I heard that the cards say:
Don't fight with the British..
Don't Drink with the British
and
Don't Gamble with the British..
Because you will always loose!
Is it true that they actually get cards that tell them this?
2006-11-17 21:18:14 · 19 answers · asked by stickyricky 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
It is true! My brother is a soldier and told me of this when he was working with the Americans in Kosovo. Also they have cards for recognising enemy and friendly vehicles. Obviously they pay a lot of attention to these.
2006-11-17 21:31:24 · answer #1 · answered by skorpi_ru 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
All troops are give 'advice ' cards to try to help them understand the particular rules that apply to the situation they are placed in at the time. British troops in Northern Ireland had the 'yellow' card in particular which had advice,- can you believe, in what to do if a suspect vehicle failed to stop at an armed check point!
As for fighting - as in 'punch ups', I was in the Royal Navy and in my day if two or more British ships were at the same port, you can bet that at some time there would be a fight ashore between ratings of the different ships after a few pints had been sunk and a few of the local girls had been chatted up. It was usually started by only one or two but then the shipmates would join in the fight to protect their own buddies. It was the same with the American guys. If ships of different nationalities were in port at the same time irrespective of your ship, be it British American or any other, you all joined in to protect your countrymen. THAT IS LIFE IN THE SERVICES! We all love each other of our allies -really and may that always be the case.
God Bless America . . . and all our friends!
2006-11-18 08:07:22 · answer #2 · answered by Whistler R 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can't speak for the mindset of the American brass but in the British army of the 1970's equipment was designed to be so simple as to be 'squadie-proof' ie even the densest could work it and the training films were pitched very much at the 'lowest common denominator' to the point of being downright insulting. It is still a class ridden institution and I was appalled the first time my squad went to the ranges to find toilets for "Officers, NCO's and Men" all seperate entrances. Says it all, the class structure.
2006-11-18 06:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by william john l 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What genius said was almost certainly true during WW2 - The brits were just about out of all sorts of things (as a nation, not just the deployed forces) and the american guys came in with lotsa goodies.
Watch the original Dambusters movie - the only aircrew who got breakfast were the ones who were flying that same day (it may have been their last meal, lotsa guys never came back)
2006-11-18 05:34:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's an urban myth.
During my time in the RAF, I was deployed and worked alongside USAF guys quite a lot.
This whole myth grew out of the friendly banter an leg-pulling that goes on between the US and UK troops.
In particular, it grew out of the on-going joke that American troops are only allowed to get drunk, fight, or think for themselves if they've been given permission by their sergeant.
Conversely, they joke that we Brits are a bunch of undisciplined and uncivilised barbarian animals.
This of course is not the case, but it's all part of the good natured banter that takes place between allied troops who are facing adversity or danger.
I've seen Spams (as the UK forces call US troops) fighting just as hard as us Brits, and I've seen them drink just as hard.
2006-11-18 11:24:26 · answer #5 · answered by Swampy_Bogtrotter 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not so much these days, but in the past it was quite usual to warn American forces members not to interract on these levels with British troops.
2006-11-18 06:17:43 · answer #6 · answered by rookethorne 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Probably true because the British are the best at a lot of things
2006-11-18 10:56:30 · answer #7 · answered by HHH 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No but it is true British Troops have asked for
head protection cards when fighting( as per norm) in front of the yanks
2006-11-18 05:33:18 · answer #8 · answered by Butt 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Definately not true, they do however get warned not to mess with Brit troops when it comes to dringing fighting and gambling.
The Yanks do admit however that we`re the best army in the world as we can adapt to any situation and we`re one of worst worst equiped armies
2006-11-18 10:31:30 · answer #9 · answered by Jacqueline M 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, a friend of mine (British soldier) told me that when fighting in Afghanistan the British troops had to wear reflective patches on their uniforms whilst out on patrol so when the Yanks saw them they didn't shoot them, it was reflective for miles, so who won, the brits or the Taliban, they could see them as well!!!! Yanks motto; shoot first and ask questions after......
2006-11-18 07:28:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋