Not my words, but taken from another veterans post and thought it was worth a share.
To the UK Government.

This latest idea — recalling veterans up to 65 — isn't policy. It's panic. It's what happens when a government realises too late that nobody believes in it, and instead of asking why, it reaches for the nearest generation that still remembers duty.

Let's strip away the spin.

If young people won't fight for you, that isn't a failure of youth — it's a damning indictment of leadership. You've spent years telling them Britain is broken, shameful, historically suspect, and morally inferior. You've taught them that patriotism is cringe, borders are optional, and the country itself is something to be managed, not loved.

And now you're surprised they won't bleed for it?

So your answer is to turn around and say to the old hands:
"Go on then, one more time."

Men and women who already served.
Who already paid the price.
Who already carried the weight — physically and mentally — long after the uniforms came off.

Here's the bit you fundamentally don't understand, Kìer,
they didn't fight for politicians.
They didn't fight for slogans, diversity statements, or focus-grouped values.
They fought for their mates, their families, their homes — for a country that meant something.

That country has been chipped away, mocked, diluted, apologised for, and managed into mediocrity by people like you. And now, when the cupboard is bare, you think you can knock on the door of the very people you helped discard, and demand loyalty on command.

You can't conscript belief.
You can't recall pride.
And you sure as hell can't outsource courage to men with replaced knees and broken backs because your government inspires none.

This isn't strength.
It's institutional cowardice — hiding behind past generations because you've failed the present one.

So let's be crystal clear:

If the young won't fight for you —
the old won't either.

They already gave enough.
And they won't be guilt-tripped into propping up a government that has no idea what Britain is, what it stands for, or why anyone should defend it.

You don't have a recruitment problem.
You have a legitimacy problem.

And no amount grey hair, or nostalgic press releases will fix that

Well said, Raven.

Nothing this incompetent government expects to do surprises me.  They are the most inept and stupid group of people I have ever heard of.  If they really hope to send men of that age (or do they also intend to include women?) they have lost all sense of reason.

Why not all young men who 'can't manage to find work'?  I believe that there are far more unemployed young men than has ever happened in the past.

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Never heard of it.

I'm stuck..

At 65 many could fill positions in the rear but front line duty is for the young. They are the ones with bodies and reactions that can take the strain and stupid enough to believe "it won't happen to me". I imagine most were immortal at 18.

My real thoughts.

This latest idea — recalling veterans up to 65 — isn't policy. It's panic. It's what happens when a government realises too late that nobody believes in it, and instead of asking why, it reaches for the nearest generation that still remembers duty.

Let's strip away the spin.

If young people won't fight for you, that isn't a failure of youth — it's a damning indictment of leadership. You've spent years telling them Britain is broken, shameful, historically suspect, and morally inferior. You've taught them that patriotism is cringe, borders are optional, and the country itself is something to be managed, not loved.

And now you're surprised they won't bleed for it?

So your answer is to turn around and say to the old hands:
"Go on then, one more time."

Men and women who already served.
Who already paid the price.
Who already carried the weight — physically and mentally — long after the uniforms came off.

Here's the bit you fundamentally don't understand, Keef:
they didn't fight for politicians.
They didn't fight for slogans, diversity statements, or focus-grouped values.
They fought for their mates, their families, their homes — for a country that meant something.

That country has been chipped away, mocked, diluted, apologised for, and managed into mediocrity by people like you. And now, when the cupboard is bare, you think you can knock on the door of the very people you helped discard, and demand loyalty on command.

You can't conscript belief.
You can't recall pride.
And you sure as hell can't outsource courage to men with replaced knees and broken backs because your government inspires none.

This isn't strength.
It's institutional cowardice — hiding behind past generations because you've failed the present one.

So let's be crystal clear:

If the young won't fight for you —
the old won't either.

They already gave enough.
And they won't be guilt-tripped into propping up a government that has no idea what Britain is, what it stands for, or why anyone should defend it.

You don't have a recruitment problem.
You have a legitimacy problem.

And no amount grey hair, or nostalgic press releases will fix that

Driving is or at least was freedom. I made sure all my children got their licenses as soon as they could

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Bonus point for anybody that had heard of this before.

There was nothing on telly for Hugh
So he looked for something to do
He thought it would be a doddle
To build a matchstick model
Of a life sized Peggy Sue

I didn't learn to drive until I was 52...