Potential recruits to the British armed forces are given a misleading picture of military life, according to a report published last week.
They are not always told that once they enlist, they have to stay in the forces for years, it says.
Britain is the only European country which recruits youngsters into the armed forces from the age of 16, though they cannot be sent on operations until they are 18. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), which has criticized the report, says this is the only way it can compete in the battle to attract school-leavers.
PHOTO: AFP
The report was written by David Gee, a researcher who formerly ran the Quakers' peace and disarmament program. It refers to remarks made last year by Colonel David Allfrey, head of the army's recruitment strategy. "It starts with a seven-year-old boy seeing a parachutist at an air show and thinking, 'That looks great.' From then the army is trying to build interest by drip, drip, drip."
The report said that marketing to children below the recruitment age commonly "glamorizes warfare." It refers to an army Web site, Camouflage, aimed at 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds, which encourages youngsters to participate in games.
A spokeswoman for the MoD said parts of the report were incorrect, and that it was made clear to recruits they could apply to leave up to six months after they enlisted. Thereafter, they had to stay for four years.
She added: "Anyone considering a career in the armed forces is presented with clear information."
Top military officials are drawing up plans to increase the size of the army. They're concerned that the service cannot go on performing tasks demanded of it without an increase in manpower.(GUARDIAN)
上週公布的一篇報告指出,英國軍方為招募新兵,以不實的方式宣傳軍旅生涯,誤導有志從軍者。
報告中說,軍方不一定會告知他們一旦應募入伍,就必須留在部隊好幾年。
英國是歐洲唯一一個向十六歲青少年募兵的國家,但他們要年滿十八歲後才能執行任務。英國國防部駁斥這篇報告的內容,並表示唯有這樣,他們才能爭取輟學生的加入。
這篇報告是由曾任貴格會和平裁軍計畫執行者的研究員戴維.基所撰寫,報告中提到去年軍方募兵策略處處長大衛.艾爾非說:「自從一個七歲小男孩在一場飛行表演中看到傘兵,覺得『那看起來真酷』後,英軍就試著一點一滴地吸引人心。」
報告中提到,針對低於募兵年齡的孩子,通常都採取「美化戰爭」的行銷手法,一個名叫「Camouflage(保護色)」的軍隊網站主打十二到十七歲青少年族群,鼓勵他們上網玩遊戲。
英國國防部發言人說,這份報告有部份內容不實,並澄清新兵可在入伍後六個月內申請退伍;時限過後,他們就得服役四年。
她補充說明:「任何考慮當職業軍人的人都會被告知詳細的資訊。」
軍方高層正在擬定擴充兵源的計畫,他們憂心若不增加新兵,軍方將無力繼續履行國家賦予的任務。(衛報/翻譯:袁星塵)
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