General Chat

A friend of mine was discussing this on the phone yesterday.....he was of exactly the same opinion as Jimmy Jam........ a way of resigning his commission and joining the rest of the family...doing whatever they do

Hi David would just like to put my point of view. Meercat says he shouldn't go because he wouldn't get the respect of the troops. No brand new officer in the Regiment gets the respect of the troops until he earns it be it in barracks on exercise or in active service. The Troop Sgt will ensure that Harry's earns that respect. As for being wet behind the ears he is at these moment on a six month Troop Leaders course teaching him all aspects of how to run a troop. And yet again he will be able to ask the Troop Sgt anything he's not sure on. It appears the main problem is that people and parents of serving soldiers think that Harry will be a bullet magnet , I'm afraid that every soldier on Active service is a bullet magnet and it isn't going to make any difference if Harry is your Troop Officer or not if they have you in there sights then that's life and that is the price for signing up and joining the forces. Of course the media will let every terrorist know where and when Harry is serving which isn't going to help him and his Troop but I still think Harry will make a fine Officer and should go wherever he is required. Ex 24131994 Troop Sgt :-))))))

Claire yeah he was but look what he went onto do!! he was never cut out for the marines/navy/army but he certainly hasn't sponged off the state!! xx

Saints Alive Thanks - appreciate yr point of view cos I don't know anything much about the army but I did see things the way you do.

I dont understand how Harry will be a bullet magnate. How are they going to find him, they are all dressed alike and unkless the insurgents go up to each one and read his name badge, which they will probably think will say Prince Harry, they are not going to know are they

I am sure Harry means it when he says he wants to see active service. I really don't see him or his brother sitting behind desks. He should go wherever his Regiment is sent and I am quite sure he will. With regard to Edward just because he couldn't cut it as a marine doesn't make him any less of a man. I admire him for admitting that military life was not for him. In his position I think it was a very brave thing to do. Jean.

Not a problem David it was hard keeping it short :-))) and just to let people like Meercat know that when a soldier See's an Officer he has to salute him , but he is not saluting the Officer himself he is saluting the commission given to him by the Queen so you still have to salute an Officer whether you respect him or not.

My cousin-in-law tried the Marines and bailed out too - he is now settled into a career in the police force and is a lovely bloke. It just wasn't right for him. Maz. XX

I once read somewhere that the mark of a good officer is the ability to make quick decisions, if they happen to be the right ones.......so much the better...........

Julia , Harry is in a reconnaissance Regiment which uses light armoured recce vehicles like Scorpion's or Scimitars to get around in. Each vehicle has it's own Call sign . The Troop leader always has his own C/S as does The rest of the troop. So if Harry was sent on Active service for six months how long do you think it would take for the enemy to figure out which vehicles were carrying Troop leaders and just go for all of them hoping that Harry is in one of them , and as I said before the media will let them know precisely where Harry will be.

Well I couldnt hack the Marines either,,,it sounds a tough regiment, I wondered why the 'powers that be' hadnt already thought it over regarding Harry going to the front line, I think he would make a great officer,,,he seems to have a good mix of humility and humour to get him through,

Apparently Harry's choice would be to fight alongside his fellow soldiers wherever that might be and he's on record as saying that there's no way he would want to sit on his ar*e whilst they were in the front line. I doubt he'd either want or expect any favours and all this suggestion has brought him is a load of undeserved abuse. Daisy