Prince Harry’s right on National Service
I missed out on National service in 1958, but spent five years in the Army Cadets at school, a year in the RAF University Air squadron and then a further 20 in the Royal Navy after qualifying in medicine. so I’ve done my bit and I agree with Prince Harry that National service should be brought back. Although, towards the end, after basic training, most National servicemen were very much underoccupied (engaged on pointless tasks simply to keep them occupied) there’s no doubt that basic training itself was of great benefit to young people. It gave them confidence and a sense of responsibility and of belonging to something worthwhile. According to a friend who was a training sergeant, after initial problems, the Teddy Boys and similar were by far the best soldiers, probably because they found they had joined a bigger and better gang, with a different uniform. I recently saw the two sons of a friend in Greece change almost miraculously from lazy slobs into nice, hard-working, young men after just nine months of National service there. I’ve always advocated a return to a form of National service in the UK, not all spent in the Armed Forces but, after an initial period of military training, the rest in general national service where participants can gain experience and training in things which will be useful such as national construction projects. This would definitely benefit those without jobs and not in full-time education, rather than them getting state benefits for drifting around aimlessly, getting into trouble. Why pay them money for nothing when this could be used to the benefit of all concerned? When, say, a new rail link is opened at less cost, many could say with pride that they helped build it. And whenever the Armed Forces needed to be reinforced, there would be a large pool of basically trained man- and woman-power on which to call.
NEVILLE SCHOLES, Surgeon commander Rn and NHS A&E
consultant (rtd), Wigan, lancs.