A farewell for a British friend being deployed to Afghanista
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Just a bit sad for the family of a friend and also to solicit ideas what souvenirs I could give him when he is deployed to Afghanistan.
His wife and kids are really nervous as it is his first "combat" deployment, although he had been on overseas exercises.
My family is throwing a party for him this weekend. I thought of presenting him with a book which may help his long air journey over there. They have to transit through a few places , on what commercially would only be a 10 hour flight, but ends up almost 36 hours for the british troops being deployed there.
I have no items from my kit to give him, as many are already disintegrating ( I was "old" army) !
Also, it kind of makes me think that if we were ever being deployed, our families would be the ones most affected. I observe that my friend is too busy participating in warm-up exercises and preparing his stuff to feel anything ( or perhaps he is hiding his feelings). Seems quite upbeat, almost excited to go ! -
wow,he's going to a country populated with Talibans?
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I though the British were trying to pull out of Afghanistan already? God speed to your friend though.
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Afghanistan is not as bad as Iraq rite??
should be okay ba... -
Yes, that's what was debated in Parliament and "announced" by the defense secretary. But as in most UK and American government announcements, the spokesmen are sometimes economical with the full picture. This is their way of censorship.Originally posted by Shotgun:I though the British were trying to pull out of Afghanistan already? God speed to your friend though.
They are withdrawing mostly logistics and support personnel but the frontline people are still around and active.
There was a documentary recently on british TV where the presenter went out with the infantry on foot patrols. There are still bullets flying every day. -
All the best to your friend. God bless him and keep him safe.
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So they are just reducing the number of "soft" targets they have there but flying in more "hard" ones.Originally posted by specfore:Yes, that's what was debated in Parliament and "announced" by the defense secretary. But as in most UK and American government announcements, the spokesmen are sometimes economical with the full picture. This is their way of censorship.
They are withdrawing mostly logistics and support personnel but the frontline people are still around and active.
There was a documentary recently on british TV where the presenter went out with the infantry on foot patrols. There are still bullets flying every day. -
You can almost say that ! Reducing all those indirect combatants. But I am not sure if they are increasing more frontline ... probably maintaining the same force levels for the near future. Because as a follow-up debate on the UK government annoucement, one think -tank sponsored by the government was later quoted as saying that the Afghan war will last "one generation or at least 20 years".Originally posted by Shotgun:So they are just reducing the number of "soft" targets they have there but flying in more "hard" ones.
The fact that a think tank said this, suggests that the government is leaking info to the public to prepare the mindset that it will be a "long one". Remember that the british fought in 2 Afghan Wars during the 19th century. They suffered then. They still remember.
My friend will be a SO ( staff officer) attached to a HQ ... and reasonably safe. His background is the RAF Regiment ( equivalent to a hybrid of our SADA and FDS). -
I'm sorry. What kinda planes does the Taliban fly?
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Because of manpower shortages, a lot of the supporting functions for the Army are also manned by RAF and RN personnel. Apparently, the Army will request for personnel from the MOD and they will pick those that are MP, semi-infantry trained like the RAF Regiment, logistics vocation people. These chaps ( or girls !) will be seconded to the Army which is the senior command in that theatre of ops.
Friend will be one of the ops planners ( S3). -
Yes i know how it feels had to do that many years ago. It kinds of bring about if War is personal. Since u can;t buy a .45 in SG. could gave him a buck knife.Originally posted by specfore:Just a bit sad for the family of a friend and also to solicit ideas what souvenirs I could give him when he is deployed to Afghanistan.
His wife and kids are really nervous as it is his first "combat" deployment, although he had been on overseas exercises.
My family is throwing a party for him this weekend. I thought of presenting him with a book which may help his long air journey over there. They have to transit through a few places , on what commercially would only be a 10 hour flight, but ends up almost 36 hours for the british troops being deployed there.
I have no items from my kit to give him, as many are already disintegrating ( I was "old" army) !
Also, it kind of makes me think that if we were ever being deployed, our families would be the ones most affected. I observe that my friend is too busy participating in warm-up exercises and preparing his stuff to feel anything ( or perhaps he is hiding his feelings). Seems quite upbeat, almost excited to go ! -
well, He is paid to go there and that is the path the boss told him as he is a employee so no choice got to take it as a man lor.
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Pop down to Sheares and check things out...
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yes but the emotion spell differently if you know of someone goingOriginally posted by 933:well, He is paid to go there and that is the path the boss told him as he is a employee so no choice got to take it as a man lor.