What is your opinion on commonwealth soldiers from our commonwealth nations serving in the British Forces?
929053
Gurka's take being in the British Army as the highest of achievements in their own country. It's one of the few ways of making it big for them and treat Britain with honour, why shouldn't we accept any of our commonwealth brothers from joining our forces. The highest medal of valour this country gives out, is the Victoria Cross, chances are if you receive one your probably dead, Gurka's have in Army history been awarded 14 of these medal's that's bravery considering how many serve...
507831
AHHHHHH.  Someone asked a question about my job. *L*\n\nI retired from the Army after spending 20 years as an MP.  I never wanted to do anything else.  It's one of the few jobs in the Army that has a peacetime mission.  We enforce the law on base, and take care of our soldiers when they are off base.  In time of war, we have our law enforcement mission as well as providing escort for various convoys and route recons.\n\nA lot of people don't like the MPs, but they are the same folks that don't like civilian cops.
520230
What a load of old nonsense. The British Army is one of the smallest in the world and they consistently perform magnificently.\n\nYou are correct, we are not gung ho but that doesnt have much to do with being very very good.\n\nThe province you refer to is Helmand not Kelmand, and it is very dangerous but our guys will be up to the job don't you worry.\n\nAs for being beaten 100 years ago by the Afghans I don't really see how that is relevant as I don't belive that we are going to send any 100 year old soldiers over there.\n\nAnd by the way, when the Taleban revolted in that prison in Mazar Al Sarif and took the CIA guys hostage it was 6 British SBS special forces soldiers who led the force which defeated over 600 of them.\n\nWe kicked ass in the Falklands, Malaya, Borneo, Oman, Kosovo, Gulf War one (where most of our casualties came as a result of friendly fire from the U.S air force), Sierra Leone etc etc and with the exception of the gulf wars we did it alone and outgunned.
276497
cgalloway1973 is right, I'm British, and believe that we are just as capable as the Americans. BTW, to the guy who mentioned that we were (supposedly) kicked out of every country we conquered, you're wrong! It's true that we were kicked out of a few of the Nations, but we decided to give most of them back by free will alone! This inter-nation rivalry has to stop, WE'RE ON THE SAME BL**DY SIDE!!! That saying, "all the gear, but no Idea" is just a bit of friendly banter, but there are a few people here who take it too far.
228419
I think they're great. Firstly, Australia have been doing well at them so there is the nationalistic issue.\n\nSecondly, we see athletes doing their best to compete for their country. The other day We saw an athlete from Papua New Guines win a gold medal, probably the first in the history of that country. I live events like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
1053607
I think the military is good.  I think  the military is vital for any country.  I think every man and woman who serve their country should be commended!  My husband has served 19 years this month in the USMC.  I am extremely proud of his career choice, proud of the American he is and what he stands for, proud to tell our daughter her daddy is a Marine and proud of how his knowledge has influenced and helped young adults turn into the outstanding, proud, strong, individuals they have become due to joining the USMC (or any branch they join) and learning career and life lessons they will use once out in the civilian world.  I am saddened that there has been losses of life in every branch due to the ongoings in the middle east.  But, without our military, we would not have the freedoms we take everyday for granted and the ability to share our thoughts with others as we are doing now.
691279
How do you measure it?\n\nThe British Armed Forces are small these days and they're far from being the best equipped. Despite this, they generally do a good job wherever they're deployed in the World. Perhaps the best measure is their professionalism and their record of success overseas (unlike the Americans who usually leave a bloody mess, and they often leave with their tails between their legs - soemthing the Brits have rarely done).
877274
YES!!! most certainlt,i may not totally agree with all of our goverments policys,but i feel nothin but respect and honor for military,they deserve our best
2571
The Commonwealth refers to countries that were once under British rule, but are independent today. One interesting fact is that the sport of Cricket is very popular in most Commonwealth countries. More information in the source below.
252275
the commonwealth, residents of or the good folk.
856151
I support our troops being there, these brave men and woman, show how tough and determined our soldiers are.\n\nIf I listened to certain people or certain politicians then I would probably not, but I listen to the soldiers, the ones that are there risking their lives to make a difference.   Our soldiers got killed by a homocide bomber, what threat were they giving out candy and talking to kids.   They are trying to build but it is hard when security is not there yet.  They are trying to build roads and schools and such.\n\nAnd the afghanss do want them there, not as taliban jack thinks.\n\nhttp://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/061112/national/afghan_cda_taliban\n\nIf they soldiers say they are making a difference, and are willing to put their lives on the line, with that integrity why shouldn't we believe them.\n\nSUPPORT OUR TROOPS\nLest we forget.
917971
Great Britain is a nation, not England, Scotland and Wales they are countries not a bunch of islands. Just as in the comonwealth they are seperate. Is Australia not part of the commonwealth as this would mean we could start picking your players instead.\nYou were well beat so get over it, and if anyones a cheat it's Willie Mason.
951215
ME!!!    British army is THE BEST!!!!  \n\nMy dad served in WWII and 5 of my great uncles served in WWI.\n\n(I'm 34 btw - dad was 52 when I was born!)\n\nMy dad couldn't stand the American army.  He served alongside them and found them sloppy, indisciplined, arrogant and more interested in chasing skirt than anything else.\n\nPlus they had a nasty habit of shooting at and bombing him and his comrades in so called "friendly fire" (which they still do today).  They couldn't hit the enemy if he was standing next to them.\n\nDuring his time in Monte Casino (Italy) during WWII my dad and his comrades spent a "pleasant" week picking corpses out of the trees after the Americans in their "wisdom" decided to bomb a monstery hospital and graveyard. \n\nAs for "they saved our arses in WWII" did they hell.  Excuse me but where were the Yanks when the Battle of Britain was being fought?  They didn't give a damn until Pearl Harbour was attacked.  They made their contribution the same as the Aussies, the Canadians, The Commonwealth troops (Indians etc) and the rest of the Allied troops did, and now they want to take all the credit for it.  \n\nAnd for any Amercian who disagrees that the British army is the best - who had to hold Bush's hand when he went into Afghanistan and Iraq?  Oh thats right, the British army.  Who do the Americans call when they are in shite street and need a fast evacuation?  The SAS.   \n\nThey are good at starting wars they can't finish too (see Vietnam where they got their arses handed to them by a bunch of farmers with pitchforks).
1174534
I definately feel that the soldiers who protect and serve our country have a better sense of what the word freedom means. The sacrifices that soldiers have endured have allowed them to understand that freedom is not free. None of us civilians could ever come close to knowing exactly what the cost is. We have people that are very opinionated as far as this war goes and seem to have all kinds of bad opinions to throw out there and it just makes me stop and wonder if they gave any thought to what you guys go through on a daily basis. If they did I feel that they would'nt be so quick to run their mouths. You guys are giving 100% of your lives and this is even when you're not in combat. I don't believe that people grasp that. A friend in the guards once told me that when dealing with ignorant comments about our military that I should just come back at them with the question " did you serve your country today or sit on your azz and let someone else do it for you? " . We can watch the news and feel for what you may be enduring over there but none of us can say that we fully understand unless we have been there. In my opinion the only people other than the soldiers that could even come close to understanding is the families who have lost a soldier. I'll never forget a conversation that I had with another friend of mine. He was in Iraq serving as a piolot for the army and I had sent him some pics of a deer that my brother had shot this hunting season and as polite as he could he told me to tell my brother congrats on the nice buck but after being over there and watching so many deaths that he could'nt enjoy hunting anymore because he had earned a new respect for life and death. That even in the case of deer hunting he could never kill one and not think about what he had just taken. Noone sees this side of you guys too often and at that moment I realized just how hard you guys have it ........not just physically but more important emotionally. So my answer to your question would definately be a yes.
341332
I love Italy...been there a few times.  But from a political stand point....England.  Outside of fighting them for our independence.....when times are tough the Brits are always there!  Not like some of those beret wearing and octoberfest countries!
1171912
Yes they are.  I conducted operations with them during the year that I was in Iraq.  Obviously all the other people who answered have never been there.  For all the operations that they conduct though, you will not hear about them.  The SF with us did very little training with our Iraqi counterparts.  I can't tell you what they did, because we just can't talk about those operations.
904223
I personally do not have a problem with American people in general however,having served with American troops I found them to be reckless and,very arrogant with,too much of an attitude when it came to working together.\nI do not judge the American people the same in general,as I have met Americans who are OK and,they are not a lot different to us here in the UK.