Quiet a few of the police officers at my station were ex forces , it's a pity this country doesn't have the same attitude to ex/ serving personnel as they do in the States .
I have often said rather than bring back national service, train ex soldiers to teach in the class room. The two teachers I respected most at school (and I was no Angel) were ex forces Para and Marine. There was friendly banter between them obviously, but they lead by example and took no crap from anyone. I once gave some lip to the Para and found myself standing there with a chisel buried in the floor between my feet after he reacted. Thought twice for ever more there after I can tell you (and so did everyone else).
Sadly it’s a fact some do not adjust well and others (more so now than ever due to 20 years of recent operations) carry a heavy burden associated to their experiences only those who were there would truly understand. Like I said before asking for help is seen as a sign of weakness. If only they would ask for help they could probably get it, making the first step is always the hardest.
I do admire the US attitude to their forces, but it can go to far the other way sometimes. I once went there on a project and they found out by accident I had returned from Ops. It was announced in every bar we went too ‘I was a hero’ (a very reluctant one) and I got free drinks all night and a fair amount of admiration. But to be honest I was one of the lucky ones who came home. The guys we repatriated in coffins were the true heroes and made the ultimate sacrifice, everyone else were just doing their job hoping to return home safely - ‘there but for the grace of god’ often sprung to mind. So for me personally it was just a bit too much, too full on - but that’s me. I know others who milked it for all they were worth, cannot say I blame them
Cheers :007)
P.S BTW No offence to our US colleagues, it’s just different perspectives.
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
Asp9mmOver the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
I teach in Uni classes a few times a year, venomous snakes, expedition stuff and toxicology. Teachers have no power to discipline anymore. It would be more frustrating for them to walk into that environment. Even innocent banter is frowned upon. Ex military would get sacked within days if there was more than one of us doing it.
And I teach high education average 20/21 year olds that want to progress and get the best qualifications. I’d hate to have to teach teenagers in schools who don’t. Christ alive, no.
I had a teacher at school in the early 1970s who had been a major in World War 2. He was very strict and used to grab us by the ear lobe and pull us along by it to the headmaster’s office if we were naughty. He went to slap my face once but I managed to duck and so he didn’t make full contact. We were only 10 years old, and he must have been around 70. Apart from that he was quite a nice man if you behaved yourself. His army training must have made him intolerant of bad behaviour. He would have been fired if he were a teacher today.
I cannot understand the English and their discipline. Even today in my country there is corporal punishment in the schools. If the pupil is misbehaving the teacher hits them without worry. I was hit many times at school. If the child is disrespecting the adult on the street then the adult hits them. There is not any time where the child is bad behaved. If you are a criminal the people will beat you. The police hit you if you are in the army the NCO hits you. That is the way. For the police to hit you unless you are a criminal is not good. I think that many times the criminal in England would not do what they do if they were in my country because the people around would beat them very badly before the police got them. There is crime yes, and violent crime also but never things I read about in the newspaper in England. People beating elder people and such crimes as this.
I cannot understand the English and their discipline. Even today in my country there is corporal punishment in the schools. If the pupil is misbehaving the teacher hits them without worry. I was hit many times at school. If the child is disrespecting the adult on the street then the adult hits them. There is not any time where the child is bad behaved. If you are a criminal the people will beat you. The police hit you if you are in the army the NCO hits you. That is the way. For the police to hit you unless you are a criminal is not good. I think that many times the criminal in England would not do what they do if they were in my country because the people around would beat them very badly before the police got them. There is crime yes, and violent crime also but never things I read about in the newspaper in England. People beating elder people and such crimes as this.
Based on that Joshua - could I safely assume you misbehaved at School and in the Army? You've mentioned many, many times you were hit/beaten in the Army. Was the punishment justified and specifically which Country are you from?
"Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974; It's a scientific fact". - Homer J Simpson
One mans beating is another mans 'attitude realignment' depending where you sit in the hierarchy of life as it were. Through good fortune, drills and standards one day the shoe is on the other foot and you truly understand why it happened and the error of your ways back in the day.
Then do the same to the next generation to teach them the same lessons that you learnt the hard way. You can never put a wise head on young shoulders each generations thinks they are the first and the older generation were born 'old and wise' (no we also learnt through our screw ups and the hard way thats why we have the benefit of hindsight)
Its called evolution
Cheers :007)
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
This fall Norway (the larger region around Trondheim) will host NATO's Trident Juncture exercise. About 40,000 participants, 130 aircraft and 70 vessels from more than 30 nations will participate, making it the largest military exercise in Norway and one of the largest exercises in NATO since the cold war. I'm very thankful that so many people from all those contries are willing to invest time, money one Norway's and the West's security. At the same time it saddens and worries me that these large exercises are neccesery in this day and age.
Based on that Joshua - could I safely assume you misbehaved at School and in the Army? You've mentioned many, many times you were hit/beaten in the Army. Was the punishment justified and specifically which Country are you from?
I have mentioned 'many times' about myself ? I think you had better read my postings again you will then have your answer as to what context I am speaking about and ask yourself if you would rather be hit or go on punishment? It would be your choice.
I am interested in your picture. The 'funny' black man. If you will, can you tell me please why you use this as your profile picture? Thankyou.
I am interested in your picture. The 'funny' black man. If you will, can you tell me please why you use this as your profile picture? Thankyou.
Certainly Joshua. I like the affiliation that Bond/Fleming has with Jamaica and this is where Bond was born (created anyway). As you know all the Fleming novels were written at his Goldeneye home in Oracabessa and Dr. No (both the film and novel) is one of my favourite Bond films/books. As for the 'funny' black man I chose the Rastaman with the guitar as reggae is one of my favourite music genres. That has nothing to do with Bond per se but I just like the caricature. -{
"Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974; It's a scientific fact". - Homer J Simpson
This weekend I have discovered the exellent YouTube history channel The Great War. They cover everything from the largest battles to to the role of minor neutral nations, from ace pilots to the role of women. Every episode I've seen has been interesting and informative.
Here is something I learnt: The first military paratrooper ever was Alessandro Tandura, an officer in the elite Arditi unit (comparable to the German sturmtruppen). He jumped behind Austrian-Hungarian lines in 1918 from a bomber piloted by a Canadian and a Brit. Parachuting was in it's infancy and Tandura had never parachuted before. He managed to stay behind enemy lines for three months before returning to Italy. Tandura gathered information and sent home messages by carrier pigeons. Four more Arditi officers were dropped behind enemy lines before the war ended.
The newest Russian spetsnaz unit is called Smerch (not "SMERSH" "), meaning "whirlwind". Their missions are high-risk arrests and hunting fugitives. It's remarkable that the name of the unit is so simular to the Stalinist organisation we know from the James Bond novels and I suspect it was done on purpose.
I reckon it was a typo like Tomorrow Never Lies
Or the Russians cannot spell I mean have you seen how many vowels they have in their words!
Rumour has it Mr Putin likes a good Bond flick in the cinema in the Kremlin, was really upset when they delayed the next Bond film he offered to direct it himself title to be The World in Still Not Enough or You Only Live as Many Times as you want if you are the President )
Cheers :007)
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
Number 24 I wonder what you thought about the rifle? I did not use this rifle but it was in some service in my army as the G3 (I think). It was not popular.
A funny story. I did not fire pistols much. We were shown how to use them but never had to use them only the officers or MP and other troops like that. We cued to fire a pistol one time. I think I was waiting for almost two hours. When it was my turn i got a magazine with three rounds! I fired this in just a few seconds! That was it! 40 minute wait for each bullet shot!
The rifle is an AG3. It's a version of the German G3 produced on licence in Norway. It's almost identical to the G3, but the butt of the rifle is two cm longer, the cocking handle is different, the bolt has groves to make it easier to fix jamms (see photo) and it's marked with a K (for the producer Kongsberg) and the date and year it was made. My rifle was older than I was.
The AG3 was the Norwegian service rifle from 1967 to 2007. I think the rifle was fairly popular, perhaps because it functions well in cold weather (especially compared to the American M16)
During the cold war pistols were very rare for everyone exept the officers and special forces, but now it's different. All professional soldiers seem to carry a Glock 17, especially when serving abroad.
During the cold war pistols were very rare for everyone exept the officers and special forces, but now it's different. All professional soldiers seem to carry a Glock 17, especially when serving abroad.
Oh yes G17! My second favourite from the service pistols that I have been exposed to.
Pros:
Very clear sight picture
Low bore axis for fast follow-ups
Points quite naturally (but not perfect)
Cons:
Quite wide grip, so quick mag changes are a bit stretch for me
For me at least, it doesn't give that perfect index finger pointing
Mags are a sonuwabitch to load to a full cap with out loading tool esp wit a +2 floor plate.
I feel I like the P99 more over all:
It points better with the interchangeable grip parts, has better trigger and I like the paddle mag release.
Cons:
Factory sights are cräp IMHO
Higher bore axis -> more felt flip at the muzzle.
"I mean, she almost kills bond...with her ass."
-Mr Arlington Beech
These days the NATO exercise Joint Venture is going on in Norway. It's one of the largest NATO has had since the cold war, involving all member states plus Sweden and Finland (Perkele! )
Russia has been informed about the exercise a long time ago and their military observers are there after being invited by NATO. What is the Russian reaction? A lot of negative press in the Putin-controlled media, of course. In some stories the NATO forces are laughable, silly and weak. In others they are a threat to Russia and world peace
The other reactions are military. Without much prior notification Russia said they will conduct a missile exercise just off the coast here, right in the middle of the NATO excersise! To be fair they just sailed by without firing the missiles at least at first. Perhaps just a provocation? NATO has alerted everyone of a risk zone where they will test-fire their weapons and ask others to keep out. The Russian missile exercise is of course right in the middle of that zone. The Russian are also conducting another missile test of the coast off northern Norway.
Map key:
Red line = the Russian exercise
Blue line = according to the map this is the area of the exercise. This might be true about the air force component, but it's really Norway's borders. The land part of the exercise goes about as far North and South as the Russian exercise.
Green line = where NATO has planned to fire their naval weapons.
A Russian Tupolev TU-142 recconnaissance plane also flew straight over the US Mount Whitney, the command and control ship for the entire exercise.
Perkele! The Finns are coming too? Then the rest of us are without a chance
I'm reminded of a quote in WW2 - apparently attributed to a Finnish commander who, being told the Russians were sending a million men to invade Finland his response was concern that there wouldn't be enough room to bury them all.
Scary people Finns.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
Perkele! The Finns are coming too? Then the rest of us are without a chance
I'm reminded of a quote in WW2 - apparently attributed to a Finnish commander who, being told the Russians were sending a million men to invade Finland his response was concern that there wouldn't be enough room to bury them all.
Scary people Finns.
Now that's the spirit that won the war! Similarly, "There are bitter weeds in England."
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Comments
Sadly it’s a fact some do not adjust well and others (more so now than ever due to 20 years of recent operations) carry a heavy burden associated to their experiences only those who were there would truly understand. Like I said before asking for help is seen as a sign of weakness. If only they would ask for help they could probably get it, making the first step is always the hardest.
I do admire the US attitude to their forces, but it can go to far the other way sometimes. I once went there on a project and they found out by accident I had returned from Ops. It was announced in every bar we went too ‘I was a hero’ (a very reluctant one) and I got free drinks all night and a fair amount of admiration. But to be honest I was one of the lucky ones who came home. The guys we repatriated in coffins were the true heroes and made the ultimate sacrifice, everyone else were just doing their job hoping to return home safely - ‘there but for the grace of god’ often sprung to mind. So for me personally it was just a bit too much, too full on - but that’s me. I know others who milked it for all they were worth, cannot say I blame them
Cheers :007)
P.S BTW No offence to our US colleagues, it’s just different perspectives.
And I teach high education average 20/21 year olds that want to progress and get the best qualifications. I’d hate to have to teach teenagers in schools who don’t. Christ alive, no.
But you do get some bone questions like the ones mentioned elsewhere and that’s just from the teachers
A young teacher did say the me once ‘I don’t know how you do it’, simple really don’t take no **** and a robust attitude works wonders.
Cheers :007)
Based on that Joshua - could I safely assume you misbehaved at School and in the Army? You've mentioned many, many times you were hit/beaten in the Army. Was the punishment justified and specifically which Country are you from?
Then do the same to the next generation to teach them the same lessons that you learnt the hard way. You can never put a wise head on young shoulders each generations thinks they are the first and the older generation were born 'old and wise' (no we also learnt through our screw ups and the hard way thats why we have the benefit of hindsight)
Its called evolution
Cheers :007)
I have mentioned 'many times' about myself ? I think you had better read my postings again you will then have your answer as to what context I am speaking about and ask yourself if you would rather be hit or go on punishment? It would be your choice.
I am interested in your picture. The 'funny' black man. If you will, can you tell me please why you use this as your profile picture? Thankyou.
Certainly Joshua. I like the affiliation that Bond/Fleming has with Jamaica and this is where Bond was born (created anyway). As you know all the Fleming novels were written at his Goldeneye home in Oracabessa and Dr. No (both the film and novel) is one of my favourite Bond films/books. As for the 'funny' black man
Here is something I learnt: The first military paratrooper ever was Alessandro Tandura, an officer in the elite Arditi unit (comparable to the German sturmtruppen). He jumped behind Austrian-Hungarian lines in 1918 from a bomber piloted by a Canadian and a Brit. Parachuting was in it's infancy and Tandura had never parachuted before. He managed to stay behind enemy lines for three months before returning to Italy. Tandura gathered information and sent home messages by carrier pigeons. Four more Arditi officers were dropped behind enemy lines before the war ended.
The new cold war.
Or the Russians cannot spell I mean have you seen how many vowels they have in their words!
Rumour has it Mr Putin likes a good Bond flick in the cinema in the Kremlin, was really upset when they delayed the next Bond film he offered to direct it himself title to be The World in Still Not Enough or You Only Live as Many Times as you want if you are the President
Cheers :007)
The photo is a bit old, but ….
Fun fact: the artist was a Stay Behind officer:
So it is true, the leadership methods are quite different in Norway!
"Don't worry dear, you'll hit the target next time..."
-Mr Arlington Beech
A funny story. I did not fire pistols much. We were shown how to use them but never had to use them only the officers or MP and other troops like that. We cued to fire a pistol one time. I think I was waiting for almost two hours. When it was my turn i got a magazine with three rounds! I fired this in just a few seconds! That was it! 40 minute wait for each bullet shot!
The AG3 was the Norwegian service rifle from 1967 to 2007. I think the rifle was fairly popular, perhaps because it functions well in cold weather (especially compared to the American M16)
During the cold war pistols were very rare for everyone exept the officers and special forces, but now it's different. All professional soldiers seem to carry a Glock 17, especially when serving abroad.
Oh yes G17! My second favourite from the service pistols that I have been exposed to.
Pros:
Very clear sight picture
Low bore axis for fast follow-ups
Points quite naturally (but not perfect)
Cons:
Quite wide grip, so quick mag changes are a bit stretch for me
For me at least, it doesn't give that perfect index finger pointing
Mags are a sonuwabitch to load to a full cap with out loading tool esp wit a +2 floor plate.
I feel I like the P99 more over all:
It points better with the interchangeable grip parts, has better trigger and I like the paddle mag release.
Cons:
Factory sights are cräp IMHO
Higher bore axis -> more felt flip at the muzzle.
-Mr Arlington Beech
-Mr Arlington Beech
Russia has been informed about the exercise a long time ago and their military observers are there after being invited by NATO. What is the Russian reaction? A lot of negative press in the Putin-controlled media, of course. In some stories the NATO forces are laughable, silly and weak. In others they are a threat to Russia and world peace
The other reactions are military. Without much prior notification Russia said they will conduct a missile exercise just off the coast here, right in the middle of the NATO excersise! To be fair they just sailed by without firing the missiles at least at first. Perhaps just a provocation? NATO has alerted everyone of a risk zone where they will test-fire their weapons and ask others to keep out. The Russian missile exercise is of course right in the middle of that zone. The Russian are also conducting another missile test of the coast off northern Norway.
Map key:
Red line = the Russian exercise
Blue line = according to the map this is the area of the exercise. This might be true about the air force component, but it's really Norway's borders. The land part of the exercise goes about as far North and South as the Russian exercise.
Green line = where NATO has planned to fire their naval weapons.
A Russian Tupolev TU-142 recconnaissance plane also flew straight over the US Mount Whitney, the command and control ship for the entire exercise.
I'm reminded of a quote in WW2 - apparently attributed to a Finnish commander who, being told the Russians were sending a million men to invade Finland his response was concern that there wouldn't be enough room to bury them all.
Scary people Finns.
Now that's the spirit that won the war! Similarly, "There are bitter weeds in England."
Certainly. I would guess that the numbers were not on their side.