Labour plans to offer courses with the TA, but critics have criticised the proposals as �archaic�, writes Alison Chiesa

Could the drill sergeant triumph where the schoolteacher and youth worker have failed? The First Minister, who wants to reintroduce a new type of National Service for the disaffected, disadvantaged and unemployed youth of Scotland, certainly believes so.

But not everyone agrees with Scottish Labour's plan to give today's teenagers a taste of Army life. The voluntary scheme, outlined by the First Minister on Monday, would see youngsters aged 16 and 17 given the option of going on residential courses.

Using MoD training facilities, the two-month courses would be run by the Territorial Army (TA), which critics say is already vastly overstretched.

While open to anyone in the age group, the scheme would mainly target the NEET generation - up to 30,000 of whom are not in any other kind of education or training.

Among critics of the scheme is Mike Tait, a youth worker for more than 30 years. Mr Tait, who works with the Canongate Youth Project in Edinburgh, called the proposal "archaic nonsense".

"The choices and opportunities for young people are of paramount importance," he said. "The youngster who will be targeted will be the most vulnerable and easily led."

Under the scheme, around 1000 Scots teenagers each year would be taught basic skills including "teamwork, leadership and general fitness", with no obligation to join the armed forces.

But Mr Tait, whose 30-year-old organisation works with youngsters in an area that contains "pockets of extreme deprivation", remains unconvinced.

He added: "This scheme is being presented as an opportunity. In reality, the people who will be taking part are those who have limited choices. And it stinks of the demonising of young people with the message that they need disciplined. It is not very positive."

His views were echoed by Bob Holman, a retired professor of social policy and neighbourhood worker in Easterhouse, Glasgow.

Professor Holman said he gained little from undertaking National Service between 1955 and 1957. "I don't think it was necessary," he said. "It didn't prepare me for life on civvy street'. Indeed, studies have shown that delinquent youngsters in National Service remain delinquent. It is not a cure."

A better solution, said Professor Holman, would be to give "proper funding" to under-resourced community projects that already foster life-enhancing and team-building skills in young people.

Danica Gilland, general manager of Toonspeak Young People's Theatre in Glasgow, agreed. "Helping youths is about empowering them in a long-term basis rather than looking at it from a short-term boot camp basis," she said. "Whilst teamwork and leadership are important, there are better ways of teaching these skills such as through the scheme we deliver involving theatre, drama and the arts."

Jim Duffy, chief executive of the Scout Association Scottish Council, described the proposal - which forms part of a pre-manifesto agreement - as "incongruous" in light of the recent launch of the Scottish Executive's national youth work strategy. He said: "We would have thought consideration would have been given to youth work resources rather than a form of national military service."

Rajiv Joshi, 23, chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: "If this represents a genuine attempt to enable young people to volunteer for an alternative method of learning, particularly around citizenship and values, we would lend our support. Where this would come into doubt would be with any attempt to make such activity compulsory."

In place at Merchiston Castle, an independent boys' school in Edinburgh, is a scheme where pupils must undertake one year in the army section of the school's Combined Cadet Force (CCF). At 13, pupils complete the bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award as part of their training, and many choose to continue on a voluntary basis as NCOs.

Defending the scheme which includes, among other aspects, drill, first aid and target shooting, Andrew Hunter, headmaster , said: "We believe the CCF offers considerable opportunities for pupils to learn self-discipline, independence, teamwork, problem solving, organisation and leadership, which they can apply to other areas of their lives and future employment."

Colonel Jim Wilson, TA Colonel 51 (Scottish) brigade, said the TA was "delighted a major political party" realised it was "not just about shooting and blowing things up, but recognised the TA was good for general citizenship". However, opposition politicians called the plan a "gimmick" which failed to take account of an overstretched TA.

Angus Robertson, the SNP defence spokesman, said: "This daft Labour proposal ignores the pressures Labour has put on the TA which is finding it difficult to retain and recruit personnel. The TA has enough on its plate without ideas like this."

A spokesman for the Green Party said: "Young people need a choice of opportunities and properly funded community facilities."

Dismissing the plan as a "gimmick", Euan Robson, Liberal Democrat MSP, said: "In contrast, Liberal Democrats are committed to empowering Scotland's young people. We will lower the voting age to 16 and give young people new rights."

Tommy Sheridan, the Solidarity MSP, condemned what he described as national service, and accused Labour of wanting to put youngsters in the Army.

"The Army, faced with declining numbers of volunteers, who understandably don't want to be killed in Iraq, will no doubt be very grateful," he said.

"The mothers and fathers of young people, like Rose Gentle who lost her son Gordon in Iraq, will be more concerned."

Rosie Kane, SSP MSP and a former youth worker, added: "Economic conscripts already join the Army because they cannot get access to adequate training and resources elsewhere.

"If this scheme is about trying to attract the youth vote on the eve of an election, McConnell might have put his foot in it - and he could get his own marching orders in May."

Additional reporting by Donna Simpson and Andrew Weston

The case for
In my constituency, in the east end of Glasgow, we too often see young men and women, not yet 18 years old, but not yet with a sense of purpose in their lives and too little opportunity to engage in new and challenging experiences. It is a problem for young people in many areas of Scotland.

Whilst the SNP would spend their first 100 days in office introducing tax and turmoil, Labour will put in place concrete plans to tackle this problem. As part of our plans to raise the age at which young Scots are expected to be engaged in full-time education, training or volunteering, doing nothing will no longer be an option. But we need to engage young people in programmes that they want to do to maximise the full benefit of this.

On Monday Jack McConnell and Tony Blair announced a plan for residential training courses to be run by the TA. Last year, when I visited New Zealand, I learned of a similar scheme there and was impressed.

Our strategy for Scotland will see 16 and 17-year-olds being given the option of being able to undertake residential courses to learn basic skills, including teamwork, leadership and general fitness, with no obligation to join the armed forces. The TA has real experience in working with young people and can offer them world-class opportunities. We should make much more use of that in Scotland.

Labour would introduce a voluntary scheme, run twice a year and open to all, allowing 500 young Scots the chance to do something really rewarding. If a tough TA-led training course was completed, certification would be a signal to prospective employers and educational institutions the youngster had commitment and is prepared to work hard.

Scotland already has the Outreach programme run through the Army Cadet Force. The TA also has a pre-existing Summer Challenge course, so we know these schemes can work. The other parties are simply not offering ideas as to how to tackle these issues, but Labour is this week promising a concrete plan that will offer 1000 Scots every year the opportunity for a structured but rewarding life experience with personal and social development at its core. - Margaret Curran MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business.

The case against
However you look at it, the news that youngsters aged 16 and 17 are to be given the option of going on residential courses run by the TA seems surprising.

Furthermore, the very idea that senior politicians may use the courses to introduce military conscription will horrify serving soldiers.

Given the dangers facing servicemen around the globe, the very last thing they need are colleagues who are either not suited to the job or simply don't want to be there.

That the call comes from politicians who have never worn uniform gives pause for thought and raises the question, whose idea was this?

Who did they speak to? And who do they think it would benefit? Because it certainly wouldn't help the forces.

The intention that the TA teach youngsters aged 16 and 17 basic skills such as "teamwork and general fitness" would suggest that this was no longer the job of schools, but even more curiously it assumes that the TA has the time for additional and non-military projects.

It overlooks, too, the fact that the TA's numbers have been reduced from 57,000 in 1997 to 41,000 and currently has a shortfall of 6500.

Around 12,500 TA soldiers have been mobilised to plug gaps in regular units since the Iraq war, and people are leaving the TA at the rate of 600 a month.

In other words, the Territorials are busy at the moment and are in poor spirits as well.

Organising residential courses for teenage civilians is not their remit and, at a time of manpower crisis, hardly seems the best use of resources.

Why is the government suddenly interested in teenage teamwork and fitness? Perhaps it's a cover.

Can we look forward to a mass synchronised display by the nation's youth to open the London Olympics? There has to be a reason. - Neil Griffiths is the national spokesman for the Royal British Legion Scotland and is a former regular soldier.