University

[kallis3]

At the risk of offending anyone, I feel I have to have a rant about the latest statement by the Defence Secretary.

He has stated that forces personnel who have served at least 6 years in the armed forces, on leaving, can claim free university financing!

My daughter is currently at University and is 1,000's of pounds in debt on tuition fees and accommodation fees which she will be paying back over years.

I admire our services personnel, and think they do a great job, but I don't see why they should have free university education when normal kids can't get it.

[Skippy]

I hadn't heard that Jan. Wouldn't it be better to give them the kit they need to keep them as safe as possible while they're in the forces?

[kallis3]

You would have thought so!

It was on Sky news about 30mins ago. They're also going to be sent straight to the top of the council housing list, but I don't have too much of a problem with that if they have been living in forces housing.

[MelanieGiles]

Well I have to disagree with that one!

Our Armed Forces do an amazing job whilst they are in the Armed Forces, but the training that they get within is largely unrequired for a lot of civilian posts. Soldiers can leave the Army at age 40 completely unskilled or unprepared for civilian life, they are grossly underpaid for the duties they perform, and if some money can be diverted to setting these very valuable citizens up in their future lives then I completely support this.

Of course I am completely biased on this point - and am also a supporter of assisted further education across the board.

[kallis3]

I totally agree that our armed services do a wonderful job and they deserve more recognition and pay for what they do. I was pleased to see that they are going to increase the amount of compensation for the most seriously injured soldiers, although I also think that could be a lot more.

However, although I agree they can get a degree if they go to Uni, I don't agree that this will help them adjust to civilian life. They will just be going from one 'institution' (for want of a better word), to another and presumably will not have the required A levels that civilians require for University entrance. I don't know if they will have to take some sort of exam beforehand to establish their suitability.

Perhaps our younger generation should join the armed forces for 6 years so that they can get their university education for free when they leave.

Melanie, I quite agree that everyone should have assisted further education as most of our MP's did!

[MelanieGiles]

We still get university grant funding in Wales - and free prescriptions. Everyone should move to Wales!

[Wizzard]

We still get university grant funding in Wales - and free prescriptions. Everyone should move to Wales!

Careful Melanie .... I can envision armed checkpoint to stop immigrants getting into Wales [:D][:D]

[kallis3]

I wish we had that here! I am fed up of paying through the nose for my medication, well paying at all actually! Daughter is accumulating a debt which is probably going to end up higher than most people's IVA debts!

Get rid of Gordon Brown!

[steve532]

How typical there must be an election looming!! all of a sudden the government cant do enough for the armed forces, and after years of being treated like ****, Im glad about the housing though I thought I would be a cardbourd box when I leave.
Another great idea is put all the kids through uni for free and in exchange they have to sign up to dodge bullets for 6 years!!!! that gets my vote.

[kallis3]

National service but for longer!!!!! I'm all for that. Teach some of todays youngsters some discipline and respect.

[Skippy]

I'm glad that the forces should be getting better treatment as you all do a fantastic job, and certainly not one that I'd want to do. I do agree with you Steve - there must be an election coming up or else they're up to something else!

[Skippy]

The thing is Jan, would it work with some of the kids today? And do we really want them as trained killers?

[kallis3]

That is a really scary thought Skippy!!!!![:0][:0].

I am sure it would be the making of some kids, but some of them are past helping. On the other hand, those sort of kids wouldn't be going to Uni anyway.

I also think the armed forces do a good job. I was going to join them myself when I was 16, but mom refused to sign the forms for me so I ended up joining the police cadets instead!

[Skippy]

The armed forces have never really appealed to me, but my major regret is that I didn't join the police force when I was younger. It's all I ever wanted to do and I had the forms, but didn't send them off. Now they wouldn't have me for at least 3 years as I've been BR, and I'll be 36 by then so a bit too old!

The ironic thing is I'm not fit to be a police office as I've been BR, but the Labour Party is nearly £18m in debt and is (allegedly!) fit to run the country!

[kallis3]

Skippy you wouldn't be too old at 36! They are recruiting up to a much older limit now (can't remember what it is though!)

Once you have been out of your BR for 3 years, you would have no problem applying.

Go for it!

I spent 20 years as a police officer and never regretted joining.