1. Don’t Enlist at 16.
2. Do you think army adverts are realistic?
3. What does army training do to your mind?
4. Is bullying still a big problem for young soldiers?
5. What is daily life in the army really like?
6. What does it really feel like to kill someone?
7. How does it feel to be injured or see your friends killed?
8. A mum’s point of view
9. If I join at 16 will I get useful qualifications?
10. What are the most common problems for young soldiers leaving the army?
11. Are mental health problems common in young soldiers and veterans?
Veterans For Peace UK 
There is a good book which explains how all police forces have been militarised well worth a read.
The Rise of the Warrior Cop by
From the horses mouth and future events, it’s called the CAR in the States.
https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/world-2030-global-megatrends-and-how-us-must-respond-them#
I have worked with US veterans in one job I had working with at risk youth. Some of them had falsified PTSD symptoms in order to
max out disability. It is difficult to both definitively prove and refute and I am sure there are many UK vets that also jump on the PTSD band wagon that seems to be abused. I told my ex colleagues what I thought of people who falsified such claims. I also worked with people in the RAF, young and older alike, who were idiots with money, piss heads, and never gave a thought about the day when they would leave the service and enter thereal worldand may have serious difficulties in the real world when they leave the very unreal military life and all those skills that you think are transferable and in demand and, as I discovered, with a counselling degree too, they count for NOTHING. My point is, that not all problems in lives of veterans are the fault of the military or as the result of military service and caution should be utilized by veterans when they blame the military for the way in which their lives has transpired once released from the Armed Forces, Army, RAF and Navy.One last point, Wayne. Your words regarding the transformation of once solid and highly respected, efficient and professional career soldiers being transformed in the blink of an eye to a body missing most of their limbs was quite poignant and moving and also very insightful in terms of real empathy. What struck me, too, was your comment
it could have been mewhich could also mean,thank fuck that wasnt mewhich is brutally honest and what everyone must think. Therefore, to the question ofwas it worth itor personal assertions thatit was all worth it`, must obviously be rhetorical and false. In my mind, nothing can ever be worth that.toThanks for your candid disclosures, Wayne. I trained to be a counsellor when I left the RAF and your self awareness is telling me that your therapy is quite successful. I joined the RAF in 1987 when I was just 17. I know the RAF is very different from the Army, however, all 3 branches of the military shared common traits. Back in the 80s, like now, a lot of people joined due to economic hard times, or to get away from that and a problematical and unhappy childhood as I did. I knew nothing about the world or why the UK were engaged ion certain parts of world
aka UK interests. All are male dominated thus there is bullying even in the Army and Navy and self interest (promotion and so forth) that make the military not all as friendly andbrothers in armsas people are led to believe. I do not want criticize the military too much as I feel my 19 years brought me a lot of unhappiness but also allowed me to have what I have now, 3 marriages later, a house paid for in the USA and a small pension that I feel I would not have had if I had stayed in Scunthorpe, my home town. I do feel that success in life is based on many factors and todays generation is different to that of mine and that drug abuse and mental ill health, homelessness, etc, and other issues facing veterans are not all to blamed on military service and that some people would have been in that situation anyway. Further, many people know what military service means and enjoy the experience, even war and make a very good life for themselves. I am conflicted personally on this issue, but I do think our lastwarswere based on lies and related more to energy security in terms of oil and gas and pipe lines and geopolitical influence for said items more thandemocracy and freedom` and that we have to question everything we are lead to believe about the world. I do know, too, that the generation that you belong to have a very difficult future ahead of them given the many issues that blight the UK that are even worse here in the USA and that, is a very serious issue for all of us too. Take care, Wayne. I have no doubt you will be successful in life mate! Garry H. South Carolina, USA.Nice job, Wayne! I recently published a book, “Military Recruiting in the United States.” It documents the deceptive recruiting practices employed by the American military. I’m afraid it provides a blueprint for where Britain is heading. Please see the website for a summary of my findings.
Points to note… 77th brigade have blocked all utube video comments. Nice one wayne.
Note that the latest “shootist” in the US is a vet, whose “treatment” for psychological illness appears to have been minimal or not at all. It is on the cards that , as we get americanised with more and more police armed etc, that similar incidents will arise here. Recent publicity in the SW has highlighted the difficulties ex-service people have in getting housing, with a suggestion that “container” housing could be provided at Bovington- worth following.
As for recruitment at 16, some would argue that young teenagers are even less mature these days than they were , say, sixty years ago, when not a few entered paid employment and began to grow up. In those days, before “realistic” video games etc, and with fresh, real, not just Hollywood, experiences of ordinary conscripts at war, the MoD’s grossly romanticised view of army life was a bit harder to market . One big problem is the “army families” where parents are often brainwashed and see their son/daughter as suited to the military.
In video 10 you are quiet accurate – no ‘friends for life’ and a feeling of being in limbo after leaving the army. The armed forces have had their use of you and no longer want anything to do with you, no responsibility for the harm they have caused you and a wilful disregard for your welfare.
I joined as a boy soldier in 1977. I agree with everything this fella says.
Excellent video. Let’s encourage less children not to join up, be like Ken and trained to potentially kill or be killed for rich greedy liars in the Mod and British government. Teach Peace.
Well done Wayne