I served time (in the UK) in the Air Cadets, the RAF and the Territorial Army. I think I spoke about the Air cadets in a previous blog but that is where I was first introduced to the whole military syllabus and, of course, my love of flying was born. The cadets gave me access to flight experience in a glider and a Chipmunk MkII aircraft, where you sat behind the pilot. My very first flight ever consisted of being a passenger as the pilot did some aerobatic movements high above the Forth Road bridge in Scotland and the glider flight was done at RAF Turnberry.
The cadets were formative to the military however and we had all the usual stuff as well, like Drill, firing range, parades, studying, etc. We also gained an initial understanding of the camaraderie which is part of all military training and establishments. We went to summer camps and became subject to the same laws as all others on camp, and basically had a fabulous time.
When I joined the RAF, I returned to the same camp for basic training that I had been at as a cadet so I had an advantage there over some who had come 'fresh' to the service. The military training syllabus in the RAF is the usual BS stuff that all service men must endure to make it to that 'passing out' parade at the end and it was no different for me or any other member of No. 2 Squadron, Training wing, RAF Swinderby.
I believe that my experiences in the cadets and the RAF were the main part of making me independent and confident in my life and these qualities are ones that can not and should not be taken lightly. The military invokes in you, for the most part, a 'can-do' attitude and I believe that this would be an invaluable asset to the majority of our disenchanted, estranged, depressed, bored youth on civvy street who feel that they have no job, no prospects and no future.
In the military, you are taught how to be self sufficient; How to wash (yourself and your clothes), eat, wash dishes and cutlery, repair clothes and other things, keep a smart appearance, etc, etc. These are invaluable skills which would be highly beneficial to anyone. In addition, the friendships made, sometimes for life, through your shared experience lets you know that, whatever comes up your not facing it alone. Lots of our teenage youth do seem to think that they are forgotten, unimportant and facing everything all by themselves.
Having been there and done that, I am glad that I never had to enter a war zone and face the potentiality of having to kill someone. I dont envy anyone who has been there and I salute them for having done it. I'm not sure I could have. Fighting is a possibility in the military though, of course it is.
I'm not advocating that all our young folk should have to sign up and go fight, (thats the politicians dream, not mine!), but I do think that the old form of National service (in the UK) does have some positive aspects to it, in that it has the potential to instill a sense of self worth, self pride, confidence and motivation in the people who are going to be our future!
The boot camp idea has run its course, I believe and rather than be used as some sort of punishment or daytime TV 'entertainment', maybe it should be remodelled and used as an invaluable tool to help those who would like to give it a go without fear of being forced to go abroad to fight in wars. It wouldn't even need to have the whole firing weapons aspect to it but the life and social skills, the group work, the confidence buildin - all of that is justification enough, I believe, to say that we should
'Bring back National Service!'
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