Sneaky ways young Brits could be tempted into 'conscription' as WW3 fears grow

Various warnings have been given by hawkish NATO generals in recent months, urging European nations to up their levels of preparedness, causing talk of possible conscription to circulate

Young Brits could be lured into joining the military through financial incentives and an avoidance of the word ‘conscription’.

Cash strapped twenty-somethings loaded up with student debt and a long way from buying a house could be enticed into military service in exchange for help with financial burdens.

Tensions around the world are at terrifying heights, with a maelstrom of major regional conflicts and now an international trade war putting global relations on the brink.

Alongside it all, a number of states perceived as hostile to NATO – like Russia and Iran – are actively preparing troops and bolstering their military capacity.

Various warnings have been given by hawkish NATO generals in recent months, urging European nations to up their levels of preparedness. Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been outspoken in its view that Europe doesn’t do enough to maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself, and that the US has to foot the bill.

So, with Office for National Statistic figures suggesting roughly 750,000 people turn 18 in the UK each year, how could the government look to capitalise on the nation’s young?

Benefits

Following news that Rachel Reeves was planning on making cuts to a variety of benefits, ex-Tesco chair John Allan suggested that out of work young Brits should have to join the military. The idea of forcing people who have often already been let down by society to then have to put their lives on the line for it seems unlikely to catch on

What seems a little more likely to work, however, is the government’s ‘youth guarantee’ which offers training and support to young people in order to keep their benefits.

Speaking to ITV, Rachel Reeves said: “In the changed world we face today, there are opportunities for good jobs in our armed forces, but also in the defence sector that produces the tanks, machinery, and ships that our military uses. And of course, as this government increases defence spending, more good jobs with decent wages will become available in that sector.”

Housing

It’s well known that younger generations face more headwinds when it come to buying a house than their parents did. With high rents and house prices, as well as cost of living especially in major urban centres, its has been well covered that younger generations have been struggling to save enough money to buy a home on their own terms.

The armed forces have precedent with this. The Forces Help to Buy scheme already offers service people the chance to borrow up to 50% of their salary up to £25,000 interest free to help them put down a deposit on a house.

The scheme is designed to encourage homeownership in a relatively mobile workforce, but the pathway to expand this as an incentive to get people to sign up is already trod.

Student Loan

Other types of financial incentives have been rolled out in other countries such as Norway, where being selected for military service at the age of 18 is regarded as a “golden ticket” and leads to government jobs and fast-track recruitment to the private sector.

In the US, student loan interest rates are capped while you serve in the armed forces, and in UK context where debts are so big few young people anticipate paying them all back, this could be an option tried by the government.

Boredom and adventure

This is far from a new one, with the British Armed forces regularly deploying adverts demonstrating how young Brits can benefit directly from the opportunities of travel or learning skills.

The ‘I was born in Carlisle, but made in the Royal Navy’ advert is a good example of the promises made, appealing to people who may not have the money to travel or may feel stuck in their hometown and selling them the chance to see the world, learn things and get out of the path tracks that otherwise feel inescapable.