Revealed: Number of British soldiers suffering 'life-changing' injuries in Afghanista

I wanted to join the army, I enjoy the job, its not just about killing people (I've actually saved more people than anything else), like every job it has its ups and downs. I think it has more ups, living in a hole in the desert may sound like hell to some people but there's nothing quite like doing the job you've trained to do.
I hope people notice that the soldiers tend not to complain about being shot, we do understand that can happen but we don't expect to be abandoned when we get home and left to rot with our injuries. The army is getting better at looking after its wounded the rehab offered now is better than ever but more could still be done.
No one in my unit has bought their own body armour or night sights, I don't believe that happens in any numbers. The L85A1 is reliable, in experienced hands the L85 was reliable, I have very few stoppages (jams), everytime I've seen people complain about the rifle they've been rear echelon soldiers (logistics, chefs etc) the infantry have less of a problem but then again we spend more time using it.
 
Ghosteh is right if you dont see it, its gonna be difficult for you to understand the mindset of someone that does want to serve.
you focus purely on the negitive, yes you do have to put up with a lot of crap, but by all accounts i've heard from soldiers EX and serving its all worthwile putting up with.

for me its things like the comraderie, the oppertunity make such a diversre group of close knit friends, that you can rely on to keep your ass out of trouble.
dicipline, something i find is disgustingly lacking in our society
fitness active life, yes i am aware i can have it out of the army as well, but its something i enjoy when i have the time and can persue whilst serving.
the humour, here is something about army humour that i havnt seen or experienced anywhere else.
plus with the fact that when i do eventually come out of the army i'll have a richer more developed experience of life to draw on.
education, you have the oppertunity to learn skills that you can carry on to civvy life after.
 
It's terrible but it's war they should get bigger payouts though as well as the equipment they need to do there jobs as soldiers.

mattheman said:
send the whole labour party including blair to afghan.
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What was wrong with us going to Afghanistan. I can see people's argument for Iraq. But not for Afghanistan.
 
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Kreeeee said:
Er...

It's a different set of people.
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Really struggling to see what you are trying to say here. Changing Skills to Er... in a ninja edit didn't help with that.

I think you are questioning the relevancy of my post. However if thats the case then you'd be completely mistaken.

Ah, different people as in posters? That is irrelevant when you consider the tone and content and the agreement of opinions however objectionable they may be.

"Join the Army if you can't get a job"

"Oh so u lost both legs and an arm, why should I care?"

This is what the a lot of opinions amount to, but I think there is an element of posting opinions just to get a reaction out of someone. Certainly some posters like to get into an argument over nothing while missing the main point of the thread.
 
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[TW]Fox;13554411 said:
With respect he chose to be a soldier.
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You've obviously paid the article no thought whatsoever, but you managed to convey your flippant view before anybody else, so I commend you for that.
 
richb_83 said:
+1 bite...

As for making it personal, well thanks, nice to know atpbx holds the position and has the certs and expertise to give me a 'F' at acme Civilian Life qualification. :rolleyes:
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I'm not the one bitching about how badly civilian life treats me IE- having to stand on my own two feet.

You are just reinforcing my point, you are running off back to the army.

I come from a forces family, My old man was a Vulcan pilot and my Mum was a ATC, my uncle was a Para who when he left became a washed up old soak with the rest of his ex para mates.

See In the real world, in the modern world someone starts banging on about being a real man because they are going to be/have been a soldier the rest of us look on and go................so?

Are their really people on here who are bothered when somebody starts banging on about being more of a man because he is a soldier?

I'm not, heard it all before from lots of washed up lonely old men who nobody cares about anymore.
 
Evangelion said:
The UK has the world's 4th largest defence budget.
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That table is completely wrong for starters.

3 Mexico 161.3[2] 6.38
4 United Kingdom 138.2 6.49

Yeh that makes perfect sence , Mexcio with there smaller economy are spending more then us , yet its a smaller percentage of there GDP:confused:

And did you honestly believe mexico was spending more then France and Germany combined?

A real list is here in this article which also includes statisics which yours used from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
 
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Nothing, well except go AWOL. But if he is found he'd get sent to prison. To be fair though, joining the army and not expecting to be sent to war would be pretty short sighted.
 
mattheman said:
i really feel for this young lad, send the whole labour party including blair to afghan.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...fe-changing-injuries-Afghanistan-doubled.html
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To close with and kill the enemy! Thats the real role of a soldier, it works both ways. People need to accept what war is about and people need to accept that soldier will be killed or badly maimed. The MOD don't want to give out the figure as it will be used to undermine their aims in Afganistan. How many soldiers were maimed and killed in Bosnia? Am sure it will not take you long to Google the figures and am sure you will need Google to get any idea as to what them figures are. My point is that them figure will be used to an end and them figure will be forgot once that end has been reached. Nobody joins the army devoid of the risks, when them risk turn true they need to accept it and move on. Also government needs to fund their future.
 
R5Rich said:
I've heard stories about people buying armour and stuff as well.

Had a friend who joined the royal marines and they had all been told about it, having too choose if you want armour for the front or back as you only get one peice in some situations. Not saying its like that for everyone but it does happen and its quite shocking!

Sounds great conditions to me.

Agree they do sign up and know what could happen but surely they should be a lot better protected than they are?
Same friend said the UK forces are basically known as the borrowers by the US as they have crappy equipment and have to borrow stuff to survive.
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Were they given the choice of no body armour, that would be my choice every time.
 
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