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Army Recruits Poor Northerners

Army recruiters indeed focus their efforts on C2DE youths in northern cities:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/09/british-army-is-targeting-working-class-young-people-report-shows

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/british-army-targets-young-working-class-recruitment-military-marketing-drive-campaign-uk-a7833086.html

https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/11324/reports-find-british-military-targeting-working-class-recruits-and-creating-violent#

I suppose their strategy makes sense, though; would Cambridge economics graduates want to be shot at when they can earn million pound bonuses in the City of London?

The Samaritans' report on class and suicide can be accessed here:

http://www.samaritans.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/Socioeconomic%20disadvantage%20and%20suicidal%20behaviour%20-%20full%20report.pdf

It shows beyond question that the groups most susceptible to suicide are defined by low socio-economic status (in fact, older working class men are the group most likely to kill themselves - doctors are outliers).

 

 

 

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Comments

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John F Keane

Wed 12th Jul 2017 00:02

TBH, this issue just came up at our monthly meeting yesterday. I have no strong feelings one way or the other.

I can certainly see a case for a military career - in America, especially, people are well-educated by the Army and have often had their college fees paid by it. They bewail the Nam but I never see them bewailing the free college funding they got afterwards.

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raypool

Tue 11th Jul 2017 19:35

Oops sorry - I thought this was a poetry site - must have got that wrong. Political poetry is one thing, but this is not it.

Ray

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Harry O'Neill

Tue 11th Jul 2017 14:42

At eighteen I couldn`t wait!

I got Egypt, my mate Germany...another mate Aden, and Tommy, Palestine... This...against staying working in what was then a sweat-hole of a factory...were they kiddin!

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 11th Jul 2017 13:58

The opportunity of a new life and broader horizons in our
armed forces has its historical precedent and many have
found that opportunity to be their rescue package from
what went before. As for being shot at - some might
say that youth has always had a cavalier disregard for danger...even courting it for the thrill, so the risk factor
would be counted and considered accordingly against
the chance to be part of a "gang" (team!), all in it
together and able to see some of the world in the uniform
of this great old country when youth must have its day
- with every goose a swan.

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