A former long-serving Special Air Services veteran has called on the government to consider military service for high school students.
Harry Moffitt served three decades in the Army, which included almost 1,000 days of combat operations during 11 tours of duty.
He was wounded during an explosion in Afghanistan in 2008, which claimed the life of a mate.
With his qualifications as a psychologist, Mr. Moffitt advocates for a national service program that could greatly benefit teenagers, especially those contemplating leaving school after Year 10 and those at risk of repeatedly breaking the law.
He has discussed his proposal with multiple Labor ministers. The idea mirrors the current Australian Defence Force initiative aimed at school graduates.
‘I support the idea of a universal or national gap year program available at every school as a choice after Year 10,’ Mr. Moffitt shared on the Neil Mitchell Asks Why podcast.
‘They could go off and do national service, although maybe we should move away from that term. Words mean a lot. Gap year seems much better.’
He stressed that there are no plans make national service compulsory.
Former SAS veteran Harry Moffitt believes that Aussie teens would benefit from a national service gap year
He believes a year of military-awareness training would be a life-changing experience for young Aussies
‘We could make it so it is meaningful, purposeful and train some of the skills I think this generation appears to be lacking,’ Mr Moffitt said.
‘It would be nation-building. One of the greatest investments and a generational investment we could make.
‘In considering this emerging generation, I see both positive and negative traits. However, my focus tends to lean more on the negatives, which I believe warrants a significant response,’ he expressed.
He proposed a program similar to the hugely popular ADF gap year initiative for young Aussies aged 17-24, who get paid $50,000 a year.
It attracted more than 700 participants last year, and about half sign up with the ADF after the 12 month period.
‘You can earn a reasonable income at the ages of 18, 17, or even 16 by participating in a year of military-awareness training,’ Mr. Moffitt remarked.
‘It’s nothing groundbreaking or super hard.
‘You get a sense of comradeship. They have this great sense of camaraderie, and it was a life-changing experience.
Former SAS soldier Harry Moffitt (pictured) did 11 tours of duty
‘I don’t know many people who have served at any level for any period of time that don’t say it impacted them in a huge way.
‘It’s not so much the militarism as it is their shared suffering, the shared adversity.
Mr Moffitt added that the ADF and government wouldn’t necessarily have to run and fund the program themselves.
‘Numerous large military-industrial corporations are profiting immensely from our taxpayers’ money without providing equivalent value,’ he added.
‘Get them to pour in. You want to build tanks for us, come and help build this program.
‘There’s a great opportunity here, a tripartite – business, government and academic – that we could incorporate into this.’
He conceded that his ‘banging on’ about the proposal is yet to attract much government support and had this message to those in power.
‘I’m not sure the government bean counters would want to pay for it. But, you know, get over yourself bean counters,’ he said.
