Piers McKenzie Baker: Let’s introduce a Debt-for-Service initiative for graduates entering the military

Piers McKenzie Baker is a Conservative Party activist, local election candidate, and reservist in the Armed Forces. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

In Kemi Badenoch’s recent call for conservatives to engage in the party’s policy renewal programme, she said the greatness of Britain was forged by the sacrifices of our ancestors.  Nowhere is this more evident than in our country’s Armed Forces. The poppies we wear on Remembrance Day remind us that if it were not for our grandfathers’ sacrifices, our country – once the only lit beacon of freedom – would not only cease to be great but would have extinguished into the dark night of tyranny long ago.

We have a lot to thank our military for. Rich with tradition stretching back to Cromwell and beyond, our Armed Forces are still very much the envy of the world. Few can compete with its high-standards in discipline, training, and our nimble use of technology at the cutting-edge. From the Falklands to Afghanistan, history shows that our Army, Navy, and Air Force achieve the highest results under extreme pressure.

However, we cannot ignore the fact their resources are stretched to the limit. We owe it to them to recognise that these problems are not only monetary but that we simply do not have enough boots on the ground. There are chronic recruitment shortfalls and, at a time of heightened threats abroad, this is too dangerous to ignore.

At the same time, today’s young adults seem more reluctant than previous generations to hear the call and sign-up to defend their country. British Army recruitment requirements have not been met since 2010, and there are fears that numbers in the Army’s regular forces could soon drop below 70,000.

While the Labour Government’s recent pronouncements on increasing the defence budget are welcome, we still need to get people through the door and keep them there if we are to have a fighting force capable of defending this island and projecting our power.

There has been a lot of debate about how to increase recruitment. Repeating cycles of streamlining the process and snazzy representative ad campaigns have been tried ad nauseam. When the world is on the precipice and recruit numbers dwindle, we need to dispense with the old tired ways because the situation demands innovative and bold thinking.

In this light, it seems obvious that the biggest carrot needed for recruitment is financial. Although every serviceman and woman, from squaddie to top brass, would welcome a pay rise, there are other tools at the Government’s disposal which could encourage more recruits. For this we need to look across to America: the US Army runs a highly-successful College Loan Repayment Program (LRP), providing a special incentive for qualified entrants where the Army will repay part of a soldier’s student loans.

A future Conservative Government would do well to follow America’s example. Introducing a similar “Debt-for-Service” programme merits urgent attention. Under such a policy, graduates burdened by substantial student debt would be able to opt to exchange five years of dedicated military service for full debt forgiveness. At face value it seems a bold move, but dig deeper and it emerges as a mutually beneficial and strategically sensible investment in Britain’s future.

The numbers behind this proposal tell their own story. Current student loan debt tops well over a staggering £200 bn, shackling over four million borrowers with prolonged financial anxiety and limiting their economic activity. Graduates, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, face the daunting prospect of lifelong debt. While our nation faces the gravest recruitment crises in recent memory, this Debt-for-Service initiative would address both crises head-on.

Eligible graduates – UK citizens or settled residents with outstanding student loans – would be able to volunteer service for a minimum of five years. Upon completion, the entirety of their outstanding student loan debt could be wiped clean. A well-deserved reward for such a sacrifice. Partial forgiveness could also be offered to those unable to complete their commitment due to legitimate reasons, such as a medical discharge to ensure fairness and flexibility in the system.

Economically, the proposal offers obvious dividends. Removing student debt burdens from thousands of graduates each year would significantly increase their disposable income, allowing them to spend more of their own money into the economy.

But this Debt-for-Service programme would represent more than just economic relief: it invests in the nation’s youth by imbibing them with skills they will value for the rest of their lives. Graduates who participate would benefit from military training that imparts leadership, teamwork, and technical competencies highly prized in ordinary civilian life. They would also be able to enjoy standard military benefits such as healthcare, generous leave, subsidised housing and meals, and life-changing opportunities for professional development and travel.

Critics may point to the potential cost of such a scheme as prohibitive. Yet what price would ever be too much for the nation’s defence? With a phased and capped implementation, preceded by appropriate trialing, any strain on existing military infrastructure would be mitigated and allow for controlled and steady growth in recruitment.

The path forward is clear. A Conservative Government, upon coming into office, should first commission a feasibility study, engaging closely with the Student Loans Company, the Ministry of Defence, universities, military veterans, and student unions. This approach would ensure the policy is robust and balanced. Draft legislation would then quickly follow. No doubt when its merits become clear through parliamentary debate, cross-party support would not be hard to achieve because this initiative is not a partisan gambit, but a clear and unifying national investment in the strength and security of our country.

Our nation’s youth deserve practical solutions rather than rhetoric. Our Armed Forces deserve the necessary reinforcements to face these uncertain times. By embracing this Debt-for-Service proposal, Britain can boldly address the two urgent crises of student debt and military recruitment with one innovative and courageous solution.

Now is the moment to act. Britain’s future depends upon it and Conservatives need to lead the charge.