Would you fancy your son joining the Marines?

[MistleToo]

A bit worrying isn't it?

There are all these brave men putting their lives on the line - they come back from Iraq and do that to each other? wtf?

[BadHair]

Would heartily discourage them from joining army full stop.

[doormat]

dd1 was in army until recently,none of this went on whilst she was on basic training, she thoroughly enjoyed it, tbh I thought she was not cut out for it as she could never get out of bed but she loved it.
son in law is serving at moment and doesnt describe life like this at all.

[FairyMum]

Over my dead body!

[Blandmum]

Not the same branch, but my Dh is in the RAF. As I type he is looking very smart in his flying suit, clearing the windows of our cars before we go to work!

He is one of the finest human beings I have ever met. He is honest, hardworking, honourable, loving, kind and I kid you not amazingly gentle. And so are his mates. Please don't tar everyone with the same brush.

Rather like someone posting that 'everone on benefits is a scrounger' generalisations are seldom, if ever, right.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[Twiglett]

no

the thought of my DS being trained to hurt other people and risk getting maimed or killed fills me with horror

[darlink]

I don't even want mine to play rugby!

[Enid]

not really but I think dh always harboured a desire to be in the army (until seeing last nights news ) and he sounds very much the same as martian's dh

[Nightynight]

Im with BadHair.

[Nightynight]

mb
my objection to the services is that they have to go and do stuff which may or may not be right, because the government tells them to.

I have known and liked many service people, but I wouldnt want my children in for that reason. I want them to decide for themselves whether each action is right or not, as I do myself.

[Lizzylou]

NO...not at all.
Not because people in the forces are violent thugs...because the vast majority are not, but because I am completely overprotective and just wouldn't want my son's career to be so potentially dangerous and life threatening. I know my DH would secretly love it though...

I want my son to do something fluffy, cosy and preferably based at home with his Mommy!

[TinyGang]

No. I truly hope he never shows the slightest interest.

[munz]

most definatly not - my DH is army, and my children will not be joinin and my DD's will most def not have DH's in the army.

DH tells me it's not as bad as all of this - althou admittedly he doesn't tell me half as I don't want to know. he did say thou about this case - when the person who reported it is found there will be a bit of who har as apparently u don't go to the press with stuff??

MB - do u mind if I CAT u/start a thread off?? DH is wanting to join the RAF so could do with info from your point of view on the life etc...

[piffle]

My Ds said he will be PM and then they'll be no war

[TinyGang]

I'll be voting for him then piffle. Sounds a lovely lad

[JayzMummysATurkeyStuffer]

In answer to the thread title......YES

[tex111]

I wouldn't like it but obviously it'll be his choice. Somehow I would feel more comfortable with him joining the RAF than the Marines and would prefer he joined the British military rather than the US (he has dual citizenship). But definitely would prefer he was a hair stylist or make-up artist and save me a fortune in years to come.

[MistleToo]

mb - please don't think I'm having a go at our armed forces - I support them to the hilt! (Blimey dh and ds2 are police officers so nuff said )

I just find this kind of behaviour very shocking and just wonder what drives them to behave thus to each other? Is it the horrors of war or is it a few individual bullies that have some sort of hold over the others - is it an extreme form of bullying or are they all willing participants?

The Deepcut fiasco together with this latest news just makes me think of the impact on recruitment and on the relatives of serving servicemen.

[expatinscotland]

NO. But at the end of the day, I couldn't stop him if he really wanted to go.

[JayzMummysATurkeyStuffer]

They were having a laugh!
They have to "steam off" after spending so long in such volatile situations.
This has been totally blown up by the media...as usual!

[acnebride]

have to admit i would be proud as punch if ds was in the marines

obviously wd be just as proud if he were an insurance salesman/yurt dweller/peace activist but there is something in me that does respond to the responsibility the army takes, despite extreme worry about what it does to society having a standing army straining at the leash

i read too many tom clancys

have recently typed something involved with an intra-military assault and it is pretty horrifying. has never been public.

[pfer]

I will do ANYTHING to discourage my boys from joining the armed forces. I don't want them to be gun fodder for someone elses war. Just because some git of a politician wants to make a name for themself by starting a war thousands of miles away that really doesn't concern us, loads of young men have died needlesly and will continue to do so sadly. If DS1 and 2 say they're joining up I'll lock them in the cellar till they'er tooold to be taken!

[Gizmo]

I have a husband who's ex-forces (Navy) and sounds like your DH, MB. So I'm predisposed to like the idea. Having said that, I do think it only suits some personalities and for others, it can be a total nightmare, or turn them into raving bullies, so my response would probably depend on what sort of person I thought DS was.

Don't forget, pfer, that as well as being sent to die for your country by gits of politicians, people in the armed forces are also in the front line of civilian crises like getting aid to Tsunami victims, or peacekeeping duties in volatile parts of the world. Meaning there is a lot of work they, and their families, can be proud of.

But really, you know, by the time DS is old enough to contemplate it, it will be none of my business, frankly. I'd probably be proud and frightened in equal measure, and I'd certainly ask him what he'd do if he was asked to fight in a war he didn't agree with, but in the end I'd have to put up and shut up, I think.

[Caligyulea]

No way. I have friends and family members who are ex-forces (marines and army) and the only thing that surprises me about this news story, is that anyone is surprised by it.

[NutcrackingXmas]

I would be happy if it was what they wanted to do yes.