throwaway3661

Ex-Forces contribution. I am a regular user here, hence the throwaway login because I want to write freely, possibly against the hivemind. I am an ex-soldier with 15 years? service. Where to start? "Why should I pay for it?" Simple answer is, you don't. If you want to donate to the Royal British Legion and wear a poppy, then fine - go ahead. But you must get out of your head the donated money goes purely to Armed and ex-Armed Forces - it doesn't. Think of the families of the Wardens, the Coast Guard, Firefighters, Nurses, the orphaned and the widowed from ALL conflicts. It is those people that the RBL also supports, through financial hardship, loneliness and stress, even today. Care home costs are one such example. It is a charity like so many others, but with a focus on those already described. Malumbu, with John Snow, might wish to not wear a poppy and such is his right, however in doing so betrays the lack of understanding and work the RBL carries out. To not wear a poppy because you disagree with a certain military Operation in recent times is grossly offensive, in my opinion, to the other work the RBL does. "You signed up for it..." Very, very true. However, I did not personally sign up to become "an agent of the state", nor due to lack of employment or educational disadvantage. I do agree these can be factors; however I signed up quite simply to serve my country, and those without a voice. I took my inspiration from a former Naval family member who was one of the most decent human beings one could ever meet. Ask the people of Kuwait, the Falklands, Sierra Leone, Bosnia etc. if they are grateful for the intervention of British Forces. That was my inspiration. The Military Covenant has been destroyed by successive Governments, both Labour and Conservative and is perhaps the primary reason Help for Heroes, the RBL and lots of others exist. There are also the various Regimental Associations. Governments should look after those it puts into harm?s way to support its policy of the day, but doesn't. "Starting Families..." Why the hell shouldn't a member of the Armed Forces start a family? Any one of us can be hit by a bus tomorrow. You can argue that it is a riskier occupation however professionalism, good training and, perhaps most importantly, good kit mitigates most of the risk. The amount of lives and money MOD has thrown away in recent times due to poor equipment is truly shocking and should in a perfect world result in criminal charges but of course that will never happen. The deployment of Snatch and the ?100 million spent to replace it with an even worse coffin on wheels to Afghanistan are unforgivable. More people have been killed in Wimiks than any other vehicle. Duty of care from the MOD is non-existent. "Personal Contribution.." I have talked about my perosnal reasons to join, and I am fortunate enough to have come out without a scratch. I do however suffer from depression, tramatic stress and have a failed marriage. But life goes on. I would hope that, if god forbid in the future, I need any form of financial help or emotional support that charities such as the RBL exist. As a final thought, because I am tipsy now and need to get drunk. I was at the England game yesterday and was stood next to an Argentine couple. We all observed the impeccable and respectful silence, because we were remembering the human cost of military action, on all sides, whether those affected were military or civilian. That is why I give, and give generously. P.S. What I find truly, truly offensive is the sight of a multi-millionaire politician who feels the need to claim his electricity bill off of taxpayers, whose own Government contributed to the loss of lives and shoddy equipment described above wearing a poppy. No doubt the cost of which was then claimed back. Fuck 'em all.