forces Watch.
PTSD report finds veterans from disadvantaged backgrounds most at risk
05/11/2013Wales Online
Wales Online
Forces Watch report calls for the minimum age of recruitment to be raised to 18 to avoid exposing the youngest soldiers to the most trauma
UK military R&D is aggressive and counter-productive
05/11/2013The Guardian
The Guardian
Why is the UK government focusing R&D spending on offensive weapons in preference to tackling the roots of conflict?
Defence ministry does cost-benefit analysis of recruiting under 18s
02/11/2013The Guardian
The Guardian
After telling the Guardian it would not be revisiting its recruitment policy the MoD is doing exactly that
PTSD ‘most common in young soldiers’ says new report
28/10/2013BBC Newsbeat article and video
BBC Newsbeat article and video
Young British army recruits at higher risk of PTSD and suicide, says report
28/10/2013The Guardian
The Guardian
Former soldiers criticise MoD recruitment practices, with Britain one of only 19 countries to allow 16-year-olds to join up
British army: one young recruit’s story
28/10/2013The Guardian
The Guardian
Britain is one of just 19 countries that still recruit 16-year-olds to the armed forces. A new report from ForcesWatch claims that younger recruits are more likely to suffer from PTSD, alcohol problems and suicide than those who join as adults. This video tells the story of David Buck who joined the army at 17 but now feels he was conned by misleading recruitment marketing.