I was shocked to read that: "Prince Harry has called for return of national service in Britain, saying the army did 'amazing things' for him."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-17/prince-harry-calls-for-return-of-national-service-in-britain/6476480

I'm sure he's a nice person (from a Royal perspective) but is this guy some sort of idiot?

Why he'd like to go back to the John Schumann days - "when I Was Only 19" and force people into the military in any form, is beyond me.

Is it time for Australia to move to a Republic and cut all connections to the royal family? I'll votes yes - ASAP. We don't need their inheritance.

Yesterday the morning presenters on Sunrise discussed this issue.

Kochies' Angles (give me a break) each shared their view. It gave me a good laugh because all three completely missed the point. The three women with the best of intentions suggested alternatives to the National Service that they thought would be better.

One Angle suggested sports camps for unemployed and disenfranchised youth; a 2nd Angle thought the idea of something along the lines of the Peace Core would be good; the 3rd simply felt the government should be providing training and work experience opportunities.

None of the three mentioned how their suggestions would help the youth develop the discipline, respect, and self esteem that many men gain from serving in the military, even if only briefly.

Nathan, I think you have also totally missed the point of Prince Harry's suggestion. We currently have throughout the western world, youth who are growing up without decent role models; selfishly believing the world owes them something; throwing tantrums when they don't get their way; getting into serious drug abuse; not inclined to work their way up the ladder, but rather expecting to start at the top; displaying incredibly bad manners and showing no respect for elders or anyone else.

Put simply, many of these youths are growing up in families that lack discipline and they have next to no way of learning to control themselves or even behave properly, in a societal context.

Don't be so hasty to write this idea off, in its entirety Nathan. Try looking at the big picture.

oops, I misspelled Angel is my previous comment.

Sorry Poirot

Sorry ConservativeHippie, it doesn't work that way today. The last thing the defence forces want is a bunch of dumb antisocial teens to baby sit.

Today even an army foot slogger has to have some brains & education to do the job. The old cannon fodder foot slogger is long gone. The majority of these clowns would not make it past the first contact with the recruiting staff.

In the US the army is full of those who couldn't find employment. They are at least volunteers, & mostly school graduates who signed up for the training offered.

Something like this might work here, & I believe it is what Harry had in mind. The dropout brigade are of no more use to the forces than they are to themselves, or the rest of the country. The army, with it's Labor slashed budget, can't afford to babysit the countries drop kicks

I assume Harry boy sees national service as being done in the way he has enjoyed his so called stint in the army. Jet setting around the world, first class, wining and dining five star all the way.
As one so fortunate to be born into such privilege, Harry is one luck fella indeed. All are forbidden to mention the skeleton in the cupboard.
For such an outstanding suggestion, possible Abbott could give Harry a knighthood, like he gave to grandpa Boo Boo.

Compulsory National Service for public servants and tax payer funded academics might of brought these idealist into the real world before they sprout their destructive doctrines. Full marks to Harry but commonsense went out of the Western world by allowing the socialist to encourage the West to self destruct. Why do you think the Islamist last so much at the very ones who defend them.