Read in Metro yesterday, about a soldier in Sweden after becoming depressed (i guess) took off his boot during an exercise and shot himself, and his regiment asked to have him relieved, I say hang him from the highest tree, but what do you guy's think?

We had a guy in our regiment did that in 1954. You could not have met a nicer guy, went through training with us, joined Ist Bn in Egypt. Very quiet, popular fellow, he was a great singer which was highly regarded amongst Glaswegians, and then into next few months - bang - shot himself in the foot and was discharged. Why - who knows? He had already shown that he could cut it.

EagleHammer, do your part first, then talk.

On a somewhat related note: the US DOD has confirmed yesterday that there were 108 suicides in the US Armed Forces in 2007. Most of the incidents occurred in the US after vets had been returned from Iraq. This number is up from previous years 102.


http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i...1hhQQD90VD2CG1


Very Sad News.


I was wondering if it would be appropriate if they were label 'DOW' (died of Wounds) instead of suicide, because not all serious wounds in war are physical. Whatdya all think?

What, only once?

Our stupid politicians do it every day, and get paid filmstar wages to do it. The really sad thing being that we keep re-electing them.

To be honest, I feel that any man who is that desperate or sick, is no use in a fighting unit anyway, he may as well be relieved. Maybe different if your country is under attack.

Well, we're talking about conscripts here, in Sweden (and Norway) the service is mandatory and to refuse is a hazzle that only political activists take any pleasure in.

I'd say it takes either some degree of courage or a serious amount of desperation to shoot yourself in the foot to get out of the service.
The person in question would probably be quite determined or totally unfit for service, and in these cases any military unit would be better off without them.

I've seen several desperate attempts to avoid service, but none of such degree.
We usually get rid of them in boot camp, if not earlier.

On a second note, the ones that hang in for such long time as halfway through duty is usually over the average intelligent, but then something snaps.
I've seen that too, and it was for sure no pleasant experience...

Sounds like the dilemma of Catch-22...

We had a few suicides for various reasons.
Shooting through the foot though... don't think we had any of those. I guess we're all or nothing people.

Chargeable offence that......Self inflicted wounds, worth about three months in in a military prison

Originally Posted by senojekips

What, only once?

Our stupid politicians do it every day, and get paid filmstar wages to do it. The really sad thing being that we keep re-electing them.

The amazing thing is the case of politicians is that there are few deaths from this practice given that most of them have both feet their mouth for most of their careers.

To be honest, I feel that any man who is that desperate or sick, is no use in a fighting unit anyway, he may as well be relieved. Maybe different if your country is under attack.

Makes sense.

Originally Posted by 84RFK

I'd say it takes either some degree of courage or a serious amount of desperation to shoot yourself in the foot to get out of the service.
The person in question would probably be quite determined or totally unfit for service, and in these cases any military unit would be better off without them.

Thats the bit I don't get, it must take a hell of a lot of courage to shoot yourself or commit suicide and you would think that if you had the strength to do such a thing you would have the strength to sort out your problems.