People claiming to be ex Royal Marine/Para

[Inertiatic]

ruff'n'smov said:

Asterix said:

Countdown said:

archie456 said:

Countdown said:

My uncle (ex-REME) serviced the Toyota Landcruisers used by the LRDG (predecessors to the SAS). He saw some awful things which he keeps telling us that he doesnt like to talk about.

The LRDG was disbanded in 1945, 6 years before the Landcruiser first appeared. Maybe Chevy 30cwt trucks?

The LRDG were given pre-production models of the Landcruiser. AIUI they gave Toyota a lot of in-service feedback about how well the Landcruisers performed in North Africa. That's why landcruisers are still so reliable nowadays and why the SAS use them so much.

So the Japanese gave the British Army their motors during WW2.

Ok.

They had a few Q7's X5's and G-wagens too.

Excellent :-)

[leglessAlex]

iambeowulf said:

Interesting.

I saw an article about some woman complaining that ex forces personal get preferential treatment, wether it be better legs or less waiting time, than other civvie amputees.
I'm assuming if they are ex forces then the chance of them losing their limb(s) whilst in combat rather than in an office is pretty high.

What's your view on that?

Edited by iambeowulf on Sunday 30th August 09:45

Depends, if they are at Headley Court then yes, they get the top prosthetics that I can't hope to get. If they are completely out of the service and have been for some time, as far as I know they get treated the same as the rest of us on the NHS even if the amputation is something that has resulted from their time in the service.

It's not fair, but it's not surprising. It's a job they signed up to knowing the massive risks, if those risks become real then it sucks for them but I don't think they should get preferential treatment. However, they do and it's not likely to change anytime soon as that would be a deeply unpopular decision. I say that as making things equal would involve taking away from the military, not giving to the civillians. The best prosthetics are £150,000 a set and only last 5-6 years, I can't see any government spending that much more on people, much less a Tory one.

[anonymous-user]

Fluid said:

stevesingo said:

I am well aware that he passed SAS (R) Selection and served for a short period of time. I am also aware that of his operational experience and why he left, which is different from what is implied.

Using the fact he has served and embelishing the truth to make some money is no better than someone who has never served claiming they have.

I once also spent some time with his survival advisor, apparently Teddy is a nice bloke in person.

Edited by stevesingo on Sunday 30th August 10:04

What military experience do you have?

So this is a thread about people embellishing military service, but only people who actually have military service can comment?

[stevesingo]

Fluid said:

stevesingo said:

I am well aware that he passed SAS (R) Selection and served for a short period of time. I am also aware that of his operational experience and why he left, which is different from what is implied.

Using the fact he has served and embellishing the truth to make some money is no better than someone who has never served claiming they have.

I once also spent some time with his survival advisor, apparently Teddy is a nice bloke in person.

Edited by stevesingo on Sunday 30th August 10:04

What military experience do you have?

Does it matter?

[andy_s]

leglessAlex said:

iambeowulf said:

Interesting.

I saw an article about some woman complaining that ex forces personal get preferential treatment, wether it be better legs or less waiting time, than other civvie amputees.
I'm assuming if they are ex forces then the chance of them losing their limb(s) whilst in combat rather than in an office is pretty high.

What's your view on that?

Edited by iambeowulf on Sunday 30th August 09:45

Depends, if they are at Headley Court then yes, they get the top prosthetics that I can't hope to get. If they are completely out of the service and have been for some time, as far as I know they get treated the same as the rest of us on the NHS even if the amputation is something that has resulted from their time in the service.

It's not fair, but it's not surprising. It's a job they signed up to knowing the massive risks, if those risks become real then it sucks for them but I don't think they should get preferential treatment. However, they do and it's not likely to change anytime soon as that would be a deeply unpopular decision. I say that as making things equal would involve taking away from the military, not giving to the civillians. The best prosthetics are £150,000 a set and only last 5-6 years, I can't see any government spending that much more on people, much less a Tory one.

I may be wrong, but I'd imagine there would be trickle-down benefits longer term = a silver lining at least?

[98elise]

stevesingo said:

Fluid said:

stevesingo said:

I am well aware that he passed SAS (R) Selection and served for a short period of time. I am also aware that of his operational experience and why he left, which is different from what is implied.

Using the fact he has served and embellishing the truth to make some money is no better than someone who has never served claiming they have.

I once also spent some time with his survival advisor, apparently Teddy is a nice bloke in person.

Edited by stevesingo on Sunday 30th August 10:04

What military experience do you have?

Does it matter?

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

[leglessAlex]

andy_s said:

leglessAlex said:

iambeowulf said:

Interesting.

I saw an article about some woman complaining that ex forces personal get preferential treatment, wether it be better legs or less waiting time, than other civvie amputees.
I'm assuming if they are ex forces then the chance of them losing their limb(s) whilst in combat rather than in an office is pretty high.

What's your view on that?

Edited by iambeowulf on Sunday 30th August 09:45

Depends, if they are at Headley Court then yes, they get the top prosthetics that I can't hope to get. If they are completely out of the service and have been for some time, as far as I know they get treated the same as the rest of us on the NHS even if the amputation is something that has resulted from their time in the service.

It's not fair, but it's not surprising. It's a job they signed up to knowing the massive risks, if those risks become real then it sucks for them but I don't think they should get preferential treatment. However, they do and it's not likely to change anytime soon as that would be a deeply unpopular decision. I say that as making things equal would involve taking away from the military, not giving to the civilians. The best prosthetics are £150,000 a set and only last 5-6 years, I can't see any government spending that much more on people, much less a Tory one.

I may be wrong, but I'd imagine there would be trickle-down benefits longer term = a silver lining at least?

Not in my experience anyway. They get good stuff, but it isn't cutting edge stuff or research, the average limbless squaddie isn't furthering the prosthetic or the rehab industry. A lot of the rehab they do is tough, really tough. They are put through it because they can handle it, it's not very relevant to most civilians.

For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify my position, I don't begrudge them what they get, I was just answering the question. They do a tough job, fair play to them. Maybe I'm just cynical, but it makes the government look better in most peoples eyes if they are seen helping injured servicemen and that's why they do it. It's unfair, but then life is unfair so it's a bit pointless to complain about it.

Of course, civilians do get huge benefits from military funding direct to the prosthetic industry, but that's different to what I'm talking about here.

[drivin_me_nuts]

leglessAlex said:

Not in my experience anyway. They get good stuff, but it isn't cutting edge stuff or research, the average limbless squaddie isn't furthering the prosthetic or the rehab industry. A lot of the rehab they do is tough, really tough. They are put through it because they can handle it, it's not very relevant to most civilians.

For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify my position, I don't begrudge them what they get, I was just answering the question. They do a tough job, fair play to them. Maybe I'm just cynical, but it makes the government look better in most peoples eyes if they are seen helping injured servicemen and that's why they do it. It's unfair, but then life is unfair so it's a bit pointless to complain about it.

Of course, civilians do get huge benefits from military funding direct to the prosthetic industry, but that's different to what I'm talking about here.

Perhaps a thread divert, but I do want to say,

Alex, you've gone through a great deal in your life in a situation that is st in every respect. All credit to you for your attitude and determination to get through life sane and unbitter. It can't be easy. You have my greatest respect.

[leglessAlex]

NeMiSiS said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

Perhaps a thread divert, but I do want to say,

Alex, you've gone through a great deal in your life in a situation that is st in every respect. All credit to you for your attitude and determination to get through life sane and unbitter. It can't be easy. You have my greatest respect.

Well said, I too respect Alex for the way he conducts himself.

If prosthetic legs cost £150,000 then the guy's insurance who ran you over should buy you the best, now and they should pay you tens of millions for your loss. I know nothing about nothing, but tens of millions sounds right to me. Some "celebs" get millions in compensation because someone said they had a smelly minge....were is the fairness in that.

Thank you both, I'm all embarrassed now

I will eventually get compensation and while I can't say anything for definite, in a couple of years I like to think there'll be an interesting thread appearing in Readers Cars

[anonymous-user]

98elise said:

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

[Asterix]

The RAF no fk all about anything physical

[Issi]

el stovey said:

98elise said:

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

You do appreciate that the 'Forces' have different branches, so a Private in the Parachute Regiment would have little knowledge of a Submariner.

This is one of the reasons why I wouldn't comment on, for example, the Lotus thread, as I know nothing about them and wouldn't want to make an arse of myself.

[anonymous-user]

Issi said:

el stovey said:

98elise said:

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

You do appreciate that the 'Forces' have different branches, so a Private in the Parachute Regiment would have little knowledge of a Submariner.

This is one of the reasons why I wouldn't comment on, for example, the Lotus thread, as I know nothing about them and wouldn't want to make an arse of myself.

Yes that's my point. Someone not in the forces might very well have more insight into a subject like TA SAS training than someone in a completely unrelated part of the forces. The idea that you need to have been in the services to comment is daft.

[andy_s]

leglessAlex said:

Not in my experience anyway. They get good stuff, but it isn't cutting edge stuff or research, the average limbless squaddie isn't furthering the prosthetic or the rehab industry. A lot of the rehab they do is tough, really tough. They are put through it because they can handle it, it's not very relevant to most civilians.

For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify my position, I don't begrudge them what they get, I was just answering the question. They do a tough job, fair play to them. Maybe I'm just cynical, but it makes the government look better in most peoples eyes if they are seen helping injured servicemen and that's why they do it. It's unfair, but then life is unfair so it's a bit pointless to complain about it.

Of course, civilians do get huge benefits from military funding direct to the prosthetic industry, but that's different to what I'm talking about here.

Cheers - interesting. Very stoic may I say; to your credit.

[Zoobeef]

el stovey said:

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

Ask him how much the pillows are in the Naafi on the other hand....

[ruff'n'smov]

Zoobeef said:

el stovey said:

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

Ask him how much the pillows are in the Naafi on the other hand....

[bad company]

I spent 4 years as an RAF Policeman which is a very long way from Special Forces. When the SAS came onto our base we treated them with the utmost respect.

People making up stories about their past is nothing new. Somebody I knew from my local pub claimed he used to play for Chelsea but never quite made it into the first team - then came easy internet searching and he was found out and moved away.

I think these people must have some kind of inferiority complex.

[ApOrbital]

98elise said:

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

Why not 9?

[98elise]

el stovey said:

Issi said:

el stovey said:

98elise said:

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

You do appreciate that the 'Forces' have different branches, so a Private in the Parachute Regiment would have little knowledge of a Submariner.

This is one of the reasons why I wouldn't comment on, for example, the Lotus thread, as I know nothing about them and wouldn't want to make an arse of myself.

Yes that's my point. Someone not in the forces might very well have more insight into a subject like TA SAS training than someone in a completely unrelated part of the forces. The idea that you need to have been in the services to comment is daft.

The majority forces personnel will have been through reasonably tough basic training, while fhe majority of civilians will have done nothing like it.

I was in the RN yet I still had to do a stint in the breacon beacons with a pack on my back (more than once).

Unless you have done some sort of military training I think its hard to comprehend what its like.

[98elise]

el stovey said:

98elise said:

Yes, because "being aware" of someone's service give you very little insight to comment. If he passed selection then he has done far more than 99% of the population could deal with. Its not the same as claiming to be a para down the pub.

8 years service for me BTW.

Why does someone being in the forces automatically give them more insight into TA SAS selection than everyone not in the services. Presumably the majority of people in the services have very little experience of TA SAS selection and training. I'm sitting here next to my mate who was an RAF pilot and he says he knows "fk all" about the TA SAS

Did he not do survival training? Its pretty standard for all air crew.