As a one time wide boy in the 70′s who had many issues with authority and discipline I strongly feel that National Service could and should be brought back for young people who are out of education and employment between the ages of 16 to 18. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82738030.html My view comes from the back drop of having several brushes with the law in the late 70′s and six years in the Royal Air Force at the peak of my lack of respect and discipline towards authority. In addition, for the last 19 yr I have worked with young people and families in socio-economic dislocated communities both home and abroad where crime & disorder, fragmented families, inter-generational issues, class bias and racial and religious discrimination are very visible.
Where I have seen a collective positive youth’s with high aspirations, respecting law and order and are positive citizens is within, countries where National Service is full embedded into the social fabric of the country.
National Service is not just about war and killing. It is also about inclusion, camaraderie, humanitarianism, self-discipline, National pride and embracing difference which I feel today a great deal of our youth struggle to do in the 21st century.
