Should we let foreigners join the British Army?

panther · 24-03-2008, 15:49

At present you have to live in the UK for five years and become a British citizen before you can sign up.... Yet there has recently been a surge in the amount of Poles wanting to join and the Army wants a review of the rules.
With the armed forces struggling from major shortages, should we let foreigners fight for us?

if they want to live here then why not?
Didnt the polish help us fight germany in WWII?

derekgas · 24-03-2008, 15:54

Allow it? It should be condition of coming here imo!

Doug · 24-03-2008, 15:57

The Poles did fight for us and paid a very high price for doing so...but we shouldn't jump the gun here......Don't change anything.

Less · 24-03-2008, 17:12

Which foreigners? I can trace my family back to Liverpool for a couple of generations, after that diddly squat!

Liverpool like all major cities in this land was a large melting pot, "shock horror", it was actually encouraged!

We as a nation should wake up, we are mainly, 'foreigners', O.K. the ratio of which foreigners, and from where changed over the last 30/40 years and there has been just a touch of isolationism, (from both sides).

If History is studied, we have always used others to help fight our battles, but before one drop of Polish blood is spilt for the future of this Country, there are many from both sides of the rift that should consider the armed forces, (which has always been another melting pot), as a career not because they should die for their Country, but because it would be a better and prouder way to be than the alternatives on offer at the moment.

People used to serve with pride, as they should, but these day's being told don't wear your uniform in public means that our society is very sick not the people willing to serve.

steeljack · 24-03-2008, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

The Poles did fight for us and paid a very high price for doing so...but we shouldn't jump the gun here......Don't change anything.

Small point, but I don't think the Poles fought for us , I think they fought with us , same as the French Free Forces , both groups were trying to liberate their native homelands .

Benipete · 24-03-2008, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

Small point, but I don't think the Poles fought for us , I think they fought with us , same as the French Free Forces , both groups were trying to liberate their native homelands .

For us or with us what's it matter.but as far as i can see we're still fighting the French.

blazey · 24-03-2008, 20:26

They might as well.

MargaretR · 24-03-2008, 20:28

You never know - we might want to invade Poland sometime in the future --
stranger things have happened

cashman · 24-03-2008, 20:49

the older members may remember this, but i worked with a good few polish blokes, who had settled after the war, also ukrainiens, some who actually switched uniforms when the allies started winning the war.

so i would say NO.

K.S.H · 24-03-2008, 20:52

I'd go for NO, if there not born and bred here don't let them in, you never know what might kick off in the near future

cmonstanley · 24-03-2008, 21:22

we already have foreigners who are proud to serve in the british army ie gurkhas....they've had a history strength and loyalty in the british army for centuries

jaysay · 25-03-2008, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

we already have foreigners who are proud to serve in the british army ie gurkhas....they've had a history strength and loyalty in the british army for centuries

Yea totally agree cmon, but look how the government are treating the Gurkhas now, we open our boarders to every Tom Dick and Harry, but Gurkhas who have actually spilled their blood for this country are treated like lepers.

cashman · 25-03-2008, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

we already have foreigners who are proud to serve in the british army ie gurkhas....they've had a history strength and loyalty in the british army for centuries

the gurkhas were great warriors differance being they were part of the then "British Commonwealth" it may not make a differance to younger ones cos they are maybe not aware,but it sure makes a differance to me.

Eric · 26-03-2008, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

Small point, but I don't think the Poles fought for us , I think they fought with us , same as the French Free Forces , both groups were trying to liberate their native homelands .

We Polish soldiers

For our Freedom and for Yours

Have given our souls to God,

Our bodies to the soil of Italy

And our hearts to Poland.

cherokee · 26-03-2008, 01:09

Why would the polish want to join our army anyway????
maybe im bein a bit numb here because im unsure of the facts but wasnt they forced into fighting with us?
and the british army has already got other nationalities in there all be it british citezens..

Anyway imo if they want to come and live here be it polish or any other YES!!! they should fight with our boys.. If we are good enough to accomodate them as a country then our country should be worthy of them putting thier lives on the line... failing that BOGOFF back.