Ask a Soldier

[Flying Pig]

Sorry for lot of questions. I dont know nobody who served so some my questions should seem silly or non-relevant. Also sorry for my English.

No problem - I'll answer anything asked in good faith

As teenager, have you been interested in military history? When have you decided that you will work as soldier? Have you studied in some military school/acadaemy?

I was never very interested in learning anything when I was young. I always liked stories about battles, but that was about it. Upon being selected to be an officer, all service personell (ie, me) must go to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst to be taught the trade.

How important was for your decision patriotism and serving your country? What was your stance towards communism (since you have been soldier in Cold War era, I find it relevant)?

My justification to myself when I was thinking about dying at work was that I think some things are worth more than my own life and health, so I'm probably what most people would call very patriotic. I think modern people over-rate the ideology of the period - we didn't all hate the reds and hold commie-stoning parties, though I've never thought that communism was a good idea

After military briefing, have you ever had bad feeling that you dont know what to expect?

Only once, during my first patrol in Borneo, when the man giving the briefing basically said: go out there and try to get back. Nobody had ever fought in the jungle before, so we were really relying on the SAS to help us out.

Have you been injured? Have been some of your friends injured?

I've had a lot of friends get hurt or killed, but (despite being known as a bit suicidal) I never seem to get hurt (I got shot once, but didn't notice till afterwards and the medic took a look at it, stuck a dressing on and said I could go if I wanted, so I did).

Have you dreams about your service? If so, which ones? Have you revisited places where have you served? Are you sometimes nostalgic?

I've been back to Ireland to see a mate who settled down there, but that's it.

 

[Eretz Yisrael]

Have you ever been posted in Korea?

 

[Flying Pig]

I'm not that old! The war there ended in 1953, and I only joined in 1960

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Does Britian not keep troops there? My younger brother served in Korea for a bit.

 

[Eretz Yisrael]

I'm not that old! The war there ended in 1953, and I only joined in 1960

I was asking you if you were ever stationed there, but I guess you werent

The Falklands War did much to lift Britian's morale, right?

 

[Gustave5436]

I'm not that old! The war there ended in 1953, and I only joined in 1960

Technically, the war is still ongoing. I don't know if anyone other than the US keeps a garrison there, though.

Question: Why do you believe in patriotism?

 

[Flying Pig]

Does Britian not keep troops there? My younger brother served in Korea for a bit.

Are you British (I know the US have men there)? I don't think we have any, or at any rate I don't know about them, so no, I haven't been stationed there

The Falklands War did much to lift Britian's morale, right?

Maybe. It certainly made Mrs. Thatcher popular.

Question: Why do you believe in patriotism?

I think that my country has been very good to me (it's given me security, a job, a house for much of my life...) and so I think it's worth protecting. Also, all people inside a country share a common alleigance, for want of a better word, and I think you should look after people who are 'on your side'

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Are you British (I know the US have men there)? I don't think we have any, or at any rate I don't know about them, so no, I haven't been stationed there

American, my brother is in the US Army.

 

[Mad Man]

So you were around to see India leave the British Empire? That most have been really hard to see.

 

[Flying Pig]

Not serving, but around. I was too young to care really.

 

[Dumanios]

What was the worst loss to you that happened in the Military?

 

[Flying Pig]

What do you mean? The most costly action?

 

[Mad Man]

I was just teasing you. But seriously who do you think is the biggest threat to Britains security today?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I don't remember if Britain has an all-volunteer army or not, but I think this question is worth asking anyway, even if it could receive differing answers based on the former part of this sentence:

What do you think of conscription, good idea or bad? Both from a military perspective (quality of troops, logistics, etc) and a social one (everyone sharing responsibility to defend the country, etc).

In your experience, which was better in combat, a battle rifle or assault rifle? Can you explain why that is?

As you were a parachutist, did you ever have and problems with landing, things like broken bones etc, that affected you on campaign? Are there ways you think that these problems, if existent, could be solved?

 

[Flying Pig]

I was just teasing you. But seriously who do you think is the biggest threat to Britains security today?

Hard to say, but the Koreans worry me a lot

I don't remember if Britain has an all-volunteer army or not, but I think this question is worth asking anyway, even if it could receive differing answers based on the former part of this sentence:

We do have an all-volunteer army.

What do you think of conscription, good idea or bad? Both from a military perspective (quality of troops, logistics, etc) and a social one (everyone sharing responsibility to defend the country, etc).

Bad idea. First, a lot of what we fight for is basic freedoms, so we need to keep them at home, and also I wouldn't want to share a defensive position or take covering fire from a pacifist or a coward, so if you sign people up voluntarily they will be better.

In your experience, which was better in combat, a battle rifle or assault rifle? Can you explain why that is?

To me, it's between the FN-FAL (a very nice bit of kit) and the M16 (the A1, for gun experts). I always preferred the M16, and I think in general assault rifles are more capable at close quaters, which is very useful (soldiers really do set rifles to automatic and run through buildings, trenches and jungles) in a lot of situations. Plus, the M16 is just a better rifle.

As you were a parachutist, did you ever have and problems with landing, things like broken bones etc, that affected you on campaign? Are there ways you think that these problems, if existent, could be solved

We're trained too well to get them as any problem (short of landing on a mine, which I heard of one guy doing)

 

[Icaria909]

when you were in the military, how much time was spent on missions and how much time were you on a base somewhere?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Have you seen a promoted soldier that was dragged away kicking and screaming because the promotion was devoid of combat? Metaphorically of course.

Care to share some survival tips? (like landing on a roll to cushion one's fall)

 

[Cutlass]

Do you agree with the people who are saying that the RA is badly equipped for a situation like Afghanistan? Not having the proper helicopters and so forth?

 

[Rossiya]

Why did you join the army?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Do you agree with the people who are saying that the RA is badly equipped for a situation like Afghanistan? Not having the proper helicopters and so forth?

I hope RA doesn't mean Royal Army. Its been the British Army since the English Civil War.