I served in the Army for 37 years. Bringing back national service is a wise strategic move

When I first saw the headlines about the Prime Minister’s national service plan, it made me nervous. I was concerned that it would place too much strain on our forces training capacity. Yet looking into the detail, it is clear this is not a return to conscription but rather a nuanced plan that has the potential to deliver real good for young people and our country more broadly.

I have had the privilege of serving with some of the finest soldiers in the world. I had the good fortune to command the 7th Armoured Brigade, “the Desert Rats”, when we helped liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein’s occupation. Time and again during over 37 years of service in the army, I saw how ordinary men and women can achieve extraordinary things with the right training, team spirit and self-discipline.

Military training brings with it essential skills that are invaluable to individuals after they’ve left the service. These range from basic yet essential self-discipline to teamwork, logistics and communication. Those who enter civilian life from the military have a head start over their peers.

The Armed Forces are already the largest provider of apprenticeships in the country. This is where young people learn to work in a stimulating environment. They acquire valuable transferable skills, like team leadership, communication and coping with stressful situations.

I was therefore excited to see the Prime Minister’s bold plan for a reimagined form of national service, comprising military service for a small proportion (1 in 20) of those who volunteer and pass rigorous tests, with the remainder undertaking 12 weekends volunteering in the year. From civil response and outreach to older, more isolated people, to serving with groups like the St John Ambulance and RNLI, the second part of the scheme offers something for both the participants and our community alike.

The opportunity for all young people to benefit from some form of service to their community will be so good for the life chances of those who participate. I served with countless young men and women for whom I knew the Army had been a vehicle for a better and more fulfilling life for them and their families. We should also not underestimate the huge benefits for social cohesion of people from different backgrounds mixing, working together and forming friendships.

National service, combined with the recent Government commitment to increase defence spending, show the Conservatives are taking the challenges of the future seriously. Sadly, for those of us concerned about the United Kingdom’s defence, and its role in the world, it has been disappointing to see Labour’s failure to commit to the vital increase to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030. The rejection of the idea of helping young people by introducing a form of national service is also disappointing. Crucial for anyone committed to our national defence and ability to project power, the scheme is to be funded on top of the 2.5 per cent defence commitment.

It is the duty of our leaders, or would-be leaders, to prepare this country for the threats rising in an increasingly uncertain world. The lights are not so much going out, as flashing red. From attacks on British ships in the Red Sea to war in Europe, our country and our people must be prepared.

So national service has the potential to encourage more people into the Armed Forces. In other countries where there are similar schemes, like Norway, 25 per cent of those on military placements have stayed on in the military.

Organically growing the military, as well as creating a generation of young people with advanced skills in everything from engineering to cyber, is a wise strategic move. Indeed, the Covid pandemic showed us all the value of civic service to individuals and securing our country from another such threat. During that time, millions of people contributed as NHS responders, vaccinators, and volunteers. Without them, the UK’s world-leading vaccine effort would never have happened.

Our country is only as strong as its people. And yet, despite a high number of job vacancies, I am told 750,000 young people are not in education, employment, or training. The best years of their lives are being wasted. By driving forward social mobility and boosting our security, national service as articulated by the Prime Minister is a clear plan for Britain to chart its way forward in this increasingly uncertain world.

Major General Patrick Cordingley is a retired British Army officer