Defence Secretary John Healey said it is his ‘personal mission’ to bring up public confidence in the Armed Forces and believes people should join reserve units and cadets to help national security
Bosses should do more to encourage their workers to join the Army Reserves, the Defence Secretary is arguing. John Healey claims the public could be more “vigilant” to threats including cyber attacks and by joining Reserve units and the Cadets to help national security.
The cabinet minister said he had a “personal mission” to bring up public confidence in the Armed Forces and commitment to service. His comments follow recent polling that showed just 11% of Gen Z would be willing to fight for the UK in a war.
Mr Healey said employers can “do more to make sure that those who are in their workforce can also play a part for the nation as reservists”. He issued the call ahead of Labour’s annual conference as ministers attempt to present themselves as the party of patriotism.
A recent Strategic Defence Review has recommended increasing the number of active reservists by 20% as part of a plan for “homeland defence”. Mr Healey added: “I want to see the opportunities for young people in Cadets increase by a third by the end of this decade. I want to see the opportunities for people to serve as reservists widened.”
Meanwhile, Mr Healey also said that Britain is helping NATO build a massive “drone wall” as fears grow the planet is being pushed to the brink of World War Three. As threats of airspace incursions from Russia grow, the scheme is being developed in partnership with Ukraine.
Experts say it will deploy low-cost, unmanned aircraft to discourage warmongering Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s jets and drones from entering the alliance’s eastern border.
Mr Healey said Mad Vlad’s “reckless” and “dangerous” manoeuvres would be confronted with a response from NATO nations. The drone wall is part of Project Octopus, and involves the devices being constructed in British facilities within weeks and positioned to deter Russian hostility.
He said that the UK would mass-manufacture the drones using “modern manufacturing techniques that we have in this country that they haven’t got“. Britain will then “supply them back in the thousands to help Ukraine defend themselves”, he claimed. Mr Healey added: “We’re ready with allies through NATO to demonstrate to Putin that his aggression and his incursions, reckless or intentional, will be challenged.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
#Brit #bosses #encourage #workers #join #Army #Reserves #WW3 #fears #grow
