Are you happy that Tony Blair can make you go to war?

[yuri]

Ok this is the question, are u happy that Tony Blair can make you go to war once you become a marine or join any of the forces? I know it depends on the circumstances for war but very basically, do you trust tony blair with his reasoning and motives?

[Tab]

You are the political muscule of the the Government of the day, if you don't like it, don't join.

[braywick]

You are the political muscule of the the Government of the day, if you don't like it, don't join.

Totally agree

[yuri]

ok just because you agree with the point that you will be political muscle doesn't mean u have to respect tony blair.... lots of soldiers hate politicians especially the current ones, and soldiers also hate war more than politicians because they know what it is really like. I would join the marines and still have no respect for tony blair any day.

[druadan]

Respect him or not, you still have to fight for him if he tells you to. It's the way the world works, if you can't accept it then the military ain't for you.

[braywick]

ok just because you agree with the point that you will be political muscle doesn't mean u have to respect tony blair.... lots of soldiers hate politicians especially the current ones, and soldiers also hate war more than politicians because they know what it is really like. I would join the marines and still have no respect for tony blair any day.

True but your political viewpoints aren't going to be particulary relevant IMO.

[leewilson]

"We didnt mind dying for Queen and Country, but we didnt contemplate dying for politians"

Major General Julian Thompson, after Falklands War 1987.

[freestyler_onli]

I haven't even taken my PJFT yet-so i cant really comment. But, as most of you said-you join up to the Marines to do what your told-even if you disagree with it. You gotta have balls to do what the Marines do (probably why women arent allowed ) I will say one thing-from what i hear, some Marines have had to buy their own equipment as they feel that the issued stuff isn't quite upto the job-if this is the case-do you get some kind of loan/funding-or is it literally-out of your own pockets?

[dannyd]

"We didnt mind dying for Queen and Country, but we didnt contemplate dying for politians"

Major General Julian Thompson, after Falklands War 1987.

Now there's a guy I respect & would go to war for if he told me.

I've met him as well - thoroughly nice bloke.

some Marines have had to buy their own equipment as they feel that the issued stuff isn't quite upto the job-if this is the case-do you get some kind of loan/funding-or is it literally-out of your own pockets

It comes out of your own pocket mate. The rationale is that the issue kit is good enough for the job (which is not always true) therefore if you want extra you pay for it. The first thing my mate bought on passing out of CTC was a pair of Lowa boots & a Snugpak Sleeka jacket. Both quality bits of kit but non-issue.

Lowa military mountain boots (£150)

Sleeka Jacket (£70)

[Kane]

So is one allowed to customized their kit somewhat after passing out of CTC?

[joethejudge]

I said I dont trust him
I didn't say I wouldn't do what he said.
If he told me to go I would go.
I just don't trust him.

[dannyd]

So is one allowed to customized their kit somewhat after passing out of CTC?

After passing out you can use kit that is not issued. BUT you have to buy it all yourself. As a fresh out of the box booty (i.e. just after passing out) buying your own kit can take up a considerable amount of your wage packet.

However, I must stress that the issue kit is, in the vast majority of cases, good enough for the job. There may be better stuff available on the civvy market but you can easily get by using issued stuff. You also have to remember that 20/40/even 50 years ago (and perhaps further) men were doing the same sorts of things that you will do in the military today. Yet their kit was far inferior to the kit we have today & they survived perfectly well.

Yuri, sorry for hijacking your thread mate

[Jon]

I accept that he can decide when we go to war because that is part of his job and you have to accept that. However, Tony Bliar is no longer the right man for that job.

[druadan]

True, but who is?? We'll never be happy with the PM, whoever it may be, nor the rest of the government for that matter. Even so, in the forces, if they say jump you ask how high and get on with it.

[fodd]

your moaning about tony blair sending you to war but if your worried about going to war why are some of you thinking of wearing the uniform of a soldier???? simple fact if your joining the armed forces you training to go to WAR!!!!! thats what your main job is at the end of the day! i personall dont like the pm and like arameis said we'll never be happy wit a pm or the goverment but we all want to be soldiers! so if were asked to do ouyr jobs we should do it without even thinking about it!