“Get real qualifications, valuable skills and friends for life, and the chance to travel the world. Whatever you want for your future, a career in The Army will help you get there.”
The British Army seems to have been neglected in recent times, and whether you’re “pro-army” or not, our government may live to regret the cataclysmic cuts.
With terrorism becoming a serious threat to national security and sinister groups like ISIL becoming more of a danger to the West of late, questions have to be asked if we can truly defend ourself.
If you’re like me, then joining the army suggested great appeal as a young boy, surrounded by films such as Pearl Harbour, Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, there was a time people who wanted to fight for Queen and country – it was the “fashionable” thing to do.
We now see young soldiers tempted to join the British Armed Forces for the money – pay packets can be very attractive – alongside the desire to demonstrate patriotism, particularly if you have limited qualifications.
But the harsh realities are bleak for the future of the Army, which is facing large budget cuts that could see numbers being the smallest they’ve seen in over 250 years.
Nationalism appears to be a taboo in 2016. Growing up in a generation thats entirely obsessed with frivolous lifestyles, we seem to have abandoned anything real, and dodge discussions about pressing matters.
Presumably the cuts will cause frictions between our relationship with the U.S, arguably positive as the U.S have induced nothing short of huge massacres and colossal spending, which asks the question, who do we turn to when we’re at our most vulnerable?
People will argue about the significance of the army until they’re blue in the face, particularly when encroaching matters can be averted, like Syria.
Predictably more and more people are becoming disgruntled with Army life, at a time when they’re arguably needed most.
According to a report by the National Audit Office there will be a £10.6 billion budget cut leading to the numbers of regular soldiers being reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020.
Artefact spoke to Corporal Jason Sheppard from One Mercian regiment about his views on current affairs, and what life is really like in the British army.
Featured image by Defence Images via Flickr CC