Talk:Armed Forces Covenant

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Prologue

I'm concerned this article strays into original research. The term 'Military Covenant' was only coined in April 2000 when the MoD published 'Soldiering - the Military Covenant' (although the first draft was apparently 1998). Various 17th century actions may have been influenced by the authorities of the day feeling a duty to provide for soldiers, but the idea of a covenant involving mutual obligation of the nation and the individual soldier would have been unknown to them - it is a recent invention. Sam Blacketer (talk) 18:53, 28 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree, the page was created and written by User:Tommy1716, who has now disappeared, but had a fanatical anti-Labour and pro-Military stance to his edits. It does seem a term propagated by the media though. Gareth E Kegg (talk) 19:18, 28 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As the pamphlet was an MoD official publication and was therefore signed off by Ministers, I think discussion on whether the present Government has kept to its side of the Military Covenant is legitimate - provided always that all views are represented and none is endorsed. It's more the fake historical setting which looks odd. Sam Blacketer (talk) 20:33, 28 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Legal status

I have added ‘It is an informal understanding, rather than a legally-enforceable deal, but it is nevertheless treated with great seriousness within the services’ according to the Guardian. It seems to have been drafted unilaterally without parliamentary process, then paraded as a blank cheque. – Kaihsu (talk) 17:19, 1 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I think that's helpful - I was trying to convey the same feeling but without directly saying so, but having a sourced comment is probably better. This sort of document would not normally need Parliamentary approval, though. Sam Blacketer (talk) 09:51, 2 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I doubt the Ministry of Defence can enter the ‘Nation’ (whatever that is in this context) into a ‘Covenant’ with Her Majesty’s Forces without approval from the United Kingdom Parliament. In any case, it is a fluffy document from a legal point of view, but a politically-important statement. – Kaihsu (talk) 15:46, 2 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Duplication at Military covenant

There is a (quite badly POV despite my efforts) article at Military covenant which I think can probably be deleted or merged into this one. Anyone agree? IxK85 (talk) 21:15, 10 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Y this has been done. Colonel Warden (talk) 12:10, 31 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified

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Legal status being acquired

The Armed Forces Bill 2021 (section 8), currently making its way through Parliament, will give the Covenant some legal status. Anyone fancy updating this article? Mmitchell10 (talk) 19:14, 12 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Hi @Mmitchell10 - does seem to me like the article could use a rather major update/redraft and I'd be up for giving it a try, though haven't made any big edits before! Anything in particular I should know before I start? Vbnnr (talk) 09:26, 13 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @Vbnnr, and welcome! Here's some links that someone sent me that I found helpful: The five pillars of Wikipedia; Tutorial; How to edit a page; How to develop articles; Simplified Manual of Style; WP:10SIMPLERULES. In terms of material for this article specifically, the official website can sometimes not appear in search results, so it's here: https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/ Any questions about editing in general or this topic in particular, then feel free to post them here or on my own talk page. Also, if you are thinking of making a big edit but feel unsure about it then again you can propose it on this talk page, or alternatively just be bold! Thank you for being willing to take this on. I hope you enjoy being a Wikipedian! Mmitchell10 (talk) 21:16, 17 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]