A real-life Dad’s Army could help boost the UK’s defence in case of World War Three.
The Ministry of Defence is reportedly considering proposals for a 200,000-strong volunteer “Citizen Army” to protect the nation. Military figures have suggested recruiting 20,000 ex-regular Army and reservist personnel at first.
The long-term ambition, which has drawn comparisons to the legendary WW2 Home Guard sitcom Dad’s Army, would see large amounts of volunteers across the nation involved.
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It comes after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps claimed the UK needs to be “prepared” for conflict as it moves into a “pre-war world”.
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The force would primarily be used to defend Britain if it came under attack. Under the plans, there would be 400 “cadres” of senior officers and sergeants formed.
This would help train a “Mass Citizen Army” of up to 200,000 volunteers, who would receive expenses in peace time.
They would be activated if there was a serious threat to national security.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
An MoD spokesperson said: “The Armed Forces are committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best talent from the broadest diversity of experience, skills and background needed to maintain operational effectiveness.
“Increasing recruitment and improving retention across the services is a top priority.
“To address recruitment, a range of options are being actioned to increase the inflow into both Regular and Reserve Armed Forces recruitment pipelines.”
(Image: Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament)
The proposals, said to have come from ex-Army Reserve commander Lord De Mauley, are being touted as a fix to the lack of public support for conscription.
The blueprint is based on the Home Service Force (HSF) in the 1980s and early 1990s. Recruits, aged 18 to 60, had a training obligation of four to five weekends each year.
The HSF was disbanded in 1993 following the end of the Cold War.
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