recruitment
Soldiers at 16 – The other side of the story
January 2017
Army adverts don't tell you what being a soldier is really like.
British Army targets working class kids
13/07/2017The Guardian and The Independent
The Guardian and The Independent
The Army's latest recruitment campaign focuses on low income families from cities with high deprivation levels.
Army recruitment practices exploit and widen class divisions
New evidence confirms that the British Army recruitment marketing deliberately targets working-class young people.
Stripping the Civilian – how army training isolates, disorientates and dominates recruits
New findings highlight need to protect young people from harsh military training environments and inadequate safeguards in cadet forces.
The First Ambush: Effects of army training and employment
04/07/2017Veterans For Peace UK
Veterans For Peace UK
A new report out today from Veterans For Peace UK details how the Army's training process has a 'forceful impact' on attitudes, health, and behaviour even before recruits are sent to war.
The militarisation of schools
23/01/2017The Independent
The Independent
The UK is one of few countries that allow minors to enlist. Despite calls to cease the recruitment of under-18s the Army is digging in to hold its ground.
Army life: the other side of the story
Telling adolescents that they can resolve their need to belong by joining the Army is simplistic and one-sided. The reality is many aspects of army life are potentially harmful, especially to vulnerable individuals. The other side of the story needs to be told. This is a longer version of an article first published by The Huffington Post
Parliament considers military visits to schools petition
23/11/2016ForcesWatch press release
ForcesWatch press release
MSPs will consider what further action to take on a petition from ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland calling for increased transparency and scrutiny of armed forces visits to schools this Thursday (24 November).
More media coverage of our petition to the Scottish Parliament
22/11/2016various
various
Coverage highlights the Scottish Children's Commissioner concerns about the age of recruitment and armed forces visits to schools, and the motion in the Scottish Parliament about the vulnerabilities of young recruits, as discussed in the recent Medact report.
Tory boost for cadets in schools needs fighting
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.