Unpacking ‘recruitment’: what does the MoD mean when it says the armed forces do not run recruitment activities in schools?
12/03/2013
Our education campaigner looks at the MoD's assertion that the armed forces do not go into schools for recruitment purposes. This is based on a definition of 'recruitment' that limits it to 'signing up' there and then. We argue that the armed forces are indeed recruiting in schools and that 'recruitment' is a broader activity that involves interesting young people in the idea of enlisting by engaging in the range of activities from careers talks to visits to bases.
ForcesWatch comment
US military struggling to stop suicide epidemic among war veterans
15/02/2013
The Guardian
Last year, more active-duty soldiers killed themselves than died in combat. And after a decade of deployments to war zones, the Pentagon is bracing for things to get much worse
Fifty troops commit suicide after Iraq and Afghanistan tours
15/02/2013
The Telegraph
More than 50 members of the UK Armed Forces have committed suicide since serving in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, figures suggest.
Recently… on ‘moral injury’ and armed forces suicides in the US and UK
15/02/2013
2012 was the the first year 'in at least a generation' in which a greater number of currently-serving US Army soldiers killed themselves (177) than were killed in active duty (176).
ForcesWatch comment
Charities pairing ex-military staff with disadvantaged pupils get £1.9m
18/01/2013
Extra education cash for charities is part of Michael Gove's ambition to boost military ethos in schoolchildren
The Guardian
When soldiering gets sexy: the militarization of gender equality and sexual difference
19/12/2012
How does militarism change social and cultural expectations of gender roles and relations? This is a huge question. This article by Vron Ware considers three areas.
openDemocracy
Bullying ‘seen as acceptable in Army’ as survey reveals every woman questioned was victim of unwanted attention
19/12/2012
Bullying is perceived as “acceptable” among some in the Army, according to an internal report that found every single woman questioned said they had been the victim of unwanted sexual attention.
Telegraph
Army discipline rules are ‘bullies charter’
19/12/2012
The rules on handling discipline and complaints in the British Army have created a 'kangaroo court' system and act as a 'bullies charter' for senior officers, an Army officer has reportedly claimed.
Defence Management
The suffering of veterans
14/12/2012
Owen Everett, ForcesWatch
A play about and starring injured veterans, and recent government data and policies, highlights their suffering.
Concern over Government schemes promoting ‘military ethos’ in education
07/12/2012ForcesWatch press release
The organisation ForcesWatch (1), which monitors the way young people are recruited into the military, have expressed concern about the announcement made by Education Secretary Michael Gove of four projects which promote 'military ethos' in order to improve achievement among pupils disengaged with education