Modern armed forces are a poor fit for the old description of an army as an unemployment programme. They can recruit people without prior qualifications and train them, but their roles increasingly demand substantial technical knowledge and professional skill. The number of jobs requiring little preparation is shrinking as equipment and operations become more complex. Defence workforce policy has to fund training and retain skilled personnel because headcount alone is not useful capability.
Notable Point · 32:49-33:35
Why modern armed forces depend on skilled personnel
Increasingly technical military roles weaken the old idea that armed forces can serve mainly as employment for people without specialist skills.