One Step Forward: The case for ending recruitment of minors by the British armed forces
April 2013
This report published by Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch outlines the numerous ethical and legal concerns related to rhe recruitment of under-18s, including the disproportionately high level of risk they face and long-term consequences for their employability, as well as detailing how much more it costs than recruiting only adults.
Ministry of Defence statistics
The Ministry of Defence publishes statistics on a range of defence related topics.
Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey
Published by the MoD It provides a tri-Service perspective of Service personnel attitudes, opinions and circumstances on important Service conditions. The survey is one of the MoD's main vehicles to collect attitudinal information; it informs changes to Service personnel policies across MOD.
Ministry of Defence freedom of information releases
Disclosures under the FOI Act. Also see FOI releases published via whatdotheyknow.com
Recruit Trainee Survey
An annual survey of trainees in the army, navy and air force. Covers background, perceptions of training and how the experience compares to perceptions prior to recruitment, facilities and food, support, fairness of treatment and hopes for the future.
ForcesWatch briefing: Expanding the Cadets and ‘military ethos’ in UK schools
December 2012
A ForcesWatch briefing on the Government policy of expanding cadets and promoting 'military skills and ethos' in schools.
Mind the Gap: Education for minors in the British armed forces
July 2012
Published by Child Soldiers International.
This report concludes that the impact of recruitment below the age of 18 opens up a number of gaps that have long term significance, not only for the armed forces but also for the young people that they recruit. At a time of considerable downsizing of the army in particular, the large gap between the cost of training minors (who cannot be deployed operationally) and adults (who can) is difficult to sustain. But perhaps the most significant cost is in the detrimental impact that the gaps identified have on the future prospects of minors recruited by our armed forces.
ForcesWatch briefing: Questioning the presence of armed forces in schools
May 2012
This ForcesWatch briefing is for parents, students and teachers concerned with military activities in their school.
Report of Inquiry into National Recognition of our Armed Forces
May 2008
Published by the Labour Government in 2008, the report made forty recommendations for 'increasing visibility', 'improving contact', 'building understanding' and 'encouraging support' for the Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2011
June 2011
New legislation (from 22 July 2011) which grants under 18s the right to leave after a 'cooling off' period. Prior to this, discharge of 'unhappy minors' was at the discretion of the commanding officer.
Before You Sign Up
An independent website, setting out the pros and cons of enlisting in the UK armed forces and other advice. Contact us for a batch of these cards. Go to beforeyousignup.info
Before you enlist: the film
2018 update, USA
“Before You Enlist!” provides a rational voice to counter the seductive and often deceptive recruiting practices of the U.S. military. The message is not “don’t enlist” but rather to provide young people and their families a more complete picture of the life-altering consequences of joining the military – especially in wartime. Latest version: 2018. This short film is from the US so many of the details about recruitment are different from the UK, but the general questions to ask 'before you enlist' are similar.
Catch 16-22: Recruitment and retention of minors in the British Armed Forces
March 2011
This report, published by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, "challenges the status quo currently surrounding the situation of young people in the UK armed forces today. It questions the ethics and legality of the restrictions on young recruits’ rights of discharge, their minimum period of service, and their exposure to the risk of hostilities. The report also makes the case for a considered review and debate on the minimum recruitment age. It highlights the evidence that not only is the experience of recruits in the 16 – 18 age bracket adversely affected by their relative lack of maturity, but that their high drop-out rate results in millions of pounds in wasted expenditure."
Procedure for registering a conscientious objection
Information on registering a conscientious objection in the UK armed forces.
Informed Choice? Armed forces recruitment practice in the United Kingdom
November 2007
An independent report by David Gee, published in 2007, highlighting the risks posed to young people through joining the military, how young people from disadvantaged communities are targeted, how information available to potential recruits is often misleading and how the terms of service are complicated, confusing and severely restricting. The research found that a large proportion join for negative reasons, including the lack of civilian career options.