Military Chief Urges Britain to Provide Training for Citizen Army

The head of the British Army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, has called for the training of a "citizen army" to prepare for future land warfare. He emphasized that simply increasing the number of reserve forces would not be sufficient. General Sanders pointed out the threat posed by Russia and noted that other European countries were taking steps to mobilize their populations for war. He also emphasized the need to modernize and equip the UK's armed forces. General Sanders clarified that he was not advocating for conscription, but rather laying the groundwork for voluntary mobilization in the event of a war. He stressed the importance of preparing the "pre-war generation" and stated that this would require a nationwide effort. This is not the first time that General Sanders has expressed concerns about the growing threat of war and the UK's lack of readiness. He has previously called for the reversal of recent cuts to the size of the Army, arguing that it should be expanded rapidly. General Sanders highlighted the actions taken by countries like Sweden and Finland to prepare for potential conflict with Russia. Other NATO military commanders have also urged the alliance to prepare for a potential conflict. However, some politicians are hesitant about discussing hypothetical scenarios of future conflicts, and the UK government has ruled out any move towards conscription. One senior Conservative MP expressed doubt that the Prime Minister fully grasped the threat posed by Russia, suggesting that his lack of experience regarding the Soviet Union during the Cold War era may be a factor. General Sanders warned against repeating the mistakes of 1914 and stressed that the Army's size had been halved over the past 30 years. Despite recruitment challenges, applications to join the Army are currently at a six-year high. General Sanders will be replaced as Chief of the General Staff by General Sir Roly Walker in June. Former Chief of the General Staff, General Lord Dannatt, also criticized the cuts to troop numbers and military spending, warning that the UK risked a repeat of the 1930s if it did not invest more in its armed forces.