Nervousness and excitement, concern and curiosity, doubts and anticipation. Mixed emotions were in the air this week at national service recruitment centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah.
As The National reported yesterday, the first batch of recruits for national military service seemed anxious as they started to register at Al Nahyan Recruitment Centre before their training officially starts in September.
This is a new experience for many of these young men. They will be forced out of their comfort zones and into the unknown. Some of the recruits worried about having to put their education on hold, some were concerned about the expected tough exercise regime and whether their level of fitness would be adequate, and others were anxious about more mundane matters, such as whether they will be able to use their smartphones once they are conscripted. Mothers were also concerned about the health and well-being of their sons: will they be provided with the support they need, will they be sleeping well at night and will they be well-fed?
The introduction of national service is a leap into the unknown for recruits and their relatives, but it will be a jump worth taking.
