It's just so sad. Shocks me that soldiers so young are out on the frontline
RIP
A great point George.
The Army is no longer the lifetime career for most those days, whilst it may be their initial intentions to have a long career in the Army, after a few years of almost always being on operations or training to go on operations they just become totally
burnt out and disillusioned. Couple this with having to spend so much time away from family and friends.
This has led to the average age of our forces dropping and it really is sad to see.
Lee mentioned in another thread that the opportunity for young soldiers to do vocational courses are fewer than ever before.
Jake Hartley
was a full Corporal and he wasn't even 21. That lad must have been some soldier to have gained that rank within 3 years as an infantryman. Moreover, he must have sacrificed a hell of a lot of his time dedicating himself to do the education and additional training and courses required to achieve this beyond his normal duties.
Unitl 10 years ago you would average 2.5 - 3 years between operational tours
now it's probably 18 months. Our politicians seem to have more commitment to others than they have to our own troops and it's an utter disgrace. Troop cuts over the years have been huge, whilst all the while adding to the tasks they want them to do.
They too are suffering from the change to public sector pension rules and other cutbacks like losing London allowance for those ordered to be stationed there.
To say that by being in Afghanistan assists the safety of those at home is nonsense.
RIP brave guys
Geo
It's kinda hard to reply to this thread, but as always Geo manages to put things into words a lot better than I do. At the same time he raises alot of very good points.
Alot of guys do get burnt out. Its kinda weird cus in a way its like our cup final. You train and train and train for things like this - and to actually get to do it is like a footballer going to Wembley. In a perverse way you actually want to be there. But the tours take a huge mental toll - its the going back again that burns you out. But at least if you're going back you were lucky enough the last time.
The tour gap has shortened. Not only that, but sometimes some of us can expect to 'surge' to back up other squadrons. These surges can be as long as four months. It really is a kind of dodgy manpower accountancy on the MOD's part.
But what doesn't help is what we call 'The Shit in Between'. Rather than chilling between tours, we have to catch up with career courses and undertake whatever bullsh*t our regiment has been signed upto (clearing snow, building bridges, olympic security, constant open days etc). We then have to train for the next tour (takes about a year). Cuts leave us short of key experienced personnel to admin the troops. Its not unusual to find yourself doing what was expected of 6 people a few years ago. IMO its this stuff that really adds to the burn out. Like Geo says, the allowance cuts really aren't appreciated. We're copping the flak and making alot of sacrifices because of those bumbling f*ckwit civil servants in the MOD (who still haven't been culled).
The infantry soldiers really are promoting quickly now. But they reckon a 6 month tour is now worth ten years experience. On my last tour The Rifles had a 25 year old Sergeant Major. Yup, you read it right! Alot of old heads on young shoulders.
My kids live next to 3 Yorks and go to the school across the road; I drove past all the flowers yesterday. My ex wife has just done all the tailoring work for the upcoming parades/ceremonies etc. She says the mood of the whole town is really sombre and its really brought it home to everyone exactly what the lads are facing upto.
I think the main shock factor, aside from the number of casualties, is the fact that the Taliban has managed to defeat the (enhanced) armour of a Warrior.
Its the families that I really really feel sorry for. We know the risks we undertake and also know that if an incident is to kill us, we're not going to know much about it.
The incident will strengthen 3 Yorks; hopefully going out with their senses heightened will keep more from becoming casualties.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.RIP
Top post Lee thanks.
There is another part of this and that is the ongoing suffering for the families.
Having been on the unfortunate end of losing a brother in service, I don't think I could justify in words how much these families are going through and how long that suffering will stay with them.
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