{"id":59383,"date":"2024-05-26T16:31:22","date_gmt":"2024-05-26T16:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/26\/national-service-explained-rishi-sunak-unveils-conservative-election-plan\/"},"modified":"2024-05-26T16:31:22","modified_gmt":"2024-05-26T16:31:22","slug":"national-service-explained-rishi-sunak-unveils-conservative-election-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/26\/national-service-explained-rishi-sunak-unveils-conservative-election-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"National service explained: Rishi Sunak unveils Conservative election plan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Conservatives have set out a <\/b>manifesto commitment to force 18-year-olds to take part in a form of national service<\/b><\/a> if the party wins the general election on 4 July.<\/b><\/p>\n

Rishi Sunak said the scheme would promote a “shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country”.<\/p>\n

Labour has labelled the plan a “gimmick” and other parties have criticised the government for its record on cutting troop numbers.<\/p>\n

However, there is still much we do not know about how it would work in practice. <\/p>\n

Here is the detail we have so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What is the national service scheme?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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The proposed new scheme would not be conscription, where people are legally required to join the armed forces for a period.<\/p>\n

But it would compel people by law to complete a community programme over a 12-month period, or enrol in a year-long military training scheme, when they turn 18.<\/p>\n

The name is taken from the mandatory military training men aged 17-21 in the UK had to undertake between 1949 and 1960.<\/p>\n

Then, national service meant 18 months of military training and spending four years on a reserve list, meaning they could be called up to fight at short notice.<\/p>\n

The scheme being proposed now is a far cry from that and would not force anyone to do military training, Home Secretary James Cleverly has said.<\/p>\n

It would be made up of two broad streams for 18-year-olds to choose from:<\/p>\n