VictorPilot,
You said:
"I have no doubt that a career as an officer or other rank in the military (No colour bias!) is a totally fulfilling life experience. We lost a lot when National Service was abolished, and subsequent generations never had the benefit of the experience of military training, learning personal discipline, finding respect for others.."
Looking at the disproportionately large percentage of ex service personnel among our prison population, the homeless and those suffering from mental health issues, I have to seriously question the validity of that statement.