To not understand the point of 'Armed Forces Day'?

[Runny]

I see Jeremy Corbyn is getting attacked by the right wing press yet again for going to Glastonbury (and getting a bigger crowd than Radiohead did last night) instead of attending Armed Forces Day in Liverpool.

Now pardon my ignorance but what is the actual point of 'Armed forces Day'? It sounds like the sort of thing that The Sun newspaper would campaign for, actually I wouldn't be surprised if they did. It's all a bit pointless, and we already have Rememberance Sunday to honour those killed in combat.

I don't know where this over sentimentally for the armed forces has come from over the last 15 years or so? Not saying they don't do a good job, but why are they coming in for special treatment? Why not an emergency services day, or an NHS workers day or a teachers day?

I'm prepared to get flamed for this btw, but I genuinely don't see why we even have it?

As someone who did 16 years service ill tell you now that actually many of our Forces don't really want an Armed Forces Day, I think we would rather id dedicated to our families who put up with so much.

In 16 years I probably spent 4 -5 years out of the country and many more away from home in this country doing things such as :-

-Air Operations Former Yugoslavia - anyone remember that one ?
-Foot and Mouth Crisis - Killing hundreds of animals to stop the spread all over the country
-Fire Service Strikes - Green Goddess crew numerous occasions

• Iraq - 4 times

-Afghanistan 3 times

• Counter Drug Smuggling operations
• Search and Rescue

-Many other operations / exercises

That's a snapshot of a 16 year period which isn't even a full Career,

There have been many, many other operations which I was never involved in such as the Royal Navy's excellent work in the Mediterranean during the ongoing migrant crisis etc

All while doing this we leave families behind who have to carry on regardless, kids who worry and have nightmares about what's happening to mum / dad.

The money is not great - I was on about 31K when I left with not much to show from it.

So if you don't support the armed forces please spare a thought for the families as they give up just as much if not more than the Men and Women who have sworn to protect the country.

I was never political when I served - in fact I never voted once. I will say this now though - I do not trust the leader of the opposition. He is unpatriotic and has a dangerous ideology that some people seem to be blindly walking towards.

Uncontrolled. You need to get your reading glasses on. I haven't once told you to fuck off or called you poppet. You are mistaken.

Irrespective of the thread subject, you're clearly trying to wind people up. Ergo: goady.

Uncontrolled - you know perfectly well that "getting your hands dirty" means being prepared to kill the enemy if necessary. That is combat. If you are under fire from the Taliban, what would you suggest?

My DH is no monster. He came from a military family background, so for him it was more a case of opting out, rather than opting in - in the same way as there might be an expectation for you to take over a family business or something like that. It was a part of his life which was in a particular context, before we had DC. I have the utmost respect for the families of those serving overseas as this is something I know I would find extremely difficult.

Don't confuse government policy with the individuals on the ground. Would you blame nurses for failures in the Health Service? They are doing their best in extreme circumstances.

Fortnum, what do you mean by unpatriotic?

He refuses to Acknowledge the Queen and winks as if its a big joke.
He supported the IRA cause during the troubles.
He Actively campaigns for terror organizations such as Hamas
He has said he would not use our Nuclear deterrent - but would still renew it !? refusing to use it or say you will you use it renders the whole thing useless.
He is a Marxist - and has hijacked the Labour party.

goady?

this, from someone who, over several posts has been calling others poppet, dear, and telling them to fuck off

ok, sounds legit

No, no...

'Poppet' and 'fuck off' were both in one post; mine, in reply to yours.

I haven't said 'dear' at all

I'm genuinely interested... do you think we should have a military at all? If yes, do you think that military should be able to choose what wars they go into/which orders to follow? If no, do you think that leaves us vulnerable?

One other thing - I met Tony Blair in Iraq One Christmas Eve and David Cameron in Afghanistan, It wouldn't surprise me seeing JC in a theatre of war - but he would probably visiting the other side ...

Fortnum,

When he came pre-Christmas Tony Blair left Iraq on 23rd...and we wouldn't have been there without him.

You want to dis Corbyn go ahead, but don't hold up Bliar as better than him. He isn't.

Cameron's Government cut more military funding than the previous Government. Again, don't make out he's better.

And sadly, as someone who admits they didn't vote, you are hardly on higher ground yourself.

Ahhh, you see Fortnum, I don't believe most of what you wrote and don't find the things I do believe to be a problem.

DS is in the army & this thread is the first I heard about AFD.
Guess DS is non-plussed about it.
I don't care what Corbyn did or didn't do.
MN has Lots of posters who say they could handle their kids doing "any job but military." :(

Agree op. It's not a job I would want or could do myself but those doing it chose to and get paid for doing so.

The chose to do it argument grips my shit. Its like saying you chose to become a parent but before you do that you can't possibly know what its like till you experience it. Yes they chose to join but as a single young thing its probably very exciting. Then they meet someone and have a family and then the pressure is on all of them. What other job can be told what to do 24/7? Told to go help with natural disasters or help mop up mess no one else will. The military are a 'job' seperate from any other I believe and yes its a choice but if you get fed up you can't just give 4 weeks notice. They are owned by queen and country and can be controlled all the time. For some its a calling but doesn't make it easier. I'm not saying they are better than any one else but they are unique in what they do and how they work and one fucking day a year where their hard work and dedication is recognised isn't too much to ask!

I think armed forces day is a load of shite, its like, well we won't sort out your pay or support you properly if you're injured or stop serving...but look you get a day, yay!!

"He refuses to Acknowledge the Queen"

He followed the correct protocol btw.

Tabulahassa. He certainly didn't follow the correct protocol when he became a member of the privy council.

I agree with Fortnum (and may I take this opportunity to thank you for everything that you and your family have done for this country) Corbyn is dangerous.

We need to do more to help people have served this county. Ex service personnel should be top of the housing waiting list i.e. Automatically get a council house when they leave service if they need it.

You think he is dangerous because he did not kneel to someone? See, I think it's far more dangerous to damn someone as unpatriotic and a danger to their country because they don't believe that an accident of birth makes another superior to them.

Lots of people 'serve this country'. You don't have to be in AF uniform to serve.

All, grow up!

Excuse me?

Maybe showing our appreciation for those who protect our freedom and our lives whilst they are still alive

Or maybe to act as recruiting drive for more cannon fodder ahead of the next illegal and immoral oil war the British government blindly follows the US into and detract from their culpability in 100s of young men coming home in body bags.

We need to do more to help people have served this county. Ex service personnel should be top of the housing waiting list

Why? Why should someone who has spent 10 years in army catering or admin automatically have more entitlement to housing than someone who has spent 20 years as a fireman, nurse or policeman? Do you want to give automatic priority to Lance Corporal Dillon or Corporal Horton or Captain Howard? Being in the army, air force or navy does not automatically make anyone a living saint.

they are unique in what they do and how they work and one fucking day a year where their hard work and dedication is recognised isn't too much to ask!

But lots of people are unique in what they do and how they work. Lots of people do really horrible jobs that serve the community.. Yet we don't have Sewage Workers Day or Crime Scene Cleaners Day. And if you're going to point to the risk to life, we don't have Police Day either.

And it's not one day, is it? What is Remembrance Day about if it's not the armed forces?

They are already at the top of the housing list.
The armed forces covenant came in around 5 years ago and all councils agreed to give priority to discharging soldiers/sailors/airmen for housing, schooling and health care.

This is because they are nomadic and before the covenant no local connection meant no housing or lowest priority. You cant be on a waiting list like civvys if you have not lived in your area for long enough. Forces people do not have that option as most are moved every few years.

What is Remembrance Day about if it's not the armed forces?

To remember the dead.

Do you we only thank our forces men and women after they lose their lives for us?

What is Remembrance Day about if it's not the armed forces?

To remember the dead.

Do you we only thank our forces men and women after they lose their lives for us?

Remembrance Day is actually to remember the peace that came out of the sacrificed lives. It recalls with thanks those who died that we might live in freedom. This is wider than the armed forces and includes the police, the fire services, the voluntary services like the Red Cross and WRVS, the merchant navy, the RFA and civilian workers in munitions etc. It is not about the armed forces although obviously they feature highly in the war dead.

I can't get worked up about AFD. As far as I see, it's a convenient way for flag waving types and politicians to try and look superior about caring for "our brave boys" while conveniently ignoring how underfunded and ill equipped they actually are.