Mixed Emotions

[Fallout]

Originally Posted by Sir Trev

There is nothing wrong in having opinions on things and several ex-forces officers I've worked with all said you cannot be a machine and switch off to what is around you. It would be dangerous to do so and counterproductive.

The blind faith bit is almost true though. You have to respect the chain of command and get on with tasks. Questioning orders can get you killed so the jump-to-it mentality is part of the life. If you cannot get on with this you don't get through selection.

I agree with you on that. I just meant, I personally feel the whole of the Iraq situation was bull**** (a discussion for another day), and it would've been wrong of me to join the army with that mentally. You don't have to agree with everything, but I think if you find yourself questioning what the hell the army as a whole is doing before you're even there, you're getting into the wrong profession.

Having said that, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be interested in the army if that was his mindset.

[carelesschucca]

I think he should go for it, yes its a hard life but the benefits he'll get are immense.

I wish I'd know more about the military life when I was younger if I'd joined when I was asked to by one of the majors I worked for I'd only be 6 years from retirement, a nice handy pay out and a pension.

You've just got to hope that Sandhurst doesn't affect his dress sense too much.

All my life Ive bumbled from job to job with no real direction and one of my biggest hopes for my kids is that they leave school with a sense of direction, which I didnt. If that means they want to join up then so be it, I'll support them 100%.

Whilst it would be understandably hard as a parent to sit back and watch, it sounds like your son knows what he wants and im sure he'll make you very proud!

If he knows his own mind, and it sounds like he does, then you've done a good job bringing him up. I hope our two have some idea what they want to do at that age and if it's the military life, then I'll just have to accept it and hope they stay safe. I'm currently trying not to think about Fallout's comments on showjumping as a dangerous career, as youngest is heading in that direction at the moment.