Ask US anything about life in the Forces

[leethefish]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<. This was above my platoon door in basic training .....I love this saying

[leethefish]

Will you make good teachers?

I don't think so .....

I taught my nephew as an apprentice for 6 years we get on great now but I was really hard on him and always shouting at him for simple little things!

[pokerfan]

What made y'all sign up ?

Tks guys.

[Tal]

How many pages do you think this will make?

I'll take the over.

Says a lot. People love the forces. People are fascinated by them. People don't know the half of it.

[Marky147]

Do you think national service should compulsory?

Is there much banter between the other forces if u work together (navy, RAF)

I spent 18 months at a tri-service base, played rugby with loads of RAF/Army lads and the banter was great. Even outside of Rugby I can't think of many people I didn't get on with, and I think the Signals lads were generally the only ones who got into shit more often than any others.

That was generally down to the fact they came to Chicksands straight from basic if I remember rightly, so it was their first chance to let of steam if you like, and there were definitely some exciteable characters amongst them.

Millidonk was at the same base too, so would be able to offer some insight from a RAF perspective and I imagine it wouldn't be much different. The RAF actually had a welcome party in the form of 'Kaz' I think it was back in 2002

hahaha fucking incred. Kazper the over friendly ghost. forgot about her nice. girl. .

haha when were u guys at Chicksands?

Lovely girl, definitely went above the call of duty for inter service relations

I was there Jan 2002 - May 2003 @ DSSS

[leethefish]

There are a couple of story's from Bosnia I would like to tell ......close shaves but I am not sure i should

[bobAlike]

There are a couple of story's from Bosnia I would like to tell ......close shaves but I am not sure i should

Just change the names, the location, the event and you should be alright

[pokerfan]

What made y'all sign up ?

I had dreams of being a soldier from a young age. As soon as I was old enough I went to the careers office, however as I had left school before sitting any exams I couldn't join as a Junior soldier was told to come back when I was 17 as an adult soldier.

I went to the Police in Edinburgh and asked to apply to join them, the young lady took me to a room, measured my height and told me I was too small and I was out the door within 5 minutes, I've had a disliking (and a few run ins) with the Police since.

I went onto the trawlers, deep sea fishing for a while, hardest thing I've ever done however saved quite a bit of cash then went back to the careers office at 17 and joined up

Geo

Was my boyhood dream too, misspent youth put paid to that though regrettably.

I actually went back to recruitment when I was 27 (Second Gulf War) Lasted about 15 seconds in there

Guy, "how old are you"

Me, 27.

Guy, you're not what we're looking for.

Massive respect to you guys.

[Marky147]

Cliffs of degen story-

Got lost in the system at HMS Nelson, was P7RD with suspected Narcolepsy for 18 months

Tests were inconclusive, but they still held me back for further investigation as they couldn't believe it was just tiredness.

Asking about going on course, told that I have to wait and after waiting for well over a year was sent to sweep leaves up and down the old SCU Leydene.

Basically lost it after a few weeksn doing that, went home for my 21st birthday beginning November 2001 and thought I'll take an extra couple days off to see if anyone even notices.

They didn't, so took the week and then ended up staying home for 3 months...

Got a phone call  at home one morning in February from the Master-At-Arms in HMS Collingwood, dad brings the phone into the bathroom. Her first words were 'PCT Herron, what are you doing?'

Without thinking  I replied 'Having a shave at the moment maam'

Obviously there was a warrant out for my arrest, but I said there was no need to waste police time like that. I would drive back to base and report to the reg office immediately. It was kind of a relief to be honest, but I'm still bewildered to this day how it all played out, and my mind was racing as I drove back to Collingwood to be interviewed.

[George2Loose]

Do the things you do and see leave a mental scar?

Do you think that most people turn to the armed forces when there's nothing else to do/last resort?

Most accurate war film that depicts army life? (I'm thinking Private Benjamin)

[Woodsey]

Do the things you do and see leave a mental scar?

I have a cousin who has fairly serious mental illness, you never can say 100%, but its probably because he served in the forces.

Lee can speak for himself, but I remember him telling me on the ales 1 night about how twitchy they are when they come home from service about random loud noises/shouting and stuff and wanting to duck for cover as a result of being used to that.

[Claw75]

As Geo knows, my ex-hubby used to be in the army before we met and served in the gulf war and bosnia. Some of the stories he told me were just horrifying, and the mental images alone when I think about them are so haunting and enough sometimes to bring tears to my eyes. I remember after he told me a particularly harrowing story involving a young child that i'd have preferred to remain in blissful ignorance, but that also feels wrong to say. I don't know how widespread ptsd/mental health issues are among the forces, but I know I couldn't deal with the atrocities of war - massive respect to those that can and do.

[Geo the Sarge]

Do the things you do and see leave a mental scar?

Do you think that most people turn to the armed forces when there's nothing else to do/last resort?

Most accurate war film that depicts army life? (I'm thinking Private Benjamin)

I believe most soldiers that have seen active service and especially the aftermath do hold some mental baggage. The levels differ.

Woodsey mentioned earlier about soldiers back home jumping at the sound of sudden loud noises and this is very true, heard many stories regards this and suffered similar one day when visiting Edinburgh Castle and forgetting as we approached at 1pm that the 1 o'clock gun was due to go off. When it did I absolutely shat myself. Wife and sons pissed themselves at the state I got myself into.

Lee mentioned earlier about the many varying types of people who join the Army but yeah the majority are from the lower echelons of society, not always a last resort though.

The whole ptsd and the likes is a very touchy subject. I know many who have suffered huge mental illness brought on by experiences whilst serving, I also know too many that play the ptsd card merely for extra benefits and an unwillingness to work.

I also know many civilians who have never done service who suffer mental illness.

Anyone who read my troops thread may remember that one of the reasons for starting it was that I was going through a bit of a tough time, a good friend killed and a spate of suicides of former colleagues at that time.

I'm not a film watcher really so haven't seen many, Private Ryan probably closest in showing the horrors, opening scenes were tremendously realistic imho. A book I read many years ago by Leon Uris - Battle Cry had amazing similarities to my own experiences during the bootcamp/training portion. A great read if you like war tales and based on his own experiences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Cry_(Leon_Uris_novel)

Geo

[MANTIS01]

Does it sometimes feel like this sort of life puts constraints on your freedom? Most people can do what they want in their free time, like jet away to Spain for the weekend on a whim. Seems like prison in regard to lack of liberty. Then again suppose oil-rig worker and lighthouse keeper are just as fcked.

[Redsgirl]

What are your opinions on allowing women in frontline combat ?

In your experiences what, if any, roles do you think are suitable for women in the military ? (Keep it clean boys!)

Please don't be all P.C. about this, anyone who is putting their life on the line has a valid opinion about who there working / fighting alongside.


Finally, would you recommend a military career to your daughter / sister / granddaughter?

P.S. Just to clarify I'm not trying to provoke a feminist debate here, I just genuinely interested in what you guys think.