Here's how Gen Z could be coaxed into national service

If student debts were reduced and young people were given first dibs for jobs or housing, defence expert Francis Tusa thinks they might be persuaded to do a year of conscription’

- Francis Tusa

At the beginning of March, Poland outpaced other European nations by announcing plans to introduce universal military service for all men. Speaking in the Polish parliament, president Donald Tusk said: “We will try to have a model ready by the end of this year so that every adult male in Poland is trained in the event of war, ensuring that this reserve is comparable and adequate to potential threats.”

Even though Poland has taken a step that many other European nations are hesitant to take, it is evident that, despite their reluctance, forms of military service are being examined, studied, and debated among European policymakers. The signs suggest that the UK will follow suit sooner rather than later.

Nearly a year ago, Rishi Sunak pledged that if the Conservatives won the general election, 18-year-olds would be required to take part in a scheme involving military or civilian service. While Sunak was short on details regarding who would conduct the training or how it would be funded, the proposals were pitched as a “bold new model of national service”.

Participants could opt to spend one weekend per month volunteering in civic roles such as an RNLI volunteer or NHS responder. The country, he argued, needed to be “open and honest” about long-term challenges, and the scheme would provide young people with “real-world skills while contributing to their country and community”.

The plan was quickly derided across the political spectrum, with Justin Crump, a defence expert and veteran of 25 years, capturing the mood when he said the plans were “ill-thoughtthrough” and would be an “enormous potential burden” on Britain’s military. He added: “It’s certainly not the solution to the military’s problems, and I think everyone I’ve spoken to this morning still has their head in their hands.”