One of my best friends joined the army a bit back now, i didnt want him to go in the first place but he said that it was what he wanted to do so i stood by his decision!! I have seen him once since he went in on my birthday, he said he was enjoying himself he loves it!! But i am terrified for him, we keep in tougch by letters but with all these storys of them being poorley equiped i am scared that something is going to happen to him.
2006-09-28 21:01:52 · 10 answers · asked by rubyredribbon 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
My younger brother who's in the US Army and my boyfriend, who is in the US Navy...they're both in Iraq right now...
Yes it's tough that they're there...and yes I miss them both everyday, but we keep in touch. Letters, care packages, email, instant messenger, etc. I speak to my boyfriend almost everyday on yahoo instant messenger, it really helps hearing from him...
The one thing that he absolutly loved...I sent him a PSP and send him new movies all the time. That's the way to hook em for life....A way to a man's heart....spoil em.
2006-09-30 00:11:26 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a retired RAF officer and now an Army wife, I hope I can help.
The guys (and girls) in Iraq aren't living in plush 4-star accommodation, they don't have everything that we have back in the UK, but they are equipped sufficiently.
The media do hype the equipment situation - it is newsworthy and something that can be aimed specifically at the govt. In any 'work' situation (as afterall it is an occupation), we could all do with better equipment - perhaps you work in an office in the UK and would like it if your employer had the latest version of a printer?
To equip the Armed Forces with the 'latest' is an expensive job. Equipment for front-line forces has to be tested, and to ensure it remains the 'latest' would require a rolling replenshiment which would be highly expensive. There is only so much money available to spend on the Armed Forces, Education, Health etc, and as much as we all have our views how this money should be iinvested, we may not be making the most informed decision. I don't necessarily agree with the policies of the current govt, but the way to change this is via a democratic process rather than knee-jerk reactions to individual events.
The equipment (having used it myself) is capable of doing the job - there are factors in Iraq (sand and heat especially) that do cause problems with weapons and vehicles. But the military have been working to overcome these.
The forces are now in a transition period of handing responsiblity to the Iraqi people. This is what the British are best at - winning hearts and minds to use a contrite phrase. If we were to be hiding behind big plated vehicles all the time, the objectives would be lost. The British men and women are working hard to comfort and encourage the Iraqi people.
The best you can do for your friend is to send home comforts and letters. There is nothing better when you're in "theatre" (this is the correct term for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, etc) than to recieve a letter or parcel. The things people miss are magazines, jelly sweets, cuttings from the papers on their favourite football team, shower gel; the list is endless.
Use e-blueys (http://www.bfpo.mod.uk/) to write some letters - it's free to send to anyone in theatre and they arrive in 24-48 hours after you've written them. This is much quicker than post, but slightly impersonal as it's printed (in type) at the other end, so be sure to send the odd written bluey. These are free from your local post office and are free to send to a BFPO address.
Be cheerful when writing letters - expressing your fears is not going to help. Write about what you've been doing, what the weather's like (that's something else that people miss: rain), it may seem trivial to you, but will take your friend's mind off where he is and what's happening around him.
So to summarise: If you want to help your friend, write, send and be cheerful.
2006-09-28 21:53:53 · answer #2 · answered by KizzyB 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's fine. it's all about risk and risk management with a bit of luck thrown in. We love the excitement of being in the Army and accept the risks and our training gives us the knowledge to deal with the risk although yes sometimes it comes down to luck both good and bad.
Iraq isn't as bad as the media make out, it's Afghanistan that's the risky place at the moment.
In the Army we are quite underresourced with often poor kit to do the job. What your friend would really appreciate would be to take him to Silvermans in London to get some decent kit - they also do mail order so find out from him what he would like - boots etc and he'll love you for it and it will help to keep him comfortable and focused on the task to hand.
If he does go to Iraq then keep the letters coming, they are a great morale boost, send him 'goodie parcels' from home and just let him know he isn't forgotten whilst doing a hard and important job.
I think Kipling said something like: "Bloody Tommy (Tommy being a term for a soldier in those days) this, and bloody Tommy that, yet as soon as the guns start firing and there is a war, it's good old Tommy this and Good old Tommy that" (His son was incidentally killed in 1917)
2006-09-28 21:20:54 · answer #3 · answered by david b 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My best friend died in RAF Hercules last year i Iraq, and now my boyfriend is due to go to Afghanistan on his next deployment.
What will happen, will happen. He chose his career and accepts the risks.
Worrying wont change things. Keep in touch, write and keep positive. Dont let on to him that you are worried and sad.. that wont help him.
The way i look at it is that life is a risk, I could be crossing the road tomorrow and get hit by a bus.... but that doesnt stop me from leaving the house!
Good luck to him.
2006-09-29 10:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by PEP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When one joins the army two things are bound to happen especially if you are at war, you either get killed or you kill someone. Personally i have been to Iraq and with all those roadside bombs going off any minute you would get scared but its all about one's luck. I guess if your friend is lucky he will make it. Just make sure you keep in touch.
2006-09-28 21:49:40 · answer #5 · answered by Sammo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was over there. You are a bit nervous before going out because of the press here but once you are out you soon accept it and start enjoying yourself. I just wish the press focussed on the good things that are happening there too.
2006-10-02 05:58:01 · answer #6 · answered by Rattler M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son is over there right now. they are poorly equipped and some are poorly trained. it is very scary, but you have to have faith that your friend will be ok. worrying won't change anything apart from your state of mind. no need to stress over something you can't change. keep in touch, stay positive and let him know you're thinking of him often. supporting our troops means so much to them, so we have to do the best we can while they're over there.
2006-09-28 21:14:19 · answer #7 · answered by jbslass 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the likelihood of something bad happening is pretty low, i also have had a friend serving over there and he said that they just watched DVD's all night and were bored most of the time.....really, there aren't that many deaths of british soldiers on the scale of things...no need to worry chick.XX
2006-09-28 21:04:29 · answer #8 · answered by The Banshee 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anything he gets he deserves...
probably.
2006-10-03 20:50:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no idea.
2006-09-28 21:05:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋