Commando on the front line, Episode 4.

[Sully]

Alfa, I agree but I'd like to point out that he didn't hack the marines (and I know that's not what you're saying).

I'm not trying to take too much away from the fella because it was a good effort what he did at his age and it's always good to see someone who respects what's worth respecting. However... the blurb before the series started was that he was deeply embedded and it gave me the impression that he did the course - the whole ish. I had a chat with an old oppo and agreed that if a 55 year old could do the course then it was different to the one we did. He's got more than 10 years on me but despite having done the course once upon a time, still running 20-30 miles a week and being ok at yomping I doubt if I'd get passed week 10. I had another chat with a serving C/Sgt who said that apparently he 'dipped in and out' of training.

I've been disappointed with the series up to now and to be honest I think the melodramatic side plots (Rct John) show a lack of respect for the Corps and the decent lads who are doing the bootneck (recruit ) thing of just quietly cracking on. It also showed a lack of respect for Rct John and I think the film makers took advantage of him to a point.

The cartoon stuff at the beginning sums it all up really, meanwhile real life grinds on.

My main TV inspiration for joining the Corps was a programme called "Behind the Lines" in the 80's. I can't find a you tube link but a programme called "The Paras" from 1982 also made a big impression on me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBhb2Tvb_uE

It looks like all of the episodes are on there. It's both funny and inspirational and shows a country (only 25 years ago) when image and what you or your publicists say you can do or have done counted for nowt.

[Chas]

Very good post Sully.

WW2 stories of commandos - derring do
and schooling close to Deal enthused me
to join the RM.

On an aside a former associate who has now
crossed the bar passed SAS selection
at 44 years of age. He was a Jock and hard
as nails.

Brig. Wingate- Gray, (the man) was in the SAS in the
Radfan and commanded 22 SAS in the rank of Colonel.
His successor was Colonel Viscount Slim,OBE who took
command of 22 as a Lt. Colonel in 1967.

I was a member of the same military club in the 80s'
with both and they were extremely modest and decent.

[Sully]

Cheers Chas,

Who would gatecrash that club?

Selection at 44 is something else. I always remember an old sweat telling us that any bootneck with good knees, a decent back and more importantly one who could stay out of the shit long enough could crack selection (always tickled me that). There was a USMC gunny sgt who did the all arms in his 40's when I was there. He used to say stuff to his troop like "week 19, goddamn, you'd all be corporals in the USMC by now!"

We had a teacher at school who was in the LRDG (unit motto: Non Vi Sed Arte - not by strength but by guile! as I'm sure you know) and a true gent. Similarly a very modest man but he had a steely glare about him - he always wore one of those gowns and every now and then when we were looking for mischief he'd ghost past.

[druadan]

Thoughts to date:

First episode seemed promising. Since then downhill. Aside from all points mentioned, can anyone at all see any reason from that programme why 24 or however many have wrapped? My missus could have done most of what they've shown. 100lbs daysacks? Cheers. And as to the cartoon at the start, it says it all - a grenade seemingly having the effect of a few pounds of C4 on that hut. Bollocks.

It makes us look like a bunch of uneducated w@#k who've had a holiday for 32 weeks and given a title at the end of it. Recruitment it may help, quality Mnes passing out, I doubt it.

[Stokey_14]

It makes us look like a bunch of uneducated w@#k who've had a holiday for 32 weeks and given a title at the end of it. Recruitment it may help, quality Mnes passing out, I doubt it.

I doubt the quality of Marine passing out will go down, after all they still have to go through training like anyone else and if they aren’t up to the task at hand they aren’t going to make it.

Stokey

[Fairy_Dust]

It's quality, not quantity that counts.

[druadan]

I doubt the quality of Marine passing out will go down, after all they still have to go through training like anyone else and if they aren’t up to the task at hand they aren’t going to make it.

That's what I meant Stokey, it may improve recruitment numbers but it's not going to increase the number of Mnes who make the grade and pass out, as it could start attracting those without the necessary bottle to stick it out.

[Mitch]

Episode 7 was alright then! They are getting better each week; not focusing on one guy, more footage of what they are doing in Afghanistan and showing how difficult the training is.

As a note, there is a link below to an article from the daily telegraph that Chris Terril wrote a while ago. Remembered it as soon as Chris mentioned Tom Curry on the program.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... wafg16.xml

[freer07]

I've just got in and realised I've missed episode 7 does anyone know where I will be able to watch it please?

[Artist]

Wednesday on ITV3 or 4

Artist

[freer07]

Thanks