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Daniel,

My friend you seem to have quite a glamorous and romantic opinion of what you are about to set off and do. If you had ever been shot at, trying to find somewhere to get away from the ricochets and lumps of rock and wood that are tearing you to pieces, never mind risking taking a direct hit, wondering what the bloody hell you are doing there, you wouldn't view it in the same way.

Respectfully, your attitude seems a little bit immature. The selection course will soon give you a reality check.

Think twice - as my Coloured friends in Zim used to say "It's not our war ek sé". Rather play guitar!! It's much better for the heart and soul.

Edit: 20-30 years of waking up at night screaming and scaring the living daylights out of your loved ones should also be considered.
    Chabenda wrote: Respectfully, your attitude seems a little bit immature.
    Yeah, joining the army will sort that out. Imo, its a win win situation for Daniel.
      question? you think that this is the best option seeing that you've just come off the herb?

      Maybe be clean for a while and then think it over. There are other (better) ways to get direction in life than joining the army.

        How can you deter a man who's seen death and war .......... on youtube?

        Are you sure you're off the herb Daniel?
          In my opinion, this sounds like a really good solution for you. It might be just what you need (Although I'm not sure if it'd be beneficial to spend a long time doing that).

          However, FFF is right. That stuff has an effect on you for a few weeks after you've laid off, especially if you've been smoking lots and most likely not a particularly healthy strain.

          However I say go ahead with it for now. You still have a few weeks for the reality of things to hit you. You can say what you want, but it's clear that you don't realise exactly what's ahead of you. You've idealised and romanticised the situation (This isn't personal, we all do it). If you're in a situation that you can make a potentially life/death decision so flippantly, you're going down the wrong avenue.
            Wizard wrote: Some trivia:
            - the vast majority of people in the military never use a weapon in anger
            - in South Africa, National Service and the border war caused death rates among men to go down. The army was removing them from the main cause of death of young men - car accidents
            Also interesting.....

            Harry, known as Captain Wales in the Army, said: 'For every life taken, which is about 450 in Afghanistan, about 4,000 are injured and that's what we don't hear about

            Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333681/Prince-Harry-urges-Britain-forget-injured-troops-return-Afghanistan.html#ixzz2ciD0yF9A
            Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

            American Perspective...
            http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/27/news/economy/veterans-disability/index.htm
              Just to clarify, I'm a complete anti-violence person whose greatest fear in the army was that I would be put into a position where I would have to aim a weapon at another person.
              This was a far greater source of stress than the idea of being shot at myself.
              I really, really love shooting though - just not at anything that's alive.

              Was just trying to bring a bit of balance to the discussion with some facts.
              I do agree with the death / injury ratio.

              Also of interest is the number of injuries and deaths that are not related to the enemy.

              Nothing as dangerous as bored troops with nothing to do ... and lots of dangerous weapons and vehicles to play with.
                Your life needs direction? Your life will be in the hands of people who will point you in the wriong direction..

                You're better off with a good bankie and some Battlefield / COD, thats what those games are for - taking war out of reality and into a virtual world. I don't know how anyone who watches vids of the Syrian war can think its romantic!
                There's got to be something else you can do...
                  Julian Emdon (LooneyAtTheGate) wrote: Your life needs direction? Your life will be in the hands of people who will point you in the wriong direction..

                  You're better off with a good bankie and some Battlefield / COD, thats what those games are for - taking war out of reality and into a virtual world. I don't know how anyone who watches vids of the Syrian war can think its romantic!
                  There's got to be something else you can do...
                  I don't think its romantic. Some people are meant to join the army. I have it in my blood.
                    Daniel Stuart wrote:
                    Julian Emdon (LooneyAtTheGate) wrote: Your life needs direction? Your life will be in the hands of people who will point you in the wriong direction..

                    You're better off with a good bankie and some Battlefield / COD, thats what those games are for - taking war out of reality and into a virtual world. I don't know how anyone who watches vids of the Syrian war can think its romantic!
                    There's got to be something else you can do...
                    I don't think its romantic. Some people are meant to join the army. I have it in my blood.
                    That's not what a blood test would reveal ?

                    Eish....I surrender ☹
                      Chabenda wrote:
                      Daniel Stuart wrote:
                      Julian Emdon (LooneyAtTheGate) wrote: Your life needs direction? Your life will be in the hands of people who will point you in the wriong direction..

                      You're better off with a good bankie and some Battlefield / COD, thats what those games are for - taking war out of reality and into a virtual world. I don't know how anyone who watches vids of the Syrian war can think its romantic!
                      There's got to be something else you can do...
                      I don't think its romantic. Some people are meant to join the army. I have it in my blood.
                      That's not what a blood test would reveal ?

                      Eish....I surrender ☹
                      No but the americans will say they found weapons of mass destruction in my blood ?
                        Daniel Stuart wrote:
                        Chabenda wrote:
                        Daniel Stuart wrote:
                        Julian Emdon (LooneyAtTheGate) wrote: Your life needs direction? Your life will be in the hands of people who will point you in the wriong direction..

                        You're better off with a good bankie and some Battlefield / COD, thats what those games are for - taking war out of reality and into a virtual world. I don't know how anyone who watches vids of the Syrian war can think its romantic!
                        There's got to be something else you can do...
                        I don't think its romantic. Some people are meant to join the army. I have it in my blood.
                        That's not what a blood test would reveal ?

                        Eish....I surrender ☹
                        No but the americans will say they found weapons of mass destruction in my blood ?
                        Edited
                          It is yr choice in the end Daniel. I suspect a different tune will be sung after seeing the first corpse at your feet due to your bullet. Might even be a little boy with a loaf of bread... or maybe a bunnychow. Might be a little girl with a tutu... might be a full grown man with a bayonet collection. Might be an old lady you suspect picking up a detonator when it might just have been her dentures. Or you suspect an old grumpy fart kneeling down as if to do something other than fart, you shoot him out of fear... move closer to investigate and find a little blue pill by his fingertips.

                          But you'll have to pull that trigger regardless because its your orders (and that is my fear of this whole mess anyway) or maybe I've watched Platoon and Deliverance way too many times (Squeal for me, piggy. Wheeeeee!!).

                          But you're determined to follow through... 200k a year... 350k a year in psych fees a possibility... sounds about even to me. Unless you manage to drown in basic training. But its in your blood... good luck to you.

                          *edit*: not to mention Southern Comfort... one movie I've never forgotten. But then again, these are all movies and aren't real at all. The concept frightens the shit outta me though...
                            I'm tired of arguing with people about this. Its easy for you people to criticize my choice. I have nothing in this country. I don't have a job. I don't have a family to support. This is my choice and that is final. I might just end up being a band guy in the navy or a chef. I haven't gotten into the rmc yet. So don't know why you people are up in arms. I thank you guys for caring about me.


                            And I have been treating like shit all my life by people. Even sometimes by the people I thought cared about me.
                              Daniel Stuart wrote: I'm tired of arguing with people about this. Its easy for you people to criticize my choice. I have nothing in this country. I don't have a job. I don't have a family to support. This is my choice and that is final. I might just end up being a band guy in the navy or a chef. I haven't gotten into the rmc yet. So don't know why you people are up in arms. I thank you guys for caring about me.
                              Not me... don't own any weapons.... yet.

                              This is my choice and that is final: Yes Sir. My apologies sir. Tickle yr scrotum sir?

                              I'm tired of arguing with people about this: No argument. Just possibilities. Will probably never happen. Might be worse though... you might have to defend the French or something.... they're quite good at submission though so it may only be a detour.

                              And I have been treating like shit all my life by people. Even sometimes by the people I thought cared about me.:
                              Yes, that sux. I'm sorry you were the only one in the world this happened to. The better hick mentality is to get a gun and you're sorted. Just kidding... no I'm not. Just kidding... no I'm not.
                              .
                              .
                              .
                              .
                              .
                              .
                              ... Just kidding.

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                                • Post #86
                                Really?! Guitarforum?

                                Hope you are a moer of a tough guy. I have a good friend serving in afghanistan, exactly where you'll probably end up.
                                You think life is tough sitting here in SA smoking some pot, playing 5 string guitars, getting picked on?
                                I can see you think its pretty cool, and hardcore to fight in a war, here is a surprise; its not...

                                All I can say is good luck, you in for one hell of a trip.
                                Mentally, physically and emotionally.

                                Take a big spoon of cement before you go ?
                                  Daniel Stuart wrote: I'm tired of arguing with people about this. Its easy for you people to criticize my choice. I have nothing in this country. I don't have a job. I don't have a family to support. This is my choice and that is final. I might just end up being a band guy in the navy or a chef. I haven't gotten into the rmc yet. So don't know why you people are up in arms. I thank you guys for caring about me.
                                  And I have been treating like shit all my life by people. Even sometimes by the people I thought cared about me.
                                  Daniel I've got nothing against you going to the military, I think that structure would be good for you and give you direction, our concern for you (and I'm sure I speak for many GFSA members) is a very complicated and nasty war. If you can work yourself into the band or a chef, then Godspeed my friend, it's your life and you should do what you need to do.

                                  P.S.If you can read music, even at a basic level (so start learning if you don't), that would help get you into a military band.
                                    Joining an army is not a problem. But what I think is that whatever people will tell you, armies are there to either defend or promote ideology. Religious or political. And wealth is included as an ideology because it is the most powerful religion in the world. So the thing is that you should do is to inspect the ideology that you will be defending or promoting. And if after inspection, you think that you dig it, then you can go and shoot the opponents of the ideology. That's fine because that's the human way. But do it before you go because within a week or two of arriving at your training you will "know" that what you are doing is most definitely very important for freedom and peace and all. And dont let people here tell you what is right or what is wrong because you find a lot of wannabee hippies and ducktails playing guitars and they are just too clever.

                                    And all this talk here that you must be careful of the zol and get away from it quick is just the same as all this romantic talk about how you are going to be so fucked up in the army and need to see therapists and all. There may just be times when making a skyf will level you out a lot more than going to talk to a textbook therapist or someone. That is if you ever arrive at that eventuality.
                                      Ray wrote: Joining an army is not a problem. But what I think is that whatever people will tell you, armies are there to either defend or promote ideology. Religious or political. And wealth is included as an ideology because it is the most powerful religion in the world. So the thing is that you should do is to inspect the ideology that you will be defending or promoting. And if after inspection, you think that you dig it, then you can go and shoot the opponents of the ideology. That's fine because that's the human way. But do it before you go because within a week or two of arriving at your training you will "know" that what you are doing is most definitely very important for freedom and peace and all. And dont let people here tell you what is right or what is wrong because you find a lot of wannabee hippies and ducktails playing guitars and they are just too clever.

                                      And all this talk here that you must be careful of the zol and get away from it quick is just the same as all this romantic talk about how you are going to be so fucked up in the army and need to see therapists and all. There may just be times when making a skyf will level you out a lot more than going to talk to a textbook therapist or someone. That is if you ever arrive at that eventuality.
                                      +1
                                      Ray: You have some special skills.
                                        Daniel I did my time way back when people played guitars and drummers were actual people. When I reflect upon my life the 3 years in the bush was a great time, not all the aspects, but generally a good time. You will learn a great deal in the army but the most important thing is you will learn about yourself. There few careers I can think of that give you a wider exposure to so much than the military. Do yourself a favor, if you are adamant that this is what you want to do, DONT waste it. Become all you can become, be the best at whatever you do. Try and get into officer's school.

                                        You will have more opportunities than you can ever imagine, more toys than you could ever get tired of playing with. More buddies than you will ever need. The military is not about killing people it is about protecting. I leave you with this parting thought. Every morning before starting a patrol I used to tell my guys, " Remember guys forget that shit about dying for your country let the other mother die for his." referring to the enemy.

                                        Have fun and good luck.