More than 19,000 under-18s have applied to join the army since the campaign began in January, Child Soldiers International saysA charity that campaigns against the recruitment of child soldiers has expressed alarm at the number of 16- and 17-year-olds who applied to join the British army after the launch of a controversial advertising campaign. More than 19,000 under-18s applied to join the army between January, when the glossy This Is Belonging campaign began, and October. The charity said it was concerned that the campaign had appealed to some of the youngest possible recruits. Rachel Taylor, the charity’s director of programmes, said the army wanted young people to sign up because they were “more psychologically malleable”. Some veterans say the army wants people in that age group because they can be psychologically and emotionally manipulated into unquestioning loyalty.

Source: The Guardian November 29, 2017 14:37 UTC