To think the army shouldn't be allowed to 'avertise' in schools?

true and i'm sure it happens in all isolated groups - forces, boarding schools, prisons, university fraternities etc all of which i hope my children will avoid. esp prisons

"how can you be trained to do what you are told regardless of your own opinion, kill people, have collegues killed, maimed and injured around you and then forget it all and go back to "normal life". " Umm. millions did in WWI and WWII and although some did have psychological problems, most managed to re-integrate back into society - and the majority of these service people were conscripts and hadn't chosen the forces as a career option.

Smallone - I do see where you are going with the stressful work situations theme, but I do think this applies equally to some other professions (police, paramedics, fire services, A&E staff etc) who also cope pretty well with a lot of these stresses (and yes I know that they don't tend to shoot people but I hope you see my drift). A lot of stress is dealt with through peer support IME.

but that's any group, not just armed forces

exactly my point - the dangers of such an enclosed group

bit baffled by that too slayerette but best not ask ...

for sandringham read sandhurst I think emotions were getting in the way there.

But smallone, everyone there could be doing it for the same reason. It only needs one to startit up.

Haven't read the whole thread but does anyone explain what on earth Sandringham, mentioned right at the beginning by tdwp I think, has to do with the discussion? Isn't it a royal estate out in Norfolk? Or is that just a cover story for a sinister recruiting organisation?

can't speak for exDp as he's never killed anyone, however he has had to deal with colleagues being bioth killed and maimed and has never forgotten it. it is possible to move on a deal with life fairly normally though, as anyone who has dealt with violent death will tell you. I'm sure there are some cases where people have PTS after very bloody battles but these days this kind of warfare is rare and most commonly the people doing the killing are somewhere a long way away behind a computerised gadget. May sound cold but thats much easier to deal with.

BIL is shy and quiet - if he's doing that its coz the rest of his flight are doing it - and if he's going along with it then how many others are going along with it coz of peer pressure?

Kewcumber Im sure you're right there, I don't want my children having to be exposed to any of that stuff, "normal, everyday life" is hard enough and I'm glad for those that will do it for us.

But those that have disagreed with the forces making you different to the rest of society ask yourselves how that is possible - how can you be trained to do what you are told regardless of your own opinion, kill people, have collegues killed, maimed and injured around you and then forget it all and go back to "normal life". and if there are any that have managed it - then well done to whoever gave them the bucketload of counselling that must have been necessary.

My Dhs navigator during the first Gulf war was gay. No-one cared. (well the blokes wife did but that was a different issue)

Dh's comment.'All I want is someone who can shoot straight' You BIL sounds homophobic, that isn't the RAF, that is your BIL.

I have teacher friends who are homophobes, it isn't because they are teachers

smallone - I don't think thats a requirement of the RAf though

That's more your BIL then, he doesn't have to do it

Incidently my BIL is in RAF - the most lovely calm, caring fella you'd ever meet but he still takes part in "if anyone looks at your bollocks (which you wander round with them hanging out) you can punch them for being gay" - seriously

I?m slightly that I agreed with OP earlier... DWP you have shot yourself in the foot here. You don't have a coherent argument, it's just all vague anti-war blustering, and it?s pretty insulting too. You were the first person on this thread to mention illegal wars, and then started pretending that other people had made the thread all about Iraq ...

Back on topic, I really don't think that the forces should get more of an "in" to schools than any other career options, and diplodocus' post of 15:24:49 is a very good one.

UNICEF have spoken out against recruiting from under 18s and it's pretty much against international law - that's enough to make me sit up and take notice - perhaps the fact that the UK is out on its own in the developed world in targetting children should start alarm bells ringing? Tbh I think the UK tradition of continuing to recruit in schools is a hangover from imperialism.

"funny stories" are just a way of coping with at itmes horrendous situations, no worse than the "funny" stories medics tell.

My ex (army) now works for the Red Cross lecturing about Geneva Convention to armies and terrorist (in the conventionial sense of the word not the DevilwearsPrimark sense of the word) groups. Mostly to the armies and terrorists who do very nasty things indeed. I think he has a valid and useful and integrated palce in society (in fact a damn sight more than most of us) and is very funny and a nice person to boot.

Get me off this bloody thread!

ANYONE not enyone

Excellent news about your DH he must "be a man my son", and my comment was not meant to be a generalisation just my opinion based on my own experiences (maybe its just the people I know ). I would surely expect him to do his job despite what enyone thinks of him - that is his job. and like I said I am grateful to those that do coz it means there is no longer national service where people don't have a choice.

Seems to be agreeingalot this afternoon with MB. mymates dh is the most calm, loving person Iknow (well,apart from my dh!), amd so are many of my mates who are in the three forces!

As a serving member of the armed forces could I say that as far as I can tell my mental health is just fine thank you!!

jofeb04 - have many friends from all 3 forces at all different levels and they all have their "funny stories" that would make you wonder at their mental health.

smallone. I must disagree with your comments about people who have been in the firces. I have many friends who have left the forces and integrated into civilian life.

Mt dh is in the forces, be very much has a mind of his own. he is exceptionally intellegent, highly qualified and all of this is required for his job as an RAF pilot. And I have never seen him act like an animal. He is a kind, gentle, honorable man, who would defend you and yours, even though you have insulted him.

smallone,
Don't really agree with the last one imp, but at least you have reasons as to why!

LLP, for what it is worth, i have sat with my best mate for many many hours whilst her dh is away. And like you, my mate is so proud, and so are her children.