Children's Commissioner for Wales calls on army to stop recruiting under-18s
The Children's Commissioner of Wales is calling on the army to stop recruiting 16 and 17 year olds. According to Sally Holland, it is an issue of "human rights and children's rights".
The Commissioner's Office is one of twenty human rights bodies that has sent a letter to the UK Government urging them to reconsider the recruitment system.
The United Kingdom is the only country in Europe and within NATO that recruits 16-year-olds.
The British Army said they have comprehensive mental health support and treatment, while the Defence Secretary recently said that under-eighteen recruitment is not a legal issue. He added that protecting all recruits, including those who are under 18, is a priority.
The Children's Commissioner believes joining the army at 16 or 17 puts young recruits at a greater risk than those over 18.
"For me, the evidence is clear, there are too many risks for young people when they join the army at 16 or 17 years old," she told S4C’s current affairs programme, Y Byd ar Bedwar.
"Unfortunately, they are more likely to be killed in their career and are more likely to have problems with mental and physical health."
The commissioner points to research by charities Forces Watch and Child Soldiers International, which claims that soldiers who joined the army at the age of 16 were twice as likely to be killed in Afghanistan than those who joined as adults.
Ms Holland added: "One in three of the young people leave before finishing the training. There's no education, sometimes there's no home."
Two phases of training are required to become a member of the army. Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request by Y Byd ar Bedwar found that between 2017 and 2020, of the 7,949 recruits under 18 that completed the first phase of training, 2189 (28%) left before completing the second phase.
Recent figures also show that of those that were recruited as full time members of the army last year, 22% were under 18.
The United Kingdom is the only country in Europe and within NATO that recruits 16-year-olds.
Gethin Davies, 16, from Nebo is one of those who has dreamed of a career within the army. In September, he left home to join the Royal Welsh regiment.
He said: "I've wanted to join the army for a long time. It’s been in the family for a long time, with my uncle, and I've also known some boys through the cadets. This has been quite a help with the decision."
While a number of his friends returned to sixth form, Gethin travelled to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in September this year.
"I know there's a possibility that I’ll see horrible things, and I'm just trying not to think about it so that it doesn't stop me going," he said.
"I think one day it will all come to me, and it will become a reality.”
With almost 47,700 people aged between 16 and 24 in Wales unemployed, Gethin admits that the lack of opportunities in his area is another reason to join the army.
He explained: "There's nothing to do around this way, really. If I'm interested in the army, I should go for it I think. There's nothing better for me personally."
Gethin’s mum Sharon, died when he was five years old. Since then he has been brought up by his auntie Andrea (Sharon’s sister.) She has mixed feelings about his decision to leave their family home to begin a career in the army.
"I feel quite proud that he wants to do something with his life, he doesn’t want to sit around wasting away. I’m happy about that," she said.
“But, I'm quite emotional about it. Just thinking about him going so young.
"I just want to keep him close, but there we go. You have to support his decision and be 100% behind him and what he wants to do.”
The British Army say they have comprehensive mental health support and treatment available to members of the Armed Forces during and after their service.
In response to the recent campaign, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that under-eighteen recruitment is not a legal issue, nor compulsory within the armed forces.
He added that the Junior Service provides a range of excellent training opportunities for young people and access to a fulfilling career. He also said that the protection of under-18 recruits - and all recruits across Defence - is of the highest priority.
You can see the full Y Byd ar Bedwar programme on S4C at 8.25pm, English subtitles are available.