Tried to join the RAF 2

[BritinAfrica]

My son reported yesterday in Cape Town for transport to the South Africa Police Training Centre with about 200 other recruits.

Later in the evening I gave the lad a call to see how he's getting on in his new home for the next 6 months. Each recruit is given their own rooms (gasp, I remember being shoved into a large room with 17 other blokes), the grub is crap (nothing changes), they all got shouted at a lot, (nothing changes) and during drill he turned the wrong way (at least I didn't do that), and before turning in for the night went for a 5 km run (I didn't do that either).

Although 6 months is a long time and seemingly no end in sight to the bullshite, I think he will begin to enjoy himself. He has a few things in his favour, he has a brilliant sense of humour, people generally like him and he's pretty laid back.. He even didn't mind that he had to have a number 1 haircut before reporting lol.

[Doc]

Good luck to the lad, fond memories of basic training and then trade training and then all the training that came afterward. Christ I'm still training, although minus the bullshite factor.

Is this conscription then down with you or is he going the full hog and getting a trade too?

Best wishes

Doc

[BritinAfrica]

My son volunteered for the police in the forensics branch of the South African Police. After his 6 months basic training, he then has to complete 18 months training to qualify as a forensics detective.

With his knowledge of firearms, I reckon he could end up in the police ballistic unit. Literally from when he came home from the hospital after he was born, he has been around firearms, I was a firearm dealer in UK and had a houseful of all kinds of kit. The local police commented, “He's the only baby in the area that smells of gun oil instead of baby oil.” lol.

He worked for me for about 5 years in my gun shop here in South Africa, which expanded his firearm knowledge considerably. He felt however, that it was time to move on and make a career for himself.

Although he was pig sick that he couldn't join the RAF, I think joining the police was a good career move. After his training he can apply to various police forces around the world, I know quite a few South African policemen who have joined the Aussie and American police forces, with the resulting better pay, conditions and equipment.

Thank you for the best wishes Doc.

[Hands on]

I hope all works out for him, It sounds like very interesting training and a challenge.