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UK leader wants national service for 18-year-olds
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)National Service - Level 0
The UK may start national service for 18-year-olds. They will have two choices. One is a year in the army. About 30,000 people will choose this. The other is voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering in the health, ambulance or fire services. The UK's leader wants young people to learn useful skills.
Many people say national service is too expensive. There are not enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. A former navy boss said it would "suck" money out of defence. Young people are worried about their freedom. However, one teenager says national service works well in many countries.
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National Service - Level 1
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.
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National Service - Level 2
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The UK wants to start national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will introduce national service if his party wins the UK's election in July. Under his plan, 18-year-olds will have two choices. The first is to spend one year in the army, navy or air force. About 30,000 people will choose this. The second option is voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering in the health service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local communities. Mr Sunak said young people will get useful skills, and help to "build a stronger national culture".
Many people attacked Rishi Sunak's plan. They say it is too expensive, and that there are not enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm delighted if more young people become aware of defence…but this idea is…[crazy]." He wants the government to spend more money on defence. 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.
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
National Service - Level 3
The UK leader has a plan to introduce national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will introduce compulsory national service if his party wins the UK election on July the 4th. Under his plan, young people will have two choices when they become 18. The first choice is to spend one year in the army, navy or air force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will choose to do this. The second option is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering to work with Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local communities. Mr Sunak said young people will gain valuable skills, and help to "build a stronger national culture".
Rishi Sunak's plan has been attacked by many people. Various experts say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not have enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence experts say the idea is unworkable. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm delighted if more young people become aware of defence…but this idea is…bonkers." He believes the government needs to spend more money on defence. He says national service will "suck" money out of defence. Many young people disagree with the plan. They believe it takes away their freedom. However, one 17-year-old said it will give many young people a purpose. She said national service works well in dozens of countries.
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