Soldier F

[Michael Rolls]

Glad to see that he has been found not guilty of all charges. A disgrace that a man in his 70s was put through all this when known IRA murderers have been released without charge under the Good Friday agreement

[Ashy]

Agreed.

[klondike]

Yep

[Alex]

This so angers me, Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O'Neill called the verdict "deeply disappointing".  She would wouldn't she !

[Michael Rolls]

Yes

[JBR]

This so angers me, Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O'Neill called the verdict "deeply disappointing".  She would wouldn't she !

This angers me too.  Our servicemen, especially soldiers serving in N. Ireland, have been treated very badly.
I can see nothing to criticise of their activities there, being a very difficult job to do.
Of course, there is a lot of anti-British feeling in some parts of that province and, of course, our present government has absolutely no capability to do anything of importance, least of all in N. Ireland.

It is easy to assume that our forces will never react to unfair treatment, including cuts in numbers and funding, but everyone eventually cracks under pressure.  With a poor government, mass illegal invasion, and the lack of proper function by the police, we might well need our armed forces.

[klondike]

So long as we have jury trials and an agreed jury selection by defence as well as prosecution there should be sensible acquittals every time. 

[muddy]

Who would join the army if years later this happens ? 

[Michael Rolls]

exactly

[JBR]

Who would join the army if years later this happens ?

I can guess.  In fact, I seem to remember reading an article about one of the armed services encouraging non-white people to join up, on the grounds of 'equality' no doubt.  Deterring the majority (white British) is hardly equality, is it?

[klondike]

The armed forces already have recruitment problems.. seemed to kick in around the time they outsourced recruitment. To Crapita I think. Doubtless a nice little earner for somebody and the falloff in recruits is obviously just an unfortunate coincidence.

Plus who'd want to be cold, wet, knackered from humping kit for miles and potentially have some bastard shooting at you when you can park your arse on the sofa watching TV and your iPhone until you fancy a ride in your mobility car because of the daily mental anguish you face from being abused on social media.

[Vlad]

The armed forces already have recruitment problems.. seemed to kick in around the time they outsourced recruitment. To Crapita I think. Doubtless a nice little earner for somebody and the falloff in recruits is obviously just an unfortunate coincidence.

Plus who'd want to be cold, wet, knackered from humping kit for miles and potentially have some bastard shooting at you when you can park your arse on the sofa watching TV and your iPhone until you fancy a ride in your mobility car because of the daily mental anguish you face from being abused on social media.

People pay good money to be cold, wet and knackered, well that's what I told my guys, getting shot at was always a bonus 😀

[klondike]

Ah yes the "Military mind". Trouble is Gen Z where any recruits have to come from are more in favour of doing SFA in the warm with other others keeping them and being the ones getting shot at.

Now if Putin had rocked up in Kent with an army that probably would have been a 3 day war.

[Vlad]

We always noted an increase in recruitment and retention despite Capita when there was a punch up somewhere in the world that HM forces were involved in...The Falklands was a great recruiter despite its short duration, Kosovo and the Balkans not so much, no bugger could understand what it was all about. Any of the sandpit punchups were  good despite the lack of kit. NI was monotonous, boring, no aim, no end.  You collect a lot of T-shirts 😀
But now? I am not sure of the quality or motivation of recruits these days. Times change.

[klondike]

Nor I in truth but I'm not hopeful.