Sexual assault and bullying in the armed forces
17/09/2012
A parliamentary question reveals that during 2011 there were 228 allegations of bullying or harassment reported to the Service Complaints Commissioner. Another parliamentary question has identified that 'Over the past two and a half years, there have been 53 reported rapes and 86 reported sexual assaults in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force (one per week). Labour MP Madeleine Moon said she was concerned there was a 'culture of silence', with hundreds of victims never reporting attacks.
ForcesWatch comment
Press release: Questioning the involvement of the military in education: a series of public debates
12/09/2012
On 18 September ForcesWatch (1) begins its national series of public events that will debate whether the armed forces should be involved in education activities in UK schools and colleges. Events will take place in Oxford (18 September), Bath (20 September), Edinburgh (11 October), Norwich (23 October) and London (25 October).
ForcesWatch press release
One sex attack reported by Armed Forces every week… but real figure could be much higher
27/08/2012
One rape or sexual assault is reported by members of the Armed Forces every week. The MP who released the figures believes they could be a huge underestimate, with the true figures closer to an attack a day.
Daily Mail
Military and education not compatible
17/07/2012
Letter to the media in response to article by Labour MPs inviting the 'military to invade our schools'.
ForcesWatch letter to the press
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