General Chat

I do not see there is any connection between, Hungerford in 1987,
Monkseaton in 1989, Dunblane in 1996, Cumbria in 2010, and the age that the Armed Forces recruit at :-S

Dermot, With respect, None of those events where on anywhere near the same scale as those in the US

In the US mass shootings alone are in excess of 60 separate events since the 1980's

Then there's other events,
One of many is the 1995 April 19: Oklahoma City bombing killing 168 people including children

Roy

OFITG, as I said not relevant on this thread

Hi OFITG

I personally think no. My son was 16yr when he joined up in 2001,at the time the troubles in Belfast had eased and we were generally at peace. 2 weeks after he joined up 9/11 happened. I wept buckets as I left him at the AFC in Harrogate, he rang me later that night and told me he didn't like it, I said well not every job suits everyone give it a few days and you dont want to stay I will come and get you. 2 weeks past before I heard off him again, I recevied a letter full of things he had leant and was doing he loved it. After 6 weeks we went and pick him up, it was half term ( as this was a college) there he was in unifrom and they put on a little display for us, again I wept buckets and it took 20 mins for them to peel me off him!
I noticed the change in him there and then I wasn't having a conversation with my son I was speaking wth an adult.
He stayed there for 12 mths and then passed out, a day I shall never forget the look of pride on my OH face me I just wept buckets. He then went off to join his regiment. He loved it there as well. He did serve in Iraq a year later and went on to serve in Belfast for 2 years and afganistan, he left the army at 24 as he and his long term girlfriend wanted to be married, she didnt want to be a army wife.

The skills he learnt in his first 6 weeks at Harrogate have never left him, even to this day you can see your face in his work boots.
I personally think going in so young, gave him some structure and prepared him for life as an adult. He talks about his time in the army all the time, always a funny story.

I think its the making of some young men and women, I hope it continues. :-D

Hayley Empress of Drama - brilliant post

Hayley, Having served in the Army myself and going to see my own son's passing out your post brought back that same pride and emotion I felt that day

Thanks

Roy

Thank you OFITG :-D


Roy my OH is ex RAF, he joined when he was 25 and he always said it was harder to adapt then it was for the youngest, however when he and my son had consummed alcohol and the banter would begin between RAF and Army I would often have to intervene with my rolling pin and banish them both to their rooms, happy times :-D :-D :-D