To be worried in case our troops end up at war?

[CarriedAWayy]

We are a military family. I met DH when I was 19, some nearly 20 years ago now. DH has done some operational tours in that time but we now have two children and I am more fearful of war now than ever. I know this is part and parcel of being married to a soldier, but it doesn’t change the worry and fear.

As it happens, my husband is currently deployed and contact is minimal, so I can’t talk to him about my fears. I can’t really ask anyone in my circle, because I don’t want to push my worries onto my friends who are in the same position.

What do people think the likelihood is of our soldiers ending up at war again?

YABU - it’s unlikely to happen
YANBU - it’s likely to happen

My husband did 35yrs in the military. DS1 currently serves, he’s away atm, also non-contactable, but should be home at the end of the week. I’m not worrying about a boots on the ground war at this point. I really don’t think it will happen.

I hope you’re right @TheFairyCaravan 🤞

My husband was in for 20yrs, went to war and lost some good men. You have to learn to be strong. It’s tough but it’s the job of an army wife.

I appreciate that. I’ve been there before. I’ve been to the medals parades, with the families of those who didn’t make it back, and the brave soldiers walking out on prosthetics to collect their medals. I’ve been brave, and will continue to be if needed. It doesn’t make the current uncertainty, any less scary though.

I don’t think we will.

But l have to ask. Isnt the role of the military to go to war when required?

Of course it is. Why do you ask?

Just like it being the role of fire fighters to go into burning buildings like the Grenfell tower. Doesn’t mean it’s not scary for the families. Doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to be worried about your spouse and your children, does it??

Probably because you asked if you are being unreasonable "to be worried in case our troops end up at war?"...

Starmer is clearly trying to keep our involvement minimal at this stage.
Unfortunately Farage, Badenoch and the usual characters in the right wing press seem to want us to get stuck in to another Iraq / Afghanistan quagmire. Some people never learn.

By me “being unreasonable to be worried in case our troops ended up at war”, I meant - because it’s unlikely to happen. This was clarified in my post.

Anyway, whether that’s a soldiers job or not, it’s never unreasonable for a family to be worried in case a war breaks out requiring boots on the ground. We are human, you know?

I think there is likely to be many decades of conflict to come sadly and it will involve Britain to some extent. Some loss of life seems inevitable.

I’m in a military area with a significant number of DD’s school from forces families and may of my friends. There’s a lot of worry around. More so for RAF and Navy tbh, I don’t see it being significant boots on the ground.

But it’s not happened yet @CarriedAWayy so it is best not to dwell. It won’t help.

Thank you for being so understanding @FancyCatSlave ❤️

No one knows, especially not mumsneters, we are due an "intervention" in the Middle East, we have just sat and watched a genocide happen in Israel and Starmer will want to desperately pull back some of the blairite/right of his part so more likely than not but who knows really.

I'm ex forces and my dad did 22. There's no point worrying drafty will come knocking or he won't getting yourself in a tizz will help no one

This.

However, Farage and increasingly KB will seek to do anything to appease Trump because that’s the type of people they are.
Im very glad KS is being less gung ho about this

You come across as very sarcastic in your post. Just because you're a military wife does that mean you're not allowed to feel scared for your family if they are deployed to a war zone?
I'm a military mother. Ds is deployed in Qatar with Raf, as he was when the bombing started end of June last year. It's his job but doesn't stop us worrying does it.
I'm not worried about boots on the ground at the moment, but aware they could be hit by a missile.
Try being a bit less sarcastic & have a bit more empathy for military families who are left here worrying about what could happen next eh?

I hope not.
My do no longer serves, but is a related job (not security). He was in Iraq and the only time he got shot at was by the Americans

@CarriedAWayy I also worry about this, particularly with a son who is 15 and could be called up in a few yrs. Looking at it from a purely political point of view, I think Labour are going to have to start moving to the left, as they are not winning any support with their faux Reform policies (and having just lost a high profile seat to the Greens that makes it more likely). Stamer has already said he doesn't want us to get involved and it would make him even more unpopular to do so. So I find that status comforting. He saw what going into Iraq did to Blair and his legacy. He'd be a fool to make that mistake again.

I sincerely hope we don’t get into America’s and Israel’s war. They seem to like that sort of thing, but we don’t have to.

Totally agree with you. Tony Blair will be forever remembered for the illegal war. I think Starmer will stay out of it, if he can.
Op. To add. We were a military family. I absolutely understand your fear and hope that our troops are not drawn into this x

So true. There is a horrible familiarity about this whole thing.

Nahhh we've never got involved in any Middle Eastern wars. Give your head a wobble.

Yanbu to be worried but I think that the current govt approach is correct in protecting people out there - but not being the instigator. My son is in the navy so it's feeling very real now what he's signed up for.

My brother is currently serving and whilst I know it was very much his choice, he loves it and I completely understand the risks that comes with the job, I think it’s normal as a loved one to worry. Hopefully it won’t come to it but I understand your concern. YANBU

Yeah... still grates I'm sure when Netanyahu's military age son is hiding in Miami.

Didn't realise that Iraq and Afganistan were not in the Middle East. Thanks for informing.