cheers for the replys, like I say all opinions are valid but i do believe some are more than "armchair quarterbacks" and have a deep desire for war.

Snr chief, yes I have, first time was during rioting in West Belfast then a crazy slivovic fuelled Serb decided to have a go in Bosnia, And about once a week in Al Amarah, Iraq. (at to that a few petrol bombs, homemade grenades, improvised mortars, Chinese rockets, and even 10 rounds of 81 that an Al Q cell managed to steal from the yanks and lob at us in Abu Naji)

Pj4, very eleoquent post big man! i couldn't be arsed with the profile but any questions just ask

Originally Posted by K9Dug

just seems that some posters on here have a romantic notion of warfare, and seem to want to be involved in something big yet probably when it came to the crunch would be as useful as a chocolate bayonet.

"Dulce bellum inexpertis"
(war is delightful for those who don't know it)
- Desiderius Erasmus, title of his book from 1515
Dutch humanist, ca. 1466–1536
http://www.military-quotes.com/database/e.htm

So true, so true...

There are several members in here with more than enough experience from the "two way range".
But I doubt that most, especially us who still serve, will comment much on that on an open forum like this...

Another quote that fits nicely here is:
"Those who knows doesn't tell, and those who tells doesn't know.."

Redleg your first quote sums up what i am trying to say

I've noted that a lot of people have the "arm chair" soldier attitude in this forum as well. It seems to mainly be people who have not served in the military, and have no real idea of what it entails. Although I haven't yet served in a combat zone, I have many mates in the services who have been, and they have been quick to dispell any myths or ideas of grandeur in combat (both through what they've told me, and because of the mental issues some of them have suffered since). As many people are quick to say when asked, I have no desire to rush of to the nearest war zone and win myself a Victoria Cross, but when and if asked to do my duty I will, without any aprehension.

It does suprise me to see posts from people saying things like "I wish I was a sniper, it'd be so cool", and "I'd so take an AK47 if I was there"... and the like.

With the portrayal of combat these kids see from Hollywood I am not surprised... youth is wasted on the young.

Maybe, maybe not, Bulldogg...I know the difference between real-life war and Hollywood war. I think. I know Saving Private Ryan gave me a pretty good insight to the psychological effects of war...That movie shaked my idea of wether or not I decide to join the service...Now, do I think that all Americans, especially my generation, knows what war entails? No. I think kids play video games like Halo or MOH and think that thats all war is...They dont realize that in real life, you cant restart the level or put in a cheat code to make yourself invincible...They dont realize that you cant simply turn it off...

Kid you don't know until you, personally, in the flesh have been there... you think you know but you do not.

I know enough to know that it's not all shoot without being shot. I know that it hurts. I know you can loose your closest friends in one second.Ill bet I know more than you think I do....

Originally Posted by C/1Lt Henderson

I know enough to know that it's not all shoot without being shot. I know that it hurts. I know you can loose your closest friends in one second.Ill bet I know more than you think I do....

Talk is cheap, boy. Go back to watching movies, you don't know squat.

Originally Posted by K9Dug

cheers for the replys, like I say all opinions are valid but i do believe some are more than "armchair quarterbacks" and have a deep desire for war.

Snr chief, yes I have, first time was during rioting in West Belfast then a crazy slivovic fuelled Serb decided to have a go in Bosnia, And about once a week in Al Amarah, Iraq. (at to that a few petrol bombs, homemade grenades, improvised mortars, Chinese rockets, and even 10 rounds of 81 that an Al Q cell managed to steal from the yanks and lob at us in Abu Naji)

Pj4, very eleoquent post big man! i couldn't be arsed with the profile but any questions just ask

I see.

See thats the thing. I haven't been, but I'm not stupid enough to think I know what it'll be like and what effect it'll have on me. I can see and hear what other people have done and experienced. But until I go, I'm really in the dark.