Seaham Army veteran: National service is a great idea

By age 17, now veteran Andrew Harrison says he was jumping out of planes and was on operational tours in the army by 19 - and loved every second of it. 

Rising through the ranks, Andrew, now 54 and living in Seaham, became the Chief Instructor for The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces/Royal Army Physical Training Corps.

Pictures from the career of Andrew Harrison. (Image: ANDREW HARRISON)

Following the news that 18-year-olds may be forced to participate in national service either in the military or community for 12 months, Andrew, who had a hand in training hundreds of new recruits, believes the scheme could change the country for the better.

“My first reaction was that it was a political move – but I do think it is a positive thing”, he said.

“Many, many people have been shouting for National Service and safer streets in the same breath for years, as crime, benefit fraud and attitudes have changed.

Pictures from the career of Andrew Harrison. (Image: ANDREW HARRISON)

“We are in a society that thinks it is owed and deserves more and more. National service is a bold and much-needed option for change and will hopefully deliver opportunities.

“The older generation did this so what’s the difference now? We are facing multiple threats both internally and externally in society.”

Announcing the news on Monday (May 27), PM Sunak said “generations of young people who have not had the opportunities they deserve” and claimed the policy would help unite society in an “increasingly uncertain world”.

However, questions have since been raised regarding the longevity of the scheme, its funding and the role youngsters could take in the forces.

Pictures from the career of Andrew Harrison. (Image: ANDREW HARRISON)

Critics from across the political divide have dismissed the plans as unserious while leading military figures expressed skepticism about how they would work and suggested the money would be better spent on armed forces investment.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer slammed the policy as “a sort of teenage dad’s army”, dismissing it as the opposition eyes giving votes to 16 and 17-year-olds should they win the trust of the British public.

But, for Andrew, the policy can only be a positive move based on his experience of training the next generation of the forces.

He said: “In my career, I had the honour and satisfaction of changing young people's lives in a positive way from all backgrounds.

“Some people arrived with nothing and walked through the gates as timid boys and left as confident, fit and honourable men.

Pictures from the career of Andrew Harrison. (Image: ANDREW HARRISON)

“I had great satisfaction knowing that the training teams had such a great influence on people and many of my recruits have done great things.

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“I think they will train young people in basic skills medical, weaponry, tactics and their responsibility should they respond to an incident.

“I don’t think they will go into further detail by teaching the tactics you would use as a professional soldier. They could also be taught to facilitate community service.

“I think people will have a positive reaction to this once they realise that change is needed.”