Is Soldiering an Unappealing Job?

![A member of the Brigade Reconnaisance Force manning a .50cal gun, gives a thumbs up to the camera during training in Jordan. – Defence Images OGL][1]

According to a new YouGov report yes, it is. Soldiering was ranked low in the poll which asked 17000 men and women the following; “Generally speaking, please say whether you would or would not like to do each of the following for a living.”

At 13% soldier was ranked on the same level as Taxi Driver and Cleaner, themselves being only slightly higher than the 10% for Traffic Wardens. Becoming an author took top spot with 60% of people and Formula One Driver was ranked mid-range with 29%.

But, there is more to this poll than is immediately obvious. The fact that 87% of the population wouldn’t want to be a soldier is hardly surprising, military service has always been a more specialist desire amongst the population and not just of this country. This was a poll asking whether you would personally want to work there, not how much you respect the Armed Services.

As reported on the British Forces Broadcasting Service, military service is “not a profession it’s a vocation. You have to live it, breathe it and be able to lay your life on the line for your country, your family and your friends fighting beside you.”

13% sounds quite high then!