The UK leader wants to start national service for 18-year-olds. Eighteen-year-olds will have two choices. One is to spend a year in the army, navy or air force. About 30,000 people will choose this. The other choice is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering in the health, ambulance or fire services, or in local communities. The UK leader thinks young people will get useful skills.
Many people attacked the plan. They say it is too expensive. There are not enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. A former navy head said the idea was crazy. He says national service will "suck" money out of defence. Many young people think the plan will take their freedom away. However, one teenager says it will give young people a purpose. She said national service works well in many countries.
Try the same news story at these levels:
National Service - Level 0, National Service - Level 2 or National Service - Level 3
Sources- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9xx1w48wjdo
- https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/26/rishi-sunaks-national-service-pledge-is-bonkers-says-ex-military-chief
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/27/national-service-rishi-sunak-memes-election/
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