I never joined and I am glad I didn't

[Sully]

All I can say mate is that whoever you end up joining you're not going to be alone in putting up with hard times. In the Corps it's true to say that if you can't take a bit of stick then you're not going to become a bootneck - a lot of it is about just putting up with things and remaining cheerful. It's hard at times but it will stand you in good stead throughout your military career and throughout life. Morale is everything in the forces.

Any grief from training teams won't (particularly) be personal unless you show yourself to be worthy of attention so keep your head down and crack on as best you can. Always look to help your oppos - one thing guaranteed to attract 'attention' is somebody who is 'jack' and looking out for themselves all the time - bootnecks aren't made that way. Never make any excuses and just take things on the chin - a common gesture in the Corps when I was in was to flick the chin as if to say 'am I bovvered?'. Don't take things personally (that's easier said than done some times) and try to keep smiling.

[woof]

Alas I have re-read my comments on Marines with black faces and I feel facking ashamed of myself for saying such a thing. You earn the green Beret and and become a Royal Marine Commando it doesn't matter a shit what colour you are.What was just really just meant on my part as a provocative statement in order to get a reaction from precious people doesn't really look to good later on down the track when seeing it again.Shame on me.
Apologies to all.
Still dont like cops or Preece

[broders120]

Well as an ex-Rockape (RAF Regt. gunner) myself I can only say, go for the Royal Marines!

Whys that London boy? (asking honestly not trying to be funny or anything)

[London Boy]

Well as an ex-Rockape (RAF Regt. gunner) myself I can only say, go for the Royal Marines!

Whys that London boy? (asking honestly not trying to be funny or anything)

And answering seriously,
1, Because a lot of the time I was bored, and felt unchallenged physically and mentally.
2, And when it came to war, the boys of my generation in the Regt, on field sqns at any rate, signed up for 6 or 9 years, didn't get a look in at the Falklands. And Gulf One was a long way off in the future. So disappointment and lots of personal re-examing of intentions and roles there.
3, Most things (on squadron) seemed to be planned and executed by NCOs & officers in a very ad hoc and amateurish manner.
4, Finding useful tasks for everyone on a sqn on a daily basis was an impossibility, which meant lots of time in the NAAFI or yet another visit to the range.

But that was early 80s. It seems to be quite different now.

Basically what I'm saying is that the RM seemed to be (back then anyway) more professional with regard to training and roles. And have, in my opinion anyway, a clearer concept for the whole organisation.

When I was on II Sqn, the boredom and feeling of sitting around waiting for something to happen and knowing that we probably wouldn't be used ...AGAIN was very tangible. As a result we had quite a lot (in comparative terms) of gunners re-mustering to RM, to the Paras and to the SAS. And going off to private armies and the French Foreign Legion.Or simply buying themselves out. We were losing trained men to other elite regiments at the rate of about 1 a month, which was quite a lot. And boredom and the lack of challenge both physical and mental was nearly always what they spoke about before leaving.

One pleasant knock-on effect of that though was that when we were on exercise we usually had 2 or 3 SAS corporals coming back to II Sqn to play baddies for the week.

But at the end of the day it's al just tongue in cheek. I'm proud to have served in the RAF Regt.

[Sully]

The grass is always greener LB. I can think of stacks of bootnecks from the 90's who could have written exactly what you have. It's the nature of the beast mate.

[broders120]

Fair point, think they boys are getting stuck in these days, now seems alot leave for the opposite reason now swings and round abouts eh!

[London Boy]

The grass is always greener LB. I can think of stacks of bootnecks from the 90's who could have written exactly what you have. It's the nature of the beast mate.

Fair point, think they boys are getting stuck in these days, now seems alot leave for the opposite reason now swings and round abouts eh!

True and good points there.

Waiting for a war is a bitch isn't it?

[Sully]

Aye true enough - but you should always be careful what you wish for

http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/mnkyspaw.htm

[Toxteth O'Grady]

Strange post. Reading the earlier replies makes it clearer in my mind that this guy is really beating himself up deep down and is trying to come to terms with not going through with getting his lid.

I am approaching 37 and wished i had joined the regular RM. I am at the moment considering the RMR but i may have to accept that i've missed out and my chance has gone.

I have a good civvy career and earn good money, nice house etc. It's nice but what i would swap it all for was to have done the RM and have had the experience and above all the comradeship of oppos. I did a short term stint of 2 years in the TA in my early twenties but that was more of a drinking club and we all ended up going our separate ways. Not really the strong band of brothers bond like the RM who really go through thin and thinner.

The real world of civvy street is everyone out for themselves and it's depressing. Most of my best mates are ex-military and i'm sure they got their above average people skills from inside. Or they're just from good stock.

[blittle]

I'm new to this forum.

I arived at Lympsone Commando in September 1979 as a 17 year old joining an adult troop.I was dressed in a jacket and tie (which didn't seem unusual then) and was met by a corporal who picked up my case and started to lead me up to the Officers mess."I'm not sure that is where I'm meant to going"Case promptly released to the deck and I was directed to the accomodation block and met by a training corporal.Not a good start.

I had been a fairly active army cadet so was quite familiar with basic tasks such as uniform,drill,listening to NCO's etc.I coasted the first few days but was soon found to be not very fit or physically capable.I gained confidence and fitness and soon learnt to climb ropes easily and confidently.Runs were difficult and I was often in the last few coming back although not lying down in the road as some were.
A little bit of knowledge however was not necessarily good as, for example, on first few excercises rather than getting into it and enjoying letting off with blanks I was "conserving ammo"(In reality trying to keep the weapon clean by never using it!)

I developed 'an injury' at one point and was excused boots and turned up at the guard room in shoes for overnight sentry duty which did not impress anyone.

A chance came to DAOR and I passed it by but when it came again after 10 weeks I took it and wasn't really talked out of it. Weekend home leave came but I knew I was leaving so that was not really enjoyable.Went back to CTCRM for last week.Some wanted us out on excercise training,others couldn't see the point of having us there(about 4 of us).Eventually sent out wearing wellingtons!Great for slipping out of before getting into sleeping bag! On exit I remember telling the troop officer that I wanted to leave to improve my qualifications(I had 3 O levels) and return in due couse as an officer candidate !

Taken down to train station and told we were serving until midnight so were not to get into trouble and that was it.

For the next few months I received brown OHMS envelopes containing certificates of service,photo's taken for passport or id card etc.I did subsequently gain a degree and a good job but have always regretted my decision to leave.I have followed the development of the Royal Marines and admire those serving as I did our training team (Sgt 'sharky' Ward et all).

As I got older I realised that I probably wasn't up to it in the first place and was probably suffering from the 'Prince Edward syndrone'

Any way my point is that I was keen and had some capability but the way things were or are is that we (as there must be many) were not channelled into a unit in whch we could have passed out of.Of couse in hindsight I could have applied to join someone else but didn't think anyone would have been interested given I had voluntarily left the services once already.

[lannie12]

I'm female, never been in the military. Why am i on here? My dad is a retired officer, & a good friend of mine is an ex marine (Rob Rogers).
The question is why are you on here? You've got a great job, an important job. You see your family, & earn a good wage. Do you realise how bloody insulting you sound? That you didn't become a marine is cool. Its not for everyone. Even if i had a dick, i know i wouldn't have the balls. The men on here, that have read your comment have both. Its not about the money. Yes, they miss the family that they leave behind. Often, these men, don't agree with their orders, or why they are fighting. But these men decided to join the military. To earn shit wages. To follow orders. To live in conditions, that in their worst nightmares, didn't imagine. But hey, well done you. You've got an important job, you see your family.......& you earn a great wage.

[lannie12]

When i posted my first reply to this subject (is that the correct phrase for your bitchy lil' comments to each other?), i must admit, i hadn't read every little response. I'm sorry. For f@#k sake!!!!!!!!!!! The world is going to shit, & you lot are spitting your dummies about who can leave the most childish comments. GROW UP. What does it matter the colour of the skin of the soldier standing next to you? A platoon is a family. You live together, fight together, die together. And you never leave one behind. So why the f@#k are you girls bitching about cars? And being a soldier in the 60s & 70s, & never seeing a black marine? The next generation of soldiers see the news every day. They read more on the internet than we even know how to google. Imagine if they stumble upon the crap you lot have been bitching about? Yes, rather than learn about what you have done for their country, & their freedom, they'll read about your tales of men that can only express their beliefs via cars, and opinions from old men that have no idea of the men that fight side by side everyday, to give us our freedom, not matter what colour their skin is.

[Wholley]

What was that little tirade all about?
Got the painters in have we?

[Hyperlithe]

Are we about to be invaded by everyone with a friend or relative who used to be in the military?
Maybe we should get a third forum set up...

[Rogue Chef]

Very well said Miss. Would you like to be a moderator?