Britain should train a “national army” for future ground warfare, the commander of the British Army said.
General Patrick Sanders highlighted the Russian threat and pointed to steps taken by other European countries, such as Sweden and Germany, to put their populations on a “war footing” and said, “We must prepare as well. And that’s across the board.” National business.
“Ukraine brutally shows that regular armies start wars and militias win them.”
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Who will be involved?
Sanders, the chief of staff, did not advocate conscription or an imminent call for volunteers, but his speech to the military conference this week was intended as a “wake-up call to the nation.”
“I called on the UK to prepare for a mass mobilization of tens of thousands of people in the event that war broke out,” he said. BBCDefense Correspondent Jonathan Beale. Therefore, a citizen army will almost certainly be made up of civilians, called up in times of need, rather than professional soldiers.
During World War II, the age group for military service was 18 to 41, but now in Ukraine men between the ages of 27 and 60 can be drafted, even if they have no military experience.
Women have been allowed to serve in all combat roles in the British military since 2018, and it is likely that they will be called up.
Military experts said they hoped Sanders’ words would help create a “second tier” of reserve forces with up to 500,000 trained volunteers. standard.
What would they do?
Whitehall officials told The Times that the British military’s role in training Ukrainian civilians and soldiers could serve as a “mission rehearsal” for Britain. The British military has trained more than 30,000 Ukrainians, “many of them civilians who have never fired a weapon.”
These Ukrainians, including “former truck drivers and shopkeepers”, have been “put through a five-week intensive course” and MoD officials say they will be “useful” in preparing Britain’s future “national army”. I believe there are lessons to be learned.
Sanders said those who join must be “trained and equipped” to fight, but because there are “myriad roles” on the battlefield that didn’t exist before, militia people will automatically He said that they would not be sent to the front lines.the above daily mail.
These include “more specialized missions” by special forces, as well as drone pilots, vehicle technicians and emergency doctors, as well as “high-tech” roles “far from the front line”.
Who is exempt?
There are no plans for compulsory conscription, but the demographics of those conscripted in the past will determine the direction of the composition of the militia.
People working in essential industries deemed essential to the operation of the country would likely be exempt in the event of war. In World War II, these included baking, agriculture, medicine, coal mining, and engineering.
Under current UK military regulations, people who suffer from ‘sensory deprivation’, such as problems related to hearing or vision, are treated as being subject to ‘sensory deprivation’, as well as people suffering from mental illness, cardiovascular disease or bone and joint problems. It will probably be exempt. , Said LBC.
What was your reaction?
The BBC said Downing Street “doesn’t seem keen” on the idea. He considered General Sanders’ hypothetical scenario “useless.” He said the plan was “unpopular and unaffordable.” guardian In an editorial.
A poll of 2,000 people reported by the Daily Mail found that less than 10% of Brits would be willing to serve in combat if the country faced a military threat. The researchers found that only 27% of people believe they would “without a doubt” take part in a war effort if their country suffered a similar attack to Ukraine.
Sanders said the peace dividend of the Cold War era has ended, noting that “over the past 30 years, the size of the military has been cut in half, absorbing a 28% decline over the past 12 years.”
As a result, military experts believe that “in times of war,” far more people would be motivated to “sign up to protect the country,” the Times said. Former Land Forces commander General Nick Parker said in an interview with Times Radio that Britain is “absolutely” “as resilient as we can be and prepared to question whether the forces we have are British troops.” I have to do it,” he said. Something appropriate for what might happen in the future. ”
