Young age at Army enlistment is associated with greater war zone risks: An analysis of British Army fatalities in Afghanistan
August 2013
This paper, published by ForcesWatch and Child Soldiers International, indicates that the risk of fatality in Afghanistan for British Army recruits aged 16 and completed training has been twice as high as it has for those enlisting at 18 or above.
ForcesWatch submission to Defence Select Committee Future Army 2020 inquiry
June 2013
ForcesWatch's submission to the Defence Committee's inquiry Future Army 2020, which recomments an evaluation of the case for an independent review of the minimum age of recruitment into the Army with a view to recruiting only adults (aged 18 and above) in the future, looking at five reasons why the time is right for this.
One Step Forward: The case for ending recruitment of minors by the British armed forces
April 2013
This report published by Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch outlines the numerous ethical and legal concerns related to rhe recruitment of under-18s, including the disproportionately high level of risk they face and long-term consequences for their employability, as well as detailing how much more it costs than recruiting only adults.
Ministry of Defence statistics
The Ministry of Defence publishes statistics on a range of defence related topics.
Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey
Published by the MoD It provides a tri-Service perspective of Service personnel attitudes, opinions and circumstances on important Service conditions. The survey is one of the MoD's main vehicles to collect attitudinal information; it informs changes to Service personnel policies across MOD.
Ministry of Defence freedom of information releases
Disclosures under the FOI Act. Also see FOI releases published via whatdotheyknow.com
Recruit Trainee Survey
An annual survey of trainees in the army, navy and air force. Covers background, perceptions of training and how the experience compares to perceptions prior to recruitment, facilities and food, support, fairness of treatment and hopes for the future.
ForcesWatch briefing: Expanding the Cadets and ‘military ethos’ in UK schools
December 2012
A ForcesWatch briefing on the Government policy of expanding cadets and promoting 'military skills and ethos' in schools.
Remembrance Today: Poppies, Grief and Heroism
2012
by Ted Harrison
Every nation has its own way of remembering those killed in conflict. Each November Remembrance follows a seemingly unchanging pattern. Millions of people wear poppies, and at war memorials around the world a period of silence is observed. Today young people are taught that through Remembrance we thank those who have given their lives to defend liberty and freedom. But when poppy wearing began after the First World War it had rather a different purpose. The flowers of Flanders Field were worn in grief and as an expression of hope that war would never happen again.
Mind the Gap: Education for minors in the British armed forces
July 2012
Published by Child Soldiers International.
This report concludes that the impact of recruitment below the age of 18 opens up a number of gaps that have long term significance, not only for the armed forces but also for the young people that they recruit. At a time of considerable downsizing of the army in particular, the large gap between the cost of training minors (who cannot be deployed operationally) and adults (who can) is difficult to sustain. But perhaps the most significant cost is in the detrimental impact that the gaps identified have on the future prospects of minors recruited by our armed forces.
