Labour plan to set up ‘Service Schools’ staffed by soldiers
17/07/2012
The Telegraph
A new generation of “Service Schools” staffed entirely by former members of the Armed Forces could be set up across Britain under Labour plans to raise education standards, it has emerged.
Service Schools and more cadet forces – an exercise in recruitment
17/07/2012
Over the past month, amid announcements of major cuts to the armed forces, came some unexpected news on public spending: £10.85million to expand cadet forces into state schools, a £1million grant to promote a military ethos in schools and senior Labour politicians calling for a series of 'Service Schools', staffed entirely by former members of the armed forces, to be established. Unexpected, that is, to anyone who hasn't previously been aware of the importance that military policy makers place on access to young people within education.
ForcesWatch comment
Judge rejects bid to stop Olympic rooftop missiles
11/07/2012
The Independent
The clear implication of today's judgment was that "the MoD now has power to militarise the private homes of any person" even when there was no war on, or state of emergency declared.
Armed Forces Day, Camo Day and promoting military ethos
29/06/2012
Today is 'Camo Day', established by SSAFA Forces Help to encourage school children across the country to 'dress up like our troops' as a fundraiser. 'Cam your face, wear green or come to school as a soldier, sailor or airman.' Camo Day is a non-uniform day to fit these increasingly militaristic times when supporting the armed forces is a badge of honour for celebrities and military involvement in the education system is commonplace and uncontroversial. Camo Day promotes the value of helping ex-service men and women but also reinforces military activities as fun, normal and desirable. Questions about why so many young men and women are killed or maimed or in need of welfare are unlikely to be explored.
ForcesWatch comment
Challenging the military’s involvement in education in the United Kingdom
26/06/2012
The UK armed forces visit thousands of schools each year. They offer school presentation teams, 'careers advisors', lessons plans, away days and more. While they claim that this is not recruiting, the Ministry of Defence itself states that the activities enable them to "provide positive information to influence future opinion formers, and to enable recruiters to access the school environments." Their youth policy, including school-based cadet forces, aims to create "the conditions whereby recruiting can flourish." This is a long-term approach to recruiting young people both as supporters of the armed forces and, for some, softening them up for actual enlistment.
ForcesWatch
Why does the UK have the highest proportion of young infantry deaths in Afghanistan
02/05/2012
The deaths of 6 soldiers recently in one incident was particularly tragic because of how young some of them were. Four of the six who died were under 21 years old; one was only 19.
ForcesWatch comment
War poems
24/04/2012
Poetry about war is perhaps the most immediate way of understanding what it is to be involved, or caught up in, conflict.
The War Poetry website is a great resource, listing famous poets from the first world war alongisde little known contemporary poets with much to say about modern warfare. Most of the poems on the site are written by people who have expereienced conflict, many from Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falklands war.
Below is a favourite by Danny Martin.
ForcesWatch comment
Veterans tell of their experiences and their turn to peace
24/04/2012
On the 9 April 2012 the UK group of Veterans for Peace was launched. The movement has been long established in the US – ‘exposing the true costs of war and militarism since 1985’.
ForcesWatch
Oldham school planned with all ex-forces staff
31/01/2012
BBC
The first UK school whose teachers have all served in the armed forces is actively recruiting prospective pupils with a view to opening in 2013.