Military Q&A

[GingerWrath]

I am completely fucked off with the anti Military stance on this site, So AIBU to be wanting to set the record straight? Ask me a question and Military people and myself will try and answer (within the Official Secrets Act)

What colour is the boathouse?

I cant comment on officers in the Army/RAF but a lot of officers in DH unit didnt go to private school.

Some are late entry too so dont even have a degree etc

DS's Godfather was here today, he has finally left the army after starting as a Trooper and ending up as the military spokesperson in Iraq at the time of the handover and temporarily being made a Lt Col. So no definitely not all officers are public school educated, and yes I would like either of my children to join and no they won't be public school educated.

Oh yes Meditrine - I remember THAT thread and I replied on it!! It was outrageous!

I grew up in the Forces, my Dad left when I was 13, I joined up at 19, was Air Traffic Control. I fail to see the warmongering in my job.

Ok I accept that the army do all sorts of good and useful things, and I don't think that they are thick by any means. However I would not be happy for my son to go into the army, and I would hope that I am able to bring him up so he finds the idea of killing someone abhorrent. I know that's not all they do, but I think it is quite wrong of you to pass over the fact and trivialise it. I also think that a lot of men in the army probably went in because they lived in areas of high unemployment and did not have much option. What are your views on this?

The recent 'arny cadet' thread was a bit anti military too

*army

My understanding of the reasons for recruitment, from colleagues working in that area, is that they want to be and do something, they are not running away from something such as unemployment. That is not a motivation for joining.

BlowHole there is more to the Military than the Army!

i'm not anti military - just anti-afghanistan

I always wanted to join the military so thats why I did it, I couldnt comment on anyone else. As for the killing part, we have a strict rules of engagement unlike any other country, we can only fire back if people fire at us, therefore its self defence

My husband joined the Marine's at 18 because his family are very military orientated, he wanted to be the best of the best and still does as his career progresses.

He is proud of the work he has done so far, including, building schools, protecting teachers, saving children and families - it's not all just 'killing people' although I totally get that it shouldnt be trivialised.

Who are you asking someonesnotinbed?

someonesnotinbed, you are putting the whole military in the same box as a few wankers, we are not all like that

Why have you started this Ginger?
I don't need you to answer any questions I have about the military... I'm army down to my bones and there's nothing you could do to enlighten me with regards to the armed forces.

I have witnessed anti-military, anti-soldier attitudes on MN and it really pisses me off but it's on the whole very rare! Predominantly I have witnessed anti-war attitudes and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

You are just trying to pick a fight.

Captain - Perhaps the Op is just wanting to educate those that do think all the Military is about is murdering people. I don't think she has intended to start a fight but I do fear that it may end up that way.

I'm inclined to agree with CaptinMartinCrieff actually.

Although admittedly I havent seen any of the anti military comments myself, I fail to see what you thought you'd achieve with this thread?

It's obviously a very complicated situation, do you think the war in Afghanistan is winnable? Do you think it is any of our business? Do you think that "collateral damage" is a price worth paying? Would you admit it if you thought the military involvement was wrong?

I disagree Blowhole.

Whilst the idea of killing someone may be aborhent (it is to me too). I was still prepared to put my life on the line to help those fighting. I was also prepared to kill rather than be killed (fortunately I was never in the postiion to put myself to the test).

Without those men and women within our armed forces our country would be defenceless. Not such a pretty picture especially if the clock is rewound just a few years. There is no way to predict what shape the world will take in even the next few years. Therefore it is essential that we retain an effective fighting force, be that army navy or air force.

The armed forces serve a purpose dictated by the government of the time. They do nothing without a mandate (the few occasions idiots step outside this mandate they are rightly hauled over the coals).

I would be proud for all my daughters to serve as I did myself.

Captain I have witnessed all Military being tarred with the same brush, I am just giving civilians the chance to ask questions, surely not a bad thing?