Military experts warn group which would be 'first in line' to be called up during WW3
As tensions rise all over the world and fears of WWIII looms on the horizon, experts have revealed who they think would be summoned first if the UK government issued mass conscription.
It's a worrying time out there right now, and in the last few years, the world has seen many conflicts turn into terrifying wars.
For example, Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine is still ongoing, there has been unrest in the Middle East with the US and Israel's war on Iran and also on Lebanon.
Then there's Palestine.
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So, it's not too shocking that 72-hour survival kits and doomsday planes have been trending in the news lately.
But when it comes to conscription, the process isn't as straightforward as 'everyone' will be called upon at once.
No. It happens in sections, and the first group leads the rest of the calls.
So, if you're hoping to escape being the first lot to go out – then you might be out of luck, as retired senior British Army officer Lord Dannatt told the Express, per the Daily Star, that the youngest people will start off the conscription process.
Only after the current-service and reserve officers are sent to the war.
He told the outlet: "I would expect to see the Army Reserve mobilised first, then Regular Reservists recalled to active service and then His Majesty's Government would need to consider conscription, starting with 18-24-year-olds."
According to emeritus professor at the University of Buckingham, Anthony Glees, in any event, it's possible that the full conscription will follow the same protocol as in WW2. Glees said: "This would mean that all males from 18-41 would have to do military or national service."
He explained that in September 1939, 'the UK declared war on Germany', in May 1939, 'all males aged 20-22 were required to do national service' and then in 1941, 'the age range was extended by ten years, so 18-51 and unmarried women were also required to do some kind of national service.'
He added that as far as the idea of 'compulsory' service, he said it's more likely that if this happens that it'll be in a remote setting, using laptops and technology to fulfill the military's needs.
Another person who has also talked about this very situation is author and historian David Swift, who thinks out-of-work youngsters would be first up out of the group of 18-24 year olds.
"Military conscription would target unemployed graduates," he told The Express in March, adding: "This would be very popular with lots of people."
He then went on to claim that those who work in the industrial or defence sectors wouldn't be called upon in general.
"Today, since there is such an urgent need to rebuild Britain's defence industries and industrial capacity, I would expect that people in these important occupations would be exempt," he said, but if the demand needed them, that they'd have to go.
Britt Jones