On the subject of gap years...

[flossums]

I'm going to put this out there. When I toyed with the notion of a gap year? Joining the defence force for a year would have been right down there on my list of options, assuming it made it on there at all. And yet, that's one of the options that they're talking about to try and deal with the shortage on the 'frontline

Comments

[rainbow_sleeve]

From what I understand, in order to apply for the army "scholarship" that they are referring to, you do need to have finished year 12 and be at least 18 years of age.

I would agree with you if they were "conscripting" students under that age. The way that they are also talking about it in the media, it does sound like a "gap year" fun project like a wilderness survival camp and that kind of thing.

However, if the idea was managed WELL, with the campaigning targeting the notion of developing skill, physical aptitude and even leadership (like the regular defence force ads do), then I would not have an objection to it. If they were imposing limits to the number of graduates that they admit, then I would be content that they were doing this in a responsible fashion.

I will wait and get more information before I pass true judgement. From where I am sitting, I believe that the government has the opportunity to do something right in order to reduce drug use and alcoholism in young adults, giving students the opportunity to go into a project even if they believed that they are not fit for jobs in the world yet (thusly reducing unemployment), and even getting some of these students ready for a university or vocational avenue.

[flossums]

They're calling it a scholarship? Wow, okay then. All of a sudden it becomes that more respectable. >.>

The key thing is if the idea was managed well. The overall impact I'm getting so far makes me doubt that it would be, and I'm also dubious about the long term goals of the project.

And as far as I'm concerned, if the government truly wanted to do something constructive to reduce alcohol and drug use in young adults, there are many more ways to go about it. After all, if in the ideal world they only admit a few graduates, it's not going to have that greater impact. As far as the unemployment thing goes, I kind of doubt that when they talk about reducing unemployment they're talking about the 18 year old demographic.