Armed forces.... Please be honest... are you really willing to die for queen and country?

Question

The reason I ask, is that I think its impossible to fight against those who are willing and happy to die for their cause... i.e the extremists in the middle east.... so I was interested how many of you who are unfortunate enough to be sent to war are truly prepared to die for me and others like me, a world away in the UK? I s this really what you signed up for?

Just to add, I've never served in the armed forces and I don't know anyone that has... which is why I pose the question

Answer 1

I am immensely proud to serve in Her Majesty's RAF. If it came to it, I'd like to think that I'd lay down my life for "Queen and Country". I'd jump in front of a bullet for civilians, my friends and the Queen alike.

I joined to protect my Nation, to fight the wrongdoers in this world.If it came to sacrificing my life for a friend's or a civilian (except maybe scum hater), I'd like to think I'd do it.

I'm an aircraft engineer, so don't really see combat. I will follow orders, but I'm smart enough to tell when an order is illegal or stupid. Most of us are the same, we won't go in blindly. It's not impossible to fight against extremists, but it is difficult, I'll grant you.

Oh, and SCUM HATER. I'm shocked you could say such a thing! You don't deserve our protection, but We'll protect you anyway. You know why? because we're proud and brave enough to. I hope you never get into a predicament where you need our help, in a war zone, or even in a Search and Rescue role. YOU DON'T DESERVE US! Servicemen are not murderers, they serve their Countries and their Country's interests. They are heroes in the true sense of the word. They follow strict rules of engagement, and kill only when they need to. They don't take joy in killing, only maniacs take joy in that. They take joy in serving their Nation and protecting their families. Say that to a soldier's face and see how they react. If I was there, I wouldn't stop him changing your mind.

Answer 2

I'm almost certain no one joins the armed forces to die for any reason! So why do they join at all would be a better question, the answers would be "to learn a trade" or "for the adventure" or "cant get any other job" or "to travel overseas and meet other nationalities"
Some may even say "to protect my home land" (I don't believe that last one either)!
Young lads join for most of the other reasons!!
I was in the army, not because I wanted to be but because I was made to be!
The military are with us so they can kill other people, simple as that!! The rest is all BS, kill other people or get killed yourself!! Don't worry if we don't have enough military, your government will conscript you , we still need loads of oil and land and we can all be 'trained' into believing we are doing this for the protection of our countries! and we will certainly be going overseas and meeting people from other nationalities!!
I wonder why we don't have some of these 'Government Health Warnings' on the application forms to sign up for the military??

Answer 3

It is possible to fight against those willing to die for their cause. It is just damn hard to win... and then keep the spoils of the victory.

As someone has already quoted general Patton, the point of war is not to die for your country. It is to make the guys on the opposite side die for theirs.

I do not support the current government of my country. But it doesn't matter - should any foreign power come here with force, I'm ready and willing to be there giving them the worst beating I'd be able to... Then fall back, and give them another beating.
You can be killed only once, and dead, you won't help your cause any longer.

Answer 4

I have not served in the United Kingdom's armed forces, but in those of my own country.

You apparently have never been in uniform?

Ever heard of George Patton? The whole idea in war is not to die for your country (in your case Queen and country) but to make the other b*st*rd die for his.

This is the essence of how it really is in any military (the UK military is -very- highly regarded where I live) and I think if you'll ask most soldiers they'll tell you that no, of course they don't want to die, but the possibility of it does not neccesarily mean that you won't fight.

Going to war doesn't neccessarily mean getting killed either - of the tens of millions of US servicemen in World War Two only about 200 000 (less than 2%?) were killed.

The thing is, being a soldier mostly means being prepared to sacrifice (I know - a foreign idea in a most first world countries today) and also, for me, it always was about counting something higher than yourself, and being prepared to sacrifice your life (if need be) to preserve that higher ideal or idea.

Much the same as Islamic terrorists.

For example, for me, military service was about keeping the people I loved and the community that fed me, clothed me, taught me and raised me, safe from harm. I confronted your question, and decided that the answer was that if I didn't step into the breach, who would? I would not be able to live with myself knowing innocent, defenceless members of my community were killed because I didn't have the courage to "stand in the breach".

I think if you do not have this mental attitude, you do not deserve to live in a society that protects you and your rights. In return, you MUST be prepared to sacrifice for such a society that is free and democratic, which is the essence of military service.

Freedom DOES have a price, and the price is blood. If you have partook of that freedom (voted in an election, for example) you are morally obliged to protect that freedom, with your life, if neccessary.

Keeping my loved ones safe (and by extension, other defeneceless families in my community) from Islamic Terrorists (for example) is worth my life, as I suspect it might be for many UK "squaddies".

Answer 5

I was in the Military for a long time, serving Queen and Country. I don't believe anyone is WILLING to die but if one does die during the course of duty then so be it. All precautionary measures are usualling taken. It is part and parcel of what you sign on the dotted line for.

Answer 6

When you sign up you must be prepared to be sent to a war zone. If you are not and do your service without conflict Great.
Would I be prepared to die for my Queen, Country? Yes! Because I see it as doing so for my family first and foremost.
If you are not prepared to do so then don't sign on the line or take the oath of allegiance. And if conscripted then state that you are a "Concie".
We ultimatley have choices!
No one WANTS to die, best way to really avoid it? Avoid the military.

Answer 7

My brother is a British soldier, well, I say soldier, he is one of the people who drives the trucks and cars and stuff like that. He was in Iraq and he was in alot of danger and had 2 soldiers guarding him at some times because what he was doing was important.

At the end of the day, he doesn't think of it as dying for his country, he is a typical Northerner who didn't know what to do with his life. I don't think he's scared of dying but he certainly wouldn't do it for the country or for the Queen. He has the view - why should I die for them when they've done nothing for me

Answer 8

Years ago i was in the British Army.... and loved every second...But now i would never let any of my Children join ..!
Just before i left i saw some very nasty things going on at a Training camp ... I think the beating of 16/17 boys is NOT the way to get respect..This happened on a daily basis's..

So to answer your question ..NO i would not fight for my country..but would for my Family...

Answer 9

increasing protection rigidity spending will purely added decrease Social spending. it is positive in case you want an huge protection rigidity (which produces no longer some thing) yet faculties, hospitals, Social-reward, roads, transportation and infrastructure will all decay because the united kingdom acquires more effective ships, planes and tanks etc. there is purely one aggressor-united states of america last on earth, and that is the country. the ecu is already about 30% more effective effective, militarily, than the country. there is not any favor to improve protection rigidity spending! UKIP's fantasy politics will ruin the British monetary gadget! the country has alienated itself from the SCO, and a starting to be form of British human beings are overtly declaring that they surely hate the country. u.s.'s war-mongering might want to be considered or what it truly is! u.s. continues to be stealing elements from different international locations. some thing else of the international trades, even as the country invades! human beings understand almost no longer some thing about international politics, by using the undeniable fact that which we are advised by using the media is often the alternative of the certainty. uk media are effectively managed by using the country. Why else do you imagine that UKIP are allowed to flourish even as Labour are destroyed? the country attempt to ruin the ecu from interior of, utilising propaganda and UKIP. in the adventure that they be triumphant, then humanity is in severe difficulty!

Answer 10

I have never fought for queen and country.
But the saying in the British Forces is...
"They are willing to die for their country, we want you to live for yours".
It's easier to fight against someone who is willing to die for their country. It's those who don't want to get killed but still fight you have to worry about.