Tuesday, October 6, 2009

They are doing their bit ..the British soldier

The average British soldier is 19 years old…..he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country – and for you.

He’s not particularly keen on hard work but he’d rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK. He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun.

He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands. He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job - it's what a soldier does.

He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draws half the pay and has nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all. There's an old saying in the British Army: 'If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!'

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual.

Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid.

He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men that have kept this country free for hundreds of years. He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding. We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn't like it either - he just has it to do. Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm's way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation's politicians call on us to do so.

11 comments:

  1. Everybody should read this and keep reading it until they understand it. Thoughts are with every single member of the armed forces.

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  2. Nice to see this anglicized version of that old US web-standard...

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  3. this is a great post,as was said before, everyone should read.i have the highest regard for are soldiers in the military.no matter what nation they call home. well done.

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  4. Completely agree with the sentiments (and Kipling said much the same a century ago) but the text is a bit cut'n'paste from an American equivalent thats been doing the rounds for some time isn't it?

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  5. It has done the rounds before, but it still paints an accurate picture.

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  6. Superb. No more need be said. Be safe.

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  7. As a young man that is unable to join any form of armed services even though many of his family have gone before him, I take pride in reading this and hope that those civies that read take note and pride in this line of work and those military factions that read it should take more pride in themselves. Take care and a salute from an Australian to all our Brothers in Arms
    Rohan

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  8. Be Safe

    All very true in what you have said

    Sam Ex 14/20 Kings Hussars

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  9. Thank you to all service personnel for the sacrifices you are making. I am so proud and grateful to you all. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep safe.

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  10. As an ex-serviceman who served in the 50's I totally admire these young servicemen and women and I thank them for putting themselves in harm's way for Queen and Country. God bless you all !

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  11. Bless-ed be the brave, who face danger from every angle with agility, honour and wisdom... blesse-ed be the fallen, the heroes who died by your side... bless-ed be all, both families and friends of those fighting... God be with you.

    Each and every one of you is in my prayers and thoughts each waking moment...

    You are all heroes... man and woman alike... in a war there is no preference to gender.

    Thankyou

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