A number of European countries have brought back national service in response to rising security threats from Mad Vlad, now the US war with Iran has brought global conflict even closer
Shirking Brits who don’t want to be conscripted to fight if World War 3 kicks off need to apply for “safe” jobs. Those who work in certain key industries would avoid being drafted to war if it was called for.
Roles such as medical professionals, the emergency services and those working in the food and energy sectors would likely be exempt from being whisked to the front line.
Dubbed “reserved occupations”, such jobs are considered to be so essential to the country that it’s more important for those working in them to stay at home, as was the case during World Wars 1 and 2.
Medical Professionals and emergency services
Doctors, nurses, and midwives are obviously vital to the NHS and need to stay in post, even during a global conflict. And in past drafts, even medical students were often exempt to ensure the future of the healthcare system.
Likewise, police officers and firefighters are almost never conscripted because domestic order is a priority during wartime.
The Food Chain
Farmers and agricultural workers. During WWII, the “Land Girls” and male farmers were vital to preventing starvation under naval blockades.
Harper Adams Agricultural College saw a huge demand for places during the Second World War, as both agricultural students and farmers were exempt from conscription.
So if you don’t fancy being sent off to war, maybe buy a farm like Jeremy Clarkson. Or at least apply for a job at one.
Energy & Utilities
Workers in power plants and those maintaining water and sewage systems would also likely be exempt from a draft as they would be needed to keep the lights on at home.
If conscription was called for, the UK would hopefully have learnt a lesson from World War 2, when coal mining was not considered a reserved occupation at the start war. But so many were sent off to war it caused a huge shortage of miners.
As such, one in ten men conscripted were picked at random to work down the pits. These men became known as “Bevin Boys” after the scheme’s creator Ernest Bevin, the Minister of Labour and National Service.
Industrial Strategy Roles
During World War II, over 950,000 British women worked in munitions factories producing bombs, bullets and aircraft parts in response to the shell crisis suffered during the first world war.
It is expected that with modern warfare being so technologically advanced, those working within the industry would be so vital they’d avoid being called to fight. They include engineers and technicians in aerospace, shipbuilding and telecommunications.
Train and lorry drivers have historically been on the reserved list to keep supplies moving while cyber defence and IT staff would have expertise that can’t be replaced so would likely be kept at their desks rather than sent to the trenches.
Tory Baroness Goldie, shadow defence minister, previously told the House of Lords British government should consider conscription to the army as the threat of escalating war in Europe continues to rise.
She said the UK should recognise the “immediate threat” faced by ever-increasing global tensions. And security expert Anthony Glees warned this year will be “make or break” for the UK as our armed forces face an arms race to keep Russian aggression at bay.
However, fears of a global conflict have risen after the US launched missile attacks on Iran and demanded use of UK airbases for strikes, sparking worries we might get dragged into the war.
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