September 29, 2013This letter was sent to the Security and Defence Review Committee, Government of Bermuda and copied to The Royal GazetteVia e-mail to: securityreview@gov.bmDear Committee Members,I am writing to you in a personal capacity and as a Bermudian. I will say from the outset that I am against conscription in Bermuda on a broad range of levels. I am, however, supportive of The Bermuda Regiment and the various roles it plays on the Island. However, to forcibly conscript male recruits into the regiment in non-wartime Bermuda is simply wrong in my view.Clearly, conscription, by definition, means it was forced on the recruits against their will, otherwise they would have volunteered. Therefore, each conscripted recruit does not want to serve in the Regiment but has been forced to do so. This, by itself, can be damaging to the male recruit. He is angry and frustrated and creates immediate confrontation.He is being taught how to use guns but may not wish to learn how to use guns. He is, at times, missing work on the weekends or nights which may frustrate and hamper his advancement and certainly injures businesses as they lose valuable staff members during this period. Small businesses suffer badly at these times; I personally can attest to this. Should he choose not to attend, he is hounded both at home and at work by the Regiment. Eventually, he is brought before the courts, fined, embarrassed and potentially locked up for this “major life infraction”. How does this benefit our young men in Bermuda?Conscription is discriminatory as it only conscripts males. How can we justify that in this day and age, with so many levels of positions available that are not direct combat related functions, that only males are conscripted?The costs of conscription must be significant. The official gazette with huge four, six or eight pages of conscripted names or deferred names comes at a cost. These ads annoy parents, scare male recruits and force others to remain off the Island in order to avoid being forced into the Regiment upon their return.I understand that the regiment costs Bermuda between $10 million and $12 million per year to operate.Rather than force individuals into the Regiment, would it maybe be wiser to actually hire a given number of full-time Army men and women? This would attract those that choose the military (ultimately a higher level of employee) and ensure that they are actually available and on site when needed. The other benefit that jumps to mind is that this would actually create full time employment for 100 or 150 men and women. This method is how virtually all of the western world now operates as conscription is outdated and, generally, only used to bolster ranks in wartime. We could use our $10-12 million to create full-time employment rather than spending it to chase down individuals to serve in an institution that they do not wish to serve in.I personally know of families that have kept their male sons off the Island in order to avoid returning and being forced to serve. How can this “brain drain” assist Bermuda when we have an ageing population and we need our young men to want to return to our Island.Then there is the argument that the Regiment instils discipline that is so lacking these days in our young Bermudian men. This argument is completely shot down by those far wiser than myself in the world of psychiatry and psychology who explain that discipline is instilled beginning at a very early age (usually one or two years old) and is a lifelong process by parents, guardians, friends and “the village”. To expect the Regiment to jump in at the age of 18 or 20 years old and administer effective discipline on a young man is both wholesale abdication of parenthood as well as a virtually impossible task.I have also witnessed four or five burly Regimental police officers storm down the stairs in my office with customers in plain view and demand that a particular conscripted recruit show his face. This particular recruit was away in university and his parents, when contacted, were mortified as they had correctly submitted the paperwork to the Regiment and had proof of doing so. These instances have created an impression of the Regiment as aggressive, demoralising, angry and belittling. This view will not be erased for a generation or more. Hence the need to do away with conscription and rebuild the regiment with full-time employed soldiers that choose to be there and will represent the Regiment in a positive light as its their livelihood and one they chose.The current Government gave its commitment to end conscription in the run-up to the election in December 2012. I further understand that the Opposition is supportive of ending conscription.We are now almost one year into their term. I intend to have my voice heard, hold them accountable to this pledge and use every avenue available to end this outdated and archaic system of conscription.This submission, for the avoidance of doubt, is vehemently against conscription. I am supportive of the role of the Bermuda Regiment but feel strongly that conscription actually damages the good work the Regiment does and tarnishes all the officers that serve in that institution.As Ronald Reagan so eloquently said to Gorbachev, “Tear down that wall”, I say to the current Government, “Honour your pledge and tear down the archaic institution of conscription now”.STEPHEN THOMSONWarwick