JERSEY’S government should gather a “diverse group of experts” to consider adopting Conservative plans to bring back mandatory national service for 18-year-olds, according to a former British Army brigadier.
Nigel Hall, who was also strategic adviser in UK delegations at HQ United Nations and HQ Nato, said a form of national service created specifically for Jersey would “improve individual and Island society wellbeing and resilience”.
His comments came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to bring back a form of national service if he wins re-election. Under the Conservative’s plans, every 18-year-old would have to spend time in a competitive, full-time military commission or spend one weekend a month volunteering in “civil resilience” roles – for organisations such as the NHS, fire service, ambulance, search and rescue – as soon as September 2025.
Labour has since trashed the £2.5 billion initiative.
External Relations Minister Ian Gorst said: “Jersey has its own parliament and government, and UK laws cannot be extended to the Island without the States Assembly’s consent. It is not for us to comment on UK elections and we would not seek to do so.
“If the UK were to reintroduce national service in the future we would consider Jersey’s position at that time. There are currently no plans for anything similar in Jersey.”
Mr Hall said: “This concept and stark headline is miles away from previous national service undertaken by our grandparents’ and parents’ generations. It very much is about strengthening our social cohesion. Proponents argue that sensible modern multiple forms of national service will significantly improve individual and societal wellbeing and resilience.”
He added: “Being the sleepy, last-to-react jurisdiction that our island is, my guess is that Jersey’s government will do precisely nothing about any of this unless and until it is forced, kicking and screaming, to react to real, significant life-changing events.
“If it was up to me, I would be getting a very diverse group of experts together to consider all this.
“But given that Jersey does not do non-urgent strategic thinking, and has done nothing to improve its resilience, despite all the trends and warning signs of trouble ahead, I’m not holding my breath.”
He said that a “wise Jersey government” would “look to give our school leavers the very best opportunities and seek to improve individual and Island society wellbeing and resilience” by creating a national service bespoke for Jersey.
Former Jersey government minister and ex-British Army Captain James Baker also said that introducing such a policy would be “good for Jersey”.
He added: “The concept of giving school leavers, young men and women, a sense of purpose and encouraging them to give back to the wider community is a good thing.
“There’s also the positive sense of community cohesion – that everyone has to do service.
“That said, I don’t necessarily think the British military should be made up of part-professional and part-conscription [service personnel]. That wouldn’t work well, and most of those who are serving or have served would say similar.
“But if the British needed to bolster the strength of their forces, then it would certainly up the headcount.”
It would not be the first time Jersey had piggybacked on UK government plans to recruit young civilians into the military.
In January 1940, the Island passed a law which meant that all men, of British nationality, between the ages of 18 and 41 could be directed by the Jersey government to join the British armed forces.
Jersey was also included in the Labour administration’s 1947 National Service Act, which required all physically fit male British citizens aged between 18 and 26 to serve in the armed forces for 18 months from January 1949.
What do young people have to say?
JEP reporter Hannah Esnouf spoke to some 18-year-olds in Jersey Library yesterday who were in the midst of revising for their A-level exams.
One said: “I don’t think I’d mind, but if you already have a future plan, I think it would be a waste of time. It would be useful for those who didn’t [have a plan]. I think the volunteering idea is quite nice.”
Another said: “I think everyone has different career paths and forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do isn’t right. I get the idea of serving your country, but I wouldn’t want to do it.
“The idea of it is quite scary because if there is a war in the future, then you would be deployed.
“My dad is from Portugal and he had to do national service and I don’t think you should have your hand forced like that.”
