Armed forces mums

[Halloweencat]

My son is on the verge of joining the RAF. He's passed the tests, fitness & medicals. I will be very proud of him if he completes the training and passes out; but I am so scared for him with the state of the world. I've just been reading about how Russia treats prisoners in their detention camps. China is the same. Both countries are pushing for more world dominance. What if things escalate and we join the conflicts. I'm being irrational I know, reading too much on the Internet and letting my imagination run away with me. Can another armed forces mum bring me to my senses?

If anything did kick off I can promise you it won’t be your son that gets sent. He has to complete all his training first and there are special regiments in the Army specifically on call to deal with this kind escalating issue. I really wouldn’t worry but you do need to realise that he has joined the military and there is still possibilities that he can be sent anywhere. The most “kinetic” tour anyone in the military is on now is the UN tour to Mali. It’s a great career and if he takes the right opportunities he can travel all over the world.

@Ihateeveryone56
Thank you for your reply, you've made me feel so much better, put things into perspective for me x

I understand exactly where you're coming from! My son is joining the army but has had his join date delayed (should have been in basic training by now).

I'm a worrier by nature and when I see the conflicts going on around the world I start to inwardly panic that one day he could be caught up in it. I know he's an adult and will more than likely be fine but I can't help it. When he was younger he wanted to join the navy and my worst fear is drowning and being on a boat and seeing videos of ships in huge huge waves worried me sick! So I was glad when he chose a different role in the army.

Despite my worries I wanted to join the forces when I was a teenager and joined the air cadets which was a lot of fun so I can see the other side of choosing a military career and not being worried but I'm a dm - I suppose I'll always worry about them!

Good luck to your ds.

Join the armed forces and you're signing up to be deployed anywhere in the world. To me, you shouldn't be able to enter the armed forces before 21 at the earliest.

@RedHelenB

Join the armed forces and you're signing up to be deployed anywhere in the world. To me, you shouldn't be able to enter the armed forces before 21 at the earliest.

Why? You’re legally an adult at 18 years old. Why do you think it should be 21? I know a lot of people that if they joined at 21 and not the younger ages they did they would have gone down some very wrong paths.

Firstly, welcome to the military family! What trade does your son want to join as that can make a huge difference

Because I think signing up to kill and be killed before the age of 18 as it is now is taking advantage of immaturity. There cam be other ways of stopping people going down the wrong path.