People claiming to be ex Royal Marine/Para
Discussion
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 "f
k all" about the TA SAS 
Ask him how much the pillows are in the Naafi on the other hand....k all" about the TA SAS 98elise 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 "f8 years service for me BTW.
k all" about the TA SAS When it comes to training, most things to do with fitness or combat are somewhat more involved in the Royal Marines than it is in either the Navy or the RAF. The same is true for the Army, particularly in a front line unit.
For this reason the SAS primarily recruit from the Army and Marines. I'd guess the reason guys in the forces often know a little more about the Special Forces is that they do go on the occasional recruitment drive and visit the regiments and explain what they are all about. During this they'd have a chat with those who were interested. Also there are many who fail SAS selection and are returned to their unit where they will tell their mates what it was like.
I think many impersonators who want to sound cool, will say they were Army or Marines as it's more believeable than saying they were SAS.
For this reason the SAS primarily recruit from the Army and Marines. I'd guess the reason guys in the forces often know a little more about the Special Forces is that they do go on the occasional recruitment drive and visit the regiments and explain what they are all about. During this they'd have a chat with those who were interested. Also there are many who fail SAS selection and are returned to their unit where they will tell their mates what it was like.
I think many impersonators who want to sound cool, will say they were Army or Marines as it's more believeable than saying they were SAS.
Bear grylls has never embellished his army career.
I'd say that's more relevant is the fact that he was the sort of outdoorsy bloke who liked going on adventures and pushing himself. That's probably why he joined the SAS and why he does what he does now.
In his case it's useful for him to have served because it lends credibility to what he does. He's proven that's he's of a certain character and that he can put himself through tough situations. I think it's probably more impressive that he climbed Everest, and again that lends itself well to his credibility as an outdoor expert.
I'd be very suprised if his career gave him all the skills he demonstrates in his shows, as he probably didn't have the time. I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers, all of that specialist knowledge comes from somewhere else. Either that or he made it up.
If someone watches his shows and thinks "oh he didn't serve properly or long enough to get my respect" they are completely missing the point of the whole thing.
And no soldier would begrudge him sleeping in hotels
I'd say that's more relevant is the fact that he was the sort of outdoorsy bloke who liked going on adventures and pushing himself. That's probably why he joined the SAS and why he does what he does now.
In his case it's useful for him to have served because it lends credibility to what he does. He's proven that's he's of a certain character and that he can put himself through tough situations. I think it's probably more impressive that he climbed Everest, and again that lends itself well to his credibility as an outdoor expert.
I'd be very suprised if his career gave him all the skills he demonstrates in his shows, as he probably didn't have the time. I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers, all of that specialist knowledge comes from somewhere else. Either that or he made it up.
If someone watches his shows and thinks "oh he didn't serve properly or long enough to get my respect" they are completely missing the point of the whole thing.
And no soldier would begrudge him sleeping in hotels
NeMiSiS said:
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.
That's ridiculous. All minges are smelly. Not to go off topic too much, but it's my thread so I will, have you a thread Sir Alex of limbless about your mishap?
iambeowulf said:
Not to go off topic too much, but it's my thread so I will, have you a thread Sir Alex of limbless about your mishap?
Nope! I can't imagine it'd be that interesting to others, but then I live with it every day so I suppose I would think that. I'll chuck a thread up if people would be interested, I don't want it to seem like I'm attention seeking though. leglessAlex said:
iambeowulf said:
Not to go off topic too much, but it's my thread so I will, have you a thread Sir Alex of limbless about your mishap?
Nope! I can't imagine it'd be that interesting to others, but then I live with it every day so I suppose I would think that. I'll chuck a thread up if people would be interested, I don't want it to seem like I'm attention seeking though. Anyway. Walters...
matthias73 said:
Bear grylls has never embellished his army career.
I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers
To be honest I wouldn't be that surprised if they do, probably part of a Mountain Leader course. The current set of doctrine even has stuff on load carriage limits for elephants so you'd be amazed what has accumulated over the years.I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers
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 "f8 years service for me BTW.
k all" about the TA SAS 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.
matthias73 said:
Bear grylls has never embellished his army career.
I'd say that's more relevant is the fact that he was the sort of outdoorsy bloke who liked going on adventures and pushing himself. That's probably why he joined the SAS and why he does what he does now.
In his case it's useful for him to have served because it lends credibility to what he does. He's proven that's he's of a certain character and that he can put himself through tough situations. I think it's probably more impressive that he climbed Everest, and again that lends itself well to his credibility as an outdoor expert.
I'd be very suprised if his career gave him all the skills he demonstrates in his shows, as he probably didn't have the time. I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers, all of that specialist knowledge comes from somewhere else. Either that or he made it up.
If someone watches his shows and thinks "oh he didn't serve properly or long enough to get my respect" they are completely missing the point of the whole thing.
And no soldier would begrudge him sleeping in hotels
My boys are big fans, considering the positives he brings, the way he presents them and his accomplishments it's quite churlish to start nit-picking about whether he was 'only' TA or whether he was at Mirbat or not - a very positive role model nonetheless - and I've served in two armies.I'd say that's more relevant is the fact that he was the sort of outdoorsy bloke who liked going on adventures and pushing himself. That's probably why he joined the SAS and why he does what he does now.
In his case it's useful for him to have served because it lends credibility to what he does. He's proven that's he's of a certain character and that he can put himself through tough situations. I think it's probably more impressive that he climbed Everest, and again that lends itself well to his credibility as an outdoor expert.
I'd be very suprised if his career gave him all the skills he demonstrates in his shows, as he probably didn't have the time. I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers, all of that specialist knowledge comes from somewhere else. Either that or he made it up.
If someone watches his shows and thinks "oh he didn't serve properly or long enough to get my respect" they are completely missing the point of the whole thing.
And no soldier would begrudge him sleeping in hotels
9mm said:
Walts seem completely harmless so I've never understood why they generate so much excitement and foaming at the mouth.
Back when a bunch of contemptible scum were opposing SSAFA's attempt to buy a house in Ashtead and convert it into a hostel for the families of patients at Headley Court, I helped out a bit with drumming up support for the planning application, and also ferried some of the guys from Headley down to the planning application hearing in Dorking.On that evening, I met two people wearing the George Cross. One of them, Major Peter Norton, had quite literally paid an arm and a leg for his when he fell victim to an IED in Iraq but refused to be evacuated until he was certain everyone else in his team was safe.
The other? Who knows what he paid for his... He ran for the carpark as soon as he was told there was another GC recipient there, so nobody got to ask him.
Fair enough, if someone decides they want to pretend they worked in the blanket store at Deepcut, then they're not doing any harm, but they don't do that, do they? At the very least they'll have rescued their entire regiment from calamity on at least two occasions, and will proudly wear whatever decorations their budget can secure them on eBay.
Could you really put a man who bought a medal and pretends he earned it next to one who risked his life and quite possibly lost it and tell me that you can't see the harm that they do?
Kermit power said:
It's a complete slap in the face to anyone who actually earned their medals...
Is it? it wouldn't really bother me. I would be more concerned with the mental state of someone who would do something like that - clearly something is not quite right, some form of depression would be my first thought.Kermit power said:
9mm said:
Walts seem completely harmless so I've never understood why they generate so much excitement and foaming at the mouth.
Back when a bunch of contemptible scum were opposing SSAFA's attempt to buy a house in Ashtead and convert it into a hostel for the families of patients at Headley Court, I helped out a bit with drumming up support for the planning application, and also ferried some of the guys from Headley down to the planning application hearing in Dorking.On that evening, I met two people wearing the George Cross. One of them, Major Peter Norton, had quite literally paid an arm and a leg for his when he fell victim to an IED in Iraq but refused to be evacuated until he was certain everyone else in his team was safe.
The other? Who knows what he paid for his... He ran for the carpark as soon as he was told there was another GC recipient there, so nobody got to ask him.
Fair enough, if someone decides they want to pretend they worked in the blanket store at Deepcut, then they're not doing any harm, but they don't do that, do they? At the very least they'll have rescued their entire regiment from calamity on at least two occasions, and will proudly wear whatever decorations their budget can secure them on eBay.
Could you really put a man who bought a medal and pretends he earned it next to one who risked his life and quite possibly lost it and tell me that you can't see the harm that they do?
No doubt, in some way, somewhere, a walt really has done tangible damage, but I've not heard of an example. They are just variations on the sort of person that has always been wherever you've just been on holiday, used to own the car you've just bought, was friends with various sporting icons - the list goes on.
Kermit power said:
It's a complete slap in the face to anyone who actually earned their medals...
Is it? it wouldn't really bother me. I would be more concerned with the mental state of someone who would do something like that - clearly something is not quite right, some form of depression would be my first thought.Many years ago used to work for a company owned by a very pleasant Jewish guy whose wife was Israeli. He'd genuinely served in the Israeli army and we had many of his countrymen visit our offices to use the phone/fax etc. Every single Israeli that ever visited us claimed to be ex Mossad/SAS and he always told stories about his exploits in the six day war. Until one day I got invited out to dinner with a bunch of them and asked one who was particularly drunk what my boss had really done during his army service. A couple of them laughed about him a bit, seems his dad had paid for him to spend the whole of his army service guarding the Tel Aviv Hilton swimming pool and "interrogating" the female tourists.
Oh and I really WAS in the Boys Brigade in the mid 60's if anyone wants to check
Oh and I really WAS in the Boys Brigade in the mid 60's if anyone wants to check
RizzoTheRat said:
matthias73 said:
Bear grylls has never embellished his army career.
I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers
To be honest I wouldn't be that surprised if they do, probably part of a Mountain Leader course. The current set of doctrine even has stuff on load carriage limits for elephants so you'd be amazed what has accumulated over the years.I'd be incredibly suprised if there was an army pamphlet on caving in glaciers
They still use elephants in Kenya don't they?
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