The British army is making a conscious effort to recruit teenagers, some as young as 16 years old, to attend the Military Preparation College. Filmmaker Joseph Martin explores this issue in his 2010 documentary Britain’s Young Soldiers.
Britain is the only country in the EU to recruit at this young age, and many argue that it is wrong to let adolescents take such a big decision. “It’s so out dated to be recruiting, basically children,” said David Buck, who joined the army at 17.
Others claim that the army provides disadvantaged with a chance in society that they otherwise wouldn’t have. “Literally everybody who goes to this college has nothing else to do in their lives,” said one of the boys at the Military Preparation College. They can’t get a job, they’ve been kicked out of school or finished school, and they need something to do that will give them an education and a job.”
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