Somethin that has put me off joining the military in general

[owdun]

Hey-up, Yorkie lad, did you win, or lose.??????




Aye Owdun.

[Pilgrim Norway]

Nice one Yorkie -

Up country Aden '64/'65 with a green hat - for a fiver a week - muchness.

( and that was only the last yomp of many )

Equipment sophistication was an ammo box to keep your stuff in - and a new pair of chukka boots every two weeks or so .....

'One on - one in the kit muster - and one in the wash, Sir'

'Aye

[barryc]

I endorse everything my esteemed comrades in arms have said. We have never had the kit we needed. In the early 60's 43 went to Norway, extra kit was CWW (cold wet weather) boots instead of the then issue Boot SV, a pair of long johns, a string vest, mittens wool and mittens leather (mit trigger finger) and a parka, the like of which the Mods were wearing riding around on their Vespas and Lambrettas. Result, lots of cold wet Booties, but what we learned was passed on for the future. Aden, we were still using 1940's type Khaki Drill (I think it was that era anyway). In Borneo we were all providing our own Aussie style shelter halves < mucho better than the poncho and lighter, buying US style jungle boots, leather part uppers and metal plate in sole against pungi sticks. We utilised the roller buckle cargo webbing normally used for para equipment drops, made a one piece quick release belt, Arab street magazine pouches for the armalite mags and para `silk' zoot suits for sleeopnig dry when the opportunity presented itself. NI shortage of flak jackets and helmets with visors. and I daresay the saga continued after I became Mr.

Wherever we went we improvised to create `luxurious ' living quarters be it Djebel top, jungle basha, Crossmaglen police posts or whatever. The chance to use your wits, native cunning and sleight of hand, and all in the company of some of the best guys you could ever hope to meet. That's why we gather here in cyber space, meet up for Dartmoor Yomps or look forward to reunions. NO the Marines will never really get first call on the kit, will never be pampered and will always come out smiling and winning.

In short if you don't think you can hack it, don't waste everyones' time. If you think iy could be for you, then best of luck.

BarryC

[Pilgrim Norway]

That was a memory jerker Barry..........

Snow and Cold Weather Warfare Course with Punchy Goddard winter '63
at Skiold Garnison, Maukstadmoen. Learning enough to be able to ski under the horses legs with style.... snow holes dug by numbers and the drawing of pulks.... on the downhill bit back to camp it resembled Napoleons retreat from Moscow - bodies, holes and blood on each side of the trail.

Being used as 'experts' when the Commando came over,
(I was with 43 then) AND the Sgt Major who ordered " right lads - off skiis"
every time we came to something that pointed downover -

Mafish gear yes - but we made it work - and the lads 'got around' sufficiently well to be able to hold their own against the 'attacking' local troops.

It is a noted fact that not too many Norwegian youngsters are proficient on cross country skiis these days - canny on computers though, does that sound familiar ? ALL Royal Marines can be just as good as any other
"born to it" troops in any country - it just takes time and patience.
Getting up again is the most difficult lesson.....

This experience and a couple of other RM sponsored ski experiences stood me well when I began as a ski instructor with Scottish Norwegian Ski School in Aviemore when I became Mr... and I've had my own school here in Norway too - mind boggling. Came over as an instructor in sailing though - after my experiences with the dinghies and whalers at Stonehouse and at the Depot with Peyton Jones and the Sea soldier.

It's not the gear that makes the man -

"We utilised the roller buckle cargo webbing normally used for para equipment drops, " They worked for us then and were a great improvement.....

'Aye

[Dave.Mil]

gone

[Pilgrim Norway]

That includes of course choppers, planes, ships, space shuttles

It's getting spooky here - isn't it .....

[saffer]

what i am about to say by no stretch of the imagination means that i dont want to join ... but ....

going back to the initial point, i understand that the MOD does not have enough money to go around, giving all the opportunity for the most efficient kit for the job. in addition the prospect of going shopping for kit to take with you sounds awsome - it makes me feel manly lol.
however, considering the rather low wage in respect of the job being done, i would rather spend my money on other things - a new surfbosrd maybe!
again, i understand that the royal are excellent at improvisation and getting the job done better than anyone else - but still, its coming out of my pocket, rather than my ability to be able to do something better than the next pongo!

please correct me if i am wrong, as i do not have that good knowledge on the day to day workings of the corps, but i think that rm's should just get an allowance to spend on the kit they feel is best - as long it is approved by the CO etc, as discussed in the thread about webbing.
this doesnt necessarily limit its self to any one piece of kit, and would solve alot of complaints, moaning, and improve the abilty of the royal, and then put more money in for the next round (of drinks that is)

just a suggestion that will not go further than this forum, but hey, its worth saying!

[Dave.Mil]

gone

[Artist]

When you you join the Marines you are issued with all the stuff pusser thinks you need.

To look at a civvy carpenter working for a company they will issue him saws, hammers, the lot, but he'll still go out and buy what he considers is better saws and hammers so as to make life easier.

Well it's the same for the Marines, your a proffesional soldier and you will spend your hard earned cash to improve your lot. A fair few years ago a lot of blokes bought there own Rifle sights for the SLR from mail order firms to improve the accuracy of the weapon. In time pusser issued them. It's always been like this and I reckon it will never change.

Being a Marine is not a hobby but a way of life. Just read some of the Old and Bolds input ref past campaigns. Most equipment was Proffed, Purlioned etc, etc, to make Royal a Happy Bunny!

It's been said that to put a Marine in a storeroom full of kit unsupervised is a very silly thing to do. Addapt and improvise. Good words that over the years have been used to there full extent.

Artist

[saffer]

point taken!
shop on!

[Humphs]

Artist said

It's been said that to put a Marine in a storeroom full of kit unsupervised is a very silly thing to do. Addapt and improvise. Good words that over the years have been used to there full extent.

I remember on the states trip in 73 at camp L ( you know the one I meen in South Carolina ) good ole yank put us A/tks in with there 106's . For those that don't or can't remember A/tks at the time had Wombats 120mm with a .50 spoter rifle on top , so royal being royal we came away with alsorts of spares for our .50s

[Maverick00]

I can't help but smile with the image of a Royal with a sly grin on his face tip toeing out of the stores with all kinds of military bits n bobs stuffed into his pockets...somewhat like a child in a sweet shop!

[day tripper]

What a load of nonsense.

When you have a job to do in the armed forces the correct tools must be provided for the job. Are you saying not to join the forces because one should not expect to be provided with the nesscessary equpment?

Of course one must adapt to the environment but how the hell was that tank crewman supposed to adapt to the situation without bodyarmour?

Was he supposed to dodge bullets?

I would rather be in the glasshouse than dead.

[Smiler.wales]

Hmmm Ok Im in the TA so I cant really compare to the advice of the ex Rms here but given that Im due to go to Iraq I feel I can at least comment on this issue

basically shiny kit is great when you can get it but to be a soldier boils down to having the clothes on your back , a weapon (preferably a rifle) and someone reliable to cover your back

As I said Im off in the next month or so and Im preparing little bits of items which may help while im over there (making up a small survival tin, a platypus etc etc) but (and this is the kicker) if I dont use it once while im over there Ill be a happy bunny.

OK Body Armour would be a great comfort and bloody useful but if you follow the argument through you could have a seargent ordering one of his guys to do something that would put his life at risk and said soldier refusing to do it because he didnt have all the right kit and thats just not how the military works.

End of the day no body armour in the world will stop a bullet to the head so your most valuable piece of kit is the organ inside the head so will have to start using it - now Ive said that you watch me do something stupid over there

[Dave.Mil]

gone