My Dad was in the RAF all his life and I knew a lot of his mates.
We also lived on bases which mixed Army & RAF.
Other than perhaps members of the RAF Regiment the RAF blokes are a different type to the Army chaps (sweeping generalisation I know) - I'd be surprised if the same level of toughening up/bullying goes on in the RAF - be interesting to get Geo's view.
When I was 14 I went on an Army introductory course on Salisbury plain for 3 days. It was great fun but even at 14 it was plain that a good percentage of the corporals in charge were pretty sadistic. The other half were great and incredibly respect worthy and easy to see why people would follow them when called to
My Dad served with the Royal Fusiliers, went in on National service, and ended up staying in for a god few years. I dont know if basic training has changed much, but he used to tell me that the first mission for the instructors was to break each person down to rock bottom and then build them back up again in the "army" way ... my old man was (and still is) as fit as a butchers dog, and even he struggled to get through it !
He saw active service in North Africa among other places, but generally was a peace time Soldier ... despite him loving his time serving his country, he didnt encourage either myself or my brother to join up, in fact I would say he did his best to make sure we didnt.
My Brother Joined the ATC and was a gnats cock away from joining the RAF ... Beer & Girls saved him LOL. He still flies regularly though and is a qualified Glider pilot and has a light aircraft pilots license.
My Dad served with the Royal Fusiliers, went in on National service, and ended up staying in for a god few years. I dont know if basic training has changed much, but he used to tell me that the first mission for the instructors was to break each person down to rock bottom and then build them back up again in the "army" way.
I can understand this and completely agree. As Geo mentioned in an earlier post, when in battle you want to know that the guys in your troop are the best because your life depends on it.
My brother wasnt a rookie, he joined up as soon as he was old enough and had been in the army for several years and loved it.
It must have been really bad for him to have done a runner. He wouldnt tell us who the officer was although im sure the army must have had a good idea.
Anyway I have had my say and mean no disrespect to Geo and all the guys serving to protect our country. It all happened 20 years ago but sadly it is still going on today.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7535831.stmRIP David
PS I know my brother would have taken a beasting fair and square so maybe that was the wrong link to post as it suggests my bro deserved punishment.
Hello everyone...hope you all find yourselves in good health...
I'm in the Middle East and just got the opportunity to look at the internet. I figured I hadn't been on the forum for a while so decided to take a look. I forgot how interesting some of the posts onhere could be.
Cracking idea for a post George - and better still, its really well written. Heartfelt and straight from the soul. It also gives people an insight into our world - after all we are a strange bunch and many of the things we do are not understood by Joe Public.
Informative, honest and balanced. I'd not expect anything less from you George. A true gent. Keep up the good work.
Yes Kev, National Service training was even tougher from the stories I've heard from the old and bold. Like your father, I never encouraged any my boys, Tricia was absolutely against it.
My eldest Greg decided for himself that he wanted to do it. He got through all his tests, interviews and the 2 day selection at Recruit Selection centre without the wife or I knowing.............andf I was workng in the Recruiting Office at the time!!!
Tricia still hates the fact he is serving, it's not that she doesn't respect the military, only that she's been through it all with me.
Nirvana,
Like evrywhere else there is bullying in all Arms of Service. I worked in a Tri-Service recruiting office and have heard many stories of bullying in RAF and Navy, but no, it doesn't happen as often as within the Army. I think there is 2 main reasns for this
1. As you say there isn't as much need for the "touhening up" (no disrespect meant there either) although the RAF Regiment and The Marines are very infantry orientated and I would suspect it happens a bit more there, especially the Marines.
2. The RAF especially, can almost pick and choose the best as their recruits, an wastage pre-training is pretty high. Most high calibre youngsters tend to chooe the RAF. The Army now struggles to recruit and unfortunately there are more youngsters reaching recruit training that would never have got there 5 or 10 years ago. Army Recruiting, unfortunately, like a lot of things these days, have quotas and that usually means dropping standards to meet these requirements.
Don't get me wrong, there are still a few great youngsters who choose to join the Army but not as many as before. Another thing that has hit recruiting is doing away with the Regimental system. Each area had there own "Local" Regiment and within that regiment you could find 3 generations of a family serving together. it encouraged the sons of serving oldiers to follow fathers footstps, unfortunately that has been take away.
Suz,
I've certainly not taken offence, you post away and keep the PM's coming. What Regiment was your brother in? Can't quite make out the cap badge but it looks like Royal Scots or KOSB.
Lee!!,
How are you sir?
Glad you like what you've read so far and obviously would love any feedback you can offer. Hope You and your family are wll.
You're right, we are a strange bunch, but not as strange aspoker players eh.
Thanks to everyons for the replies and PM's . Have had a busy weekend but am now on hols for 2 weeks, mostly doing Edinburg festival things.
Now here's a weird coincidence, in one of my posts on bullying I mentioned how I felt I could not comment on the Deepcut suicides. Well, I found out that at the Festival this year there is a show all about this.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/aug/02/theatre?gusrc=rss&feed=cultureI will defo go and see this and let you know how I find it.
Geo.
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