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From Socialist Worker, No. 102, 21 December 1968, p. 2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
1968 HAS BEEN a year of action on the Left, a year of demonstrations, strikes and sit-ins, a year when apathy seemed at last to be shaken and people became aware.
But a section of the working class was isolated from these events. That section was the armed forces.
Was this because they are a group of people living a happy and contented life? The answer is a resounding NO.
Soldiers, sailors and airmen join their respective services for numerous reasons: to get a trade, travel, adventure or because there was a shortage of jobs in their home towns.
They are convicted to a life of petty military discipline for a minimum of nine years. Many servicemen join at the wise old age of 15 for a term of engagement lasting 12 years.
The power structure in the services is such that although the non-commissioned men make up the overwhelming majority, the officer class have complete and utter authority.
The only people who can represent the men are the officers. No two men can join together to make a complaint.
It is argued that this is the only way to run a disciplined service, but it leaves the men open to intimidation and victimisation.
The men have no real forum for discussion of service or welfare matters and there is a great gap between the social lives of the men and the officers.
This gap exists before service life starts. The men are recruited from the working class and the officers from the middle class.
Because servicemen have no real representation and are not allowed to form trade unions, they are left in a helpless state.
Of course, there are many people who like the service life. Some come from orphan-ages or troubled homes; some like travelling and making friends.
But for those who dislike the life there is nothing to look forward to but years of misery. Apart from desertion, there is no way of getting out except in extreme compassionate cases.
Those who have political convictions with the Left and who express their views face possible victimisation or dishonourable discharge.
With the present financial crisis in the capitalist world and the consequent rise in prices and freezing of wages, the establishment will expect more militant action from working-class organisations.
And when the cards are down, capitalists will play their ace – the armed forces.
In Mexico this year the army was used to suppress students and workers. In America troops were used to ‘put down’ the Black people and in France in May tanks at one point were rolling towards Paris.
In this country, the government threatened to use tanks and troops against the workers during the general strike, and the post-war Labour government twice used the army to break strikes.
Remember that the people who make up the mass of the armed forces are the people you used to go to school with. On the whole, they are good people.
But the armed forces in Britain at present are the weapons of a capitalist state.
If we are striving for a socialist Britain then the Left must lead the struggle for reform in the services.
A debate must be opened with this in mind. Petitions should be organised to stop children of 15 joining the forces.
The period of engagement should be reduced and servicemen should be allowed to leave without having to ‘buy themselves out’. Above all, they must have the right to form their own rank and file organisations to defend their rights.
The Left must attempt to break down the state-imposed barrier between workers and the forces. United, they represent a terrible threat to the system that oppresses and exploits us all.
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Last updated on 30 October 2020