Use of Armed Forces

[Armchair Expert]

I have no idea what the armed forces do from day to day and I know they have been used occasionally but why are they not used more often?

[sherman]

Because people shoot back.


Just now they are doing alot of covid stuff.

Edited by sherman on Sunday 7th March 02:52

[HaplessBoyLard]

Errrr...used for what exactly?

Day to day we do our jobs. Just like everybody else.

[anonymous-user]

The army, navy and, air forces are involved in many activities worldwide and at home. The three forces collectively are often referred to as the NAAFI (Navy, Army and, Air Force Institute).

Learn more about operations and deployments here to see what they are up to:

https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/

Sixty second updates are also available here:

https://youtu.be/YqmTtaI_Qv0

On their channel. Many decent channels out there providing more detailed information.

They have been instrumental in aiding the NHS. From flying and shipping in resources for the war against the pandemic to sending out their medics to set up test centres and vaccinating people. All this vehicles, equipment, planes... need maintenance so you have mechanics and engineers... the logistics involved require logisticians... training to be a field medic requires qualifications and training...

The reason we don’t use them enough? Common sense stands to say that if all the NAAFI was tied up in other things and a real war did break out (as it might have done under Trumpian times) then where would the army be?!

The other thing not commonly mentioned is that the NAAFI are massively understaffed. There is already a recruitment deficit. Atop that more than thirty per cent is not deployable due to other variables e.g. medical injuries, life happened etc.

Add that all up with defence budgets being cut left, right and, centre, the soldiers are less... The next war might be fought by robots for all we know. That aside cyber defence needs a massive cash injection for sure. The UK Gov website is probably a constant target. Ever notice how you enter details and you receive similar spam days after? Be it a TV license or road tax...

Another good site:

https://www.forces.net/

I will wrap up with some more positives...
Storm Dennis flood relief... army
Helping protect coastlines... navy
Flying in vaccines... RAF

In summation: they Protect the UK; Prevent Conflict; Deal with disaster; Fight the nation's enemies...

Edited by Super_G on Sunday 7th March 07:37

Edited by Super_G on Sunday 7th March 07:40

[dvs_dave]

Super_G said:

The army, navy and, air forces are involved in many activities worldwide and at home. The three forces collectively are often referred to as the NAAFI (Navy, Army and, Air Force Institute).

Learn more about operations and deployments here to see what they are up to:

https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/

Sixty second updates are also available here:

https://youtu.be/YqmTtaI_Qv0

On their channel. Many decent channels out there providing more detailed information.

They have been instrumental in aiding the NHS. From flying and shipping in resources for the war against the pandemic to sending out their medics to set up test centres and vaccinating people. All this vehicles, equipment, planes... need maintenance so you have mechanics and engineers... the logistics involved require logisticians... training to be a field medic requires qualifications and training...

The reason we don’t use them enough? Common sense stands to say that if all the NAAFI was tied up in other things and a real war did break out (as it might have done under Trumpian times) then where would the army be?!

The other thing not commonly mentioned is that the NAAFI are massively understaffed. There is already a recruitment deficit. Atop that more than thirty per cent is not deployable due to other variables e.g. medical injuries, life happened etc.

Add that all up with defence budgets being cut left, right and, centre, the soldiers are less... The next war might be fought by robots for all we know. That aside cyber defence needs a massive cash injection for sure. The UK Gov website is probably a constant target. Ever notice how you enter details and you receive similar spam days after? Be it a TV license or road tax...

Another good site:

https://www.forces.net/

I will wrap up with some more positives...
Storm Dennis flood relief... army
Helping protect coastlines... navy
Flying in vaccines... RAF

In summation: they Protect the UK; Prevent Conflict; Deal with disaster; Fight the nation's enemies...

Per the thread title, I think you’ll find that they’re collectively referred to as the “Armed Forces”, not NAAFI.

The NAAFI is a chain of retail, catering, and recreational facilities exclusively serving UK armed forces personnel, associates and families.

Edited by dvs_dave on Sunday 7th March 08:35

[dai1983]

Day to day its usually training or gearing up to conduct training and deployments. All the while maintaining the capability to deploy on short notice.

Sometimes get pinged to do stuff outside that. See floods, Olympics and Covid response etc. At my last unit there had to be a certain number of us trained on civilian fuel tankers incase the civvies went on strike

[The Mad Monk]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Errrr...used for what exactly?

Day to day we do our jobs. Just like everybody else.

Surely your job is to go out and shoot at people that the government tells you to shoot at?

What do you do when you are not doing that?

It's a fair question.

[Ian Geary]

Maybe the OP is asking a question about whether the UK armed forces should be doing more? Maybe litter picking?

Or perhaps be a part time affair like the us national guard?


Tomorrow's question will be: what do gritter drivers do when it's not cold, followed by what do ice-cream sellers do when it's not hot?

Edit: that's just given me mental images of some sort of gritter/ice cream can vehicle combo!

Edited by Ian Geary on Sunday 7th March 09:21

[Iamnotkloot]

The Mad Monk said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

Errrr...used for what exactly?

Day to day we do our jobs. Just like everybody else.

Surely your job is to go out and shoot at people that the government tells you to shoot at?

What do you do when you are not doing that?

It's a fair question.

It’s a fair question if you will-fully ignore common sense. You’ve clearly never heard of the concept of deterrence.

What do Trident missiles do when they’re not being fired?

[anonymous-user]

The Mad Monk said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

Errrr...used for what exactly?
Day to day we do our jobs. Just like everybody else.

Surely your job is to go out and shoot at people that the government tells you to shoot at?

Surely they only do that as a last resort when the government has failed miserably in it's diplomatic efforts?

[tescorank]

Polish brass?

[Randy Winkman]

The Mad Monk said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

Errrr...used for what exactly?

Day to day we do our jobs. Just like everybody else.

Surely your job is to go out and shoot at people that the government tells you to shoot at?

What do you do when you are not doing that?

It's a fair question.

Perhaps they should just be on zero-hours contracts?

[Mr E]

Randy Winkman said:

Perhaps they should just be on zero-hours contracts?

We all are. It’s just called conscription.

[anonymous-user]

dvs_dave said:

Super_G said:

The army, navy and, air forces are involved in many activities worldwide and at home. The three forces collectively are often referred to as the NAAFI (Navy, Army and, Air Force Institute).

Learn more about operations and deployments here to see what they are up to:

https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/

Sixty second updates are also available here:

https://youtu.be/YqmTtaI_Qv0

On their channel. Many decent channels out there providing more detailed information.

They have been instrumental in aiding the NHS. From flying and shipping in resources for the war against the pandemic to sending out their medics to set up test centres and vaccinating people. All this vehicles, equipment, planes... need maintenance so you have mechanics and engineers... the logistics involved require logisticians... training to be a field medic requires qualifications and training...

The reason we don’t use them enough? Common sense stands to say that if all the NAAFI was tied up in other things and a real war did break out (as it might have done under Trumpian times) then where would the army be?!

The other thing not commonly mentioned is that the NAAFI are massively understaffed. There is already a recruitment deficit. Atop that more than thirty per cent is not deployable due to other variables e.g. medical injuries, life happened etc.

Add that all up with defence budgets being cut left, right and, centre, the soldiers are less... The next war might be fought by robots for all we know. That aside cyber defence needs a massive cash injection for sure. The UK Gov website is probably a constant target. Ever notice how you enter details and you receive similar spam days after? Be it a TV license or road tax...

Another good site:

https://www.forces.net/

I will wrap up with some more positives...
Storm Dennis flood relief... army
Helping protect coastlines... navy
Flying in vaccines... RAF

In summation: they Protect the UK; Prevent Conflict; Deal with disaster; Fight the nation's enemies...

Per the thread title, I think you’ll find that they’re collectively referred to as the “Armed Forces”, not NAAFI.

The NAAFI is a chain of retail, catering, and recreational facilities exclusively serving UK armed forces personnel, associates and families.

Edited by dvs_dave on Sunday 7th March 08:35

Goodness. I do apologise. For some reason I thought Churchill had referred to the army etc as NAAFI. Just fact checked it with partner and yes you’re right. Although he hasn’t been to the NAAFI bar in some time.

[HaplessBoyLard]

The Mad Monk said:

Surely your job is to go out and shoot at people that the government tells you to shoot at?

What do you do when you are not doing that?

It's a fair question.

Yep. I just run around bustin’ caps

My normal day consists of fixing aircraft and/or managing people that do so.

That, and golf on a Wednesday.

We get voluntold for all sorts of things that aren’t our normal job.

Edited by HaplessBoyLard on Sunday 7th March 10:12

[Randy Winkman]

Mr E said:

Randy Winkman said:

Perhaps they should just be on zero-hours contracts?

We all are. It’s just called conscription.

I'm not. Too old and mad.

[Scobblelotcher]

Super_G said:

dvs_dave said:

Super_G said:

The army, navy and, air forces are involved in many activities worldwide and at home. The three forces collectively are often referred to as the NAAFI (Navy, Army and, Air Force Institute).

Learn more about operations and deployments here to see what they are up to:

https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/

Sixty second updates are also available here:

https://youtu.be/YqmTtaI_Qv0

On their channel. Many decent channels out there providing more detailed information.

They have been instrumental in aiding the NHS. From flying and shipping in resources for the war against the pandemic to sending out their medics to set up test centres and vaccinating people. All this vehicles, equipment, planes... need maintenance so you have mechanics and engineers... the logistics involved require logisticians... training to be a field medic requires qualifications and training...

The reason we don’t use them enough? Common sense stands to say that if all the NAAFI was tied up in other things and a real war did break out (as it might have done under Trumpian times) then where would the army be?!

The other thing not commonly mentioned is that the NAAFI are massively understaffed. There is already a recruitment deficit. Atop that more than thirty per cent is not deployable due to other variables e.g. medical injuries, life happened etc.

Add that all up with defence budgets being cut left, right and, centre, the soldiers are less... The next war might be fought by robots for all we know. That aside cyber defence needs a massive cash injection for sure. The UK Gov website is probably a constant target. Ever notice how you enter details and you receive similar spam days after? Be it a TV license or road tax...

Another good site:

https://www.forces.net/

I will wrap up with some more positives...
Storm Dennis flood relief... army
Helping protect coastlines... navy
Flying in vaccines... RAF

In summation: they Protect the UK; Prevent Conflict; Deal with disaster; Fight the nation's enemies...

Per the thread title, I think you’ll find that they’re collectively referred to as the “Armed Forces”, not NAAFI.

The NAAFI is a chain of retail, catering, and recreational facilities exclusively serving UK armed forces personnel, associates and families.

Edited by dvs_dave on Sunday 7th March 08:35

Goodness. I do apologise. For some reason I thought Churchill had referred to the army etc as NAAFI. Just fact checked it with partner and yes you’re right. Although he hasn’t been to the NAAFI bar in some time.

Let’s be honest most us spent a lot of our time in the forces at the naafi

Just don’t forget the RN is the senior service and incidentally is involved in many humanitarian operations around the world and other duties. List here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Royal_Nav...

[HaplessBoyLard]

Scobblelotcher said:

Let’s be honest most us spent a lot of our time in the forces at the naafi

Not these days! They’re all in the gym. What’s the world coming to?!

[J6542]

Ian Geary said:

Maybe the OP is asking a question about whether the UK armed forces should be doing more? Maybe litter picking?

Or perhaps be a part time affair like the us national guard?


Tomorrow's question will be: what do gritter drivers do when it's not cold, followed by what do ice-cream sellers do when it's not hot?

Edit: that's just given me mental images of some sort of gritter/ice cream can vehicle combo!

Edited by Ian Geary on Sunday 7th March 09:21

Always wanted to be a bin man, since you only work one day a week.

[Scobblelotcher]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Scobblelotcher said:

Let’s be honest most us spent a lot of our time in the forces at the naafi

Not these days! They’re all in the gym. What’s the world coming to?!

I loved gym time, one of my favourite things well that and drinking absurd amounts of alcohol and going on adventures with my opos.

Getting time out of your working day to do P.T or sports is a win in my book!