Channel 4 last night - Army in Cyprus

Contractor · Post by **Contractor** » Tue 08 Jul, 2003 4:46 pm

Anyone else watch it?

Very negative towards the Army, RGJ in particular.

Anyone thinking of joining the forces, or, were the parents of somebody considering the military as an option, would perhaps have second thoughts after viewing this programme.

I spent nearly three years in Cyprus in the 80's and didn't experience anything like what was being portrayed last night.

rabby · Post by **rabby** » Tue 08 Jul, 2003 4:50 pm

Didn't watch it, liked the title though, "squaddies on the rampage" sounded like fun.

I saw a bit of blurb about it in the tv pages, thought about watching it then changed my mind, seemed like it was about the nonsense some guys get up to? Couldn't be bothered with that....

Contractor · Post by **Contractor** » Tue 08 Jul, 2003 5:08 pm

You made the right choice Rabby.

The contents were probably factually accurate but it was designed to show the Army in the worst possible light. The MoD did not give a counter view, I don't know if they were invited to do so.

There is and probably always will be a strong drink culture in the Army but I'm not sure that it is as out of control as this TV programme suggested.

harry hackedoff · Post by **harry hackedoff** » Tue 08 Jul, 2003 5:09 pm

Aya Napa( spelling) does the Army no favours, with it`s reputation as a good place for meeting drunken Squaddies for a fight.
Cyprus, we had a holl there in Jan, 99. Great place.
Liked the sign outside the ski slope in Episkopi.
Epi Skopi, Dryski Sloppy

Spent a good afternoon with a couple of Jocks serving with the UN in Nicosia( they parked the Rover behind a bar and were on duty, the whole afternoon.)
Nice

Aphrodite`s bath, anyone?
Thought not

Smilie-man'81 · Post by **Smilie-man'81** » Tue 08 Jul, 2003 6:48 pm

I watched most of it and have to admit it made me rethink about joining but then i realised that it seemed very one sided. Also, it doesnt matter what line of work you do or where you live there are always people who cause trouble.
Drinking is a massive part of britsh culture and it will always be but there are always one or two people who cant handle it and end up doing something they regret.

Contractor · Post by **Contractor** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 12:11 pm

Spot on Smilie-man

Jason The Argonaut · Post by **Jason The Argonaut** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 12:21 pm

I saw it Contractor so did my mate who has just joined RGJ 1st Battalion, he was not to happy to see his regiment was portrayed as a bunch of piss head's. But there are always a few bad apples in a basket.

I notice that they did not interview any one in RGJ, the program seem to be one side. Would have been good to hear what the soldiers had to say for them selves.

Are the RGJ still posted in Ayia Napa ??

Contractor · Post by **Contractor** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 12:34 pm

I think both Bn's are in the UK at the moment. A view from the RGJ and in particular the other soldiers in the Bn would have given this programme far more credence.

gash-hand · Post by **gash-hand** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 1:48 pm

I saw the program and whilst I agree that it was a one sided representation of the life in the Army, concentrating as it did on one soldier and two incidents. I think its worth remembering that because of this tosser some young girl died.

Given that he had previously glassed a civvie a few weeks before which had not been subject to an investigation of any particular note by the military authorities, I think it fair to assume that both the MOD and the RGJ need to accept a large part of the responsibility for this soldiers actions.

I think in this case we need to discard our protecive views of service life and look at what can be done as regards welfare systems in the military - a subject i have deep feelings about as the only time i ever asked them for anything i was made to feel like a loafer who was making it all up to get out of the deployment.

Topper · Post by **Topper** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 2:08 pm

Typical channel 4 making a programme about the army using one perspective. It was channel 4 i think who made the programme about bloody sunday and won award for its hard hitting revealing of the truth ect, even though at the end there was a clear statement that no member of the Army had been consulted for the programme. Whilst there are different opinions on the event itself, asking only one 'side' for the synopis and presenting it as fact is propaganda.
It was also in Channel 4s greatest 100 tv programmes some while back that cited the LWT programme about the SAS operation in Gibraltar 1988, and how the soldiers effectively butchered the IRA men. However, this LWT programme was based on the one statement of a 16 year old, who a few days later in court completely recinded his statement admitting it was cobblers. Of course channel 4 chose to ignore that small fact.

Contractor · Post by **Contractor** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 2:42 pm

My main gripe with the programme was its attempt to portray the whole of the Army as a rampaging horde completely without discipline on the rather lovely island of Cyprus.

The animals that murdered the Danish tour guide deserve the severest of punishment, but IMO these animals are not representative of the Army and I am sure we were all sickened and saddened at the wicked events that took place.

For those of us who have had the benefit of serving in the military we can make a rational judgment of the programme, but for somebody without experience of life in the military they may well take programmes like this on face value and this I believe is wrong.

gash-hand · Post by **gash-hand** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 4:00 pm

I accept that the program was one sided and poorly represents the forces.

My particular angle concerns the lack of decent welfare avaiable within the forces - and welfare should not be limited to people need assistance but I believe its role should be expanded to be a pro-active service - much like social services. yes I know, howls of derision and laughter, what do service personnel need nannying for? Well, so potential nutters like andy whatsisname and his mates are monitored.

The fact that the forces have a tradition of drinking is not in itself a problem, the problem is in letting individuals that may require assistance, due to experiences that may have been brought about whilst serving our country, drink to excess.

This isn't about soldiers getting p*ssed in Cyprus, it's about the MOD shirking its responsibilities to its employees, again!!

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 4:09 pm

Spot on. Wise words mate

gash-hand · Post by **gash-hand** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 4:13 pm

I aim to please

(or should that be Pees

)

Contractor · Post by **Contractor** » Wed 09 Jul, 2003 4:23 pm

IMO this monitoring role should be the responsibility of WO/SNCO - they have responsibility 24/7 for the men they lead, especially while serving overseas.

Not only excessive drinking, but bullying, debt, family welfare to name but a few of the areas that a good 'manager of men' must be aware of with the troops he has to manage on a day to day basis.

Know your men, spot the early signs of 'something' amiss and do your best to head off the problem before it becomes a crisis by utilising the infrastructure in place within the military to resolve the problems. At the end of the day there is a 'duty of care' to the soldiers subordinate to you and any good WO will make this amongst his top priorities.

What were the WO/SNCOs up to in the RGJ when the three tossers were apparently out on the p*ss and causing mayhem most nights?

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