• Both my son and daughter start phase 1 training at Pirbright in January.I and their mum are worried about Afghanistan.Our son is going to be a light gunner in the artillary and our daughter a chef.If any serving soldiers can ease our fears,I would greatly appreciate it.We know we have to let go and are very proud of them but they are 17 and 19 years old and never been too far away before.Its just what we hear in the news that makes us worry.Thanks in advance folks.


  • Don't believe the media & everything you see/hear on the news. Yes it is bad over there, but it can be bad anywhere. You could get shot in the convenience store during a robbery. Yes its more of a war zone, but a lot people have told my husband & I that the people over there do not hate the U.S. that they are very sweet and grateful the soldiers are there. The terrorists are the ones who hate us. Its not everyone. I would worry a little, but not enough to get a Rx of Xanex. Good luck & God bless.


  • That's ****. Worry not. they wont die.


  • It is only human to worry. My son is 19 and I would be worried sick if he were to join the military even though I joined when I was 17. I know that when I did, even though there were no immediate conflicts, my Mum was terribly worried. I was a combat medic.


  • of cause you will worry that's what parents do, but you should be very proud of both of them.


  • Of course you should be worried. Parents worry. Its part of our job description.

    That said, its not possible to change their deployment so your stuck. Grin and Bear it. We have had over 3,000 deaths but in a "regular war", like a lot of Vietnam was, we had 50,000 deaths. So as wars go, this is much safer than most.


  • ok to me being worried about your child shows that you care about the child my cousin is grown man and my auntie worried cried ever about her son going into cost guard.
    just pray for them, that's what my auntie does.


  • i'm in Army ROTC right now, and when I told my parents I wanted to do it, they were worried as well

    of course it's natural to be worried when your son and daughter could be in harms way, but the way I see it is that the Army does not throw random, inexperienced nobodys into the line of fire
    as soldiers we are trained, just like police officers and fire fighters, so we know how to protect ourselves.

    i know it's scary, but be confident in the training that make the US Army the best army in the world.
    and be supportive if this is what they want to do

    good luck!


  • well artillary sounds like he will be in the line of fire so I may be a little worried about that...
    your daughter will most likely be in a green zone (safe zone) cooking so she will be much safer and I wouldn't worry as much about that.
    the news doesn't tell you everything! and they certaintly don't tell about the good things the soldiers are doing there.


  • yes you should, in fact you shouldn't even agree. if i were your wife just for that you merit divorce. you got 2 children and grown, war is a war, in the war we don't rest and play. so before you regret the rests do something to stop it. there are other means to find work without being in the army, they are very young and didn't even yet profit of their youths. so if you want to keep them and see them the rest of your life talk to them and tell them how you feel with the matters and that you love them a lot that you don't want to lose them.


  • My son (36) is in the Royal Engineers, been in since 18. Started from the bottom and is now a WO2.

    He has been to Iraq twice before and is out there right now for 6 months. The Basra base gets rocketed all the time but the radar guided high volume guns get the RPG's before they come over.

    He is likely to go to Afghanistan in the middle of next year.

    He was on gate guard duty last time in Iraq, 2 hours after being relieved the entrance was car bombed but no UK military were hurt.

    Of course we worry, but statistically the chances are very good.
    your daughter will be 99.99% safe, your son about 95% as he will not be on direct front line. They are actually safer than going out boozing on a Friday night, driving home drunk and killing themselves!

    Her has had a fabulous (free to him but very expensive!) training and when he leaves in 3 years time (with very nice pension and lump sum) he will be able to walk into any number of well paid jobs anywhere in the world. Forces trained personnel are in high demand due to quality of training!

    Your daughter will get fabulous training which will hold her in good stead for any hospitality/catering jobs.
    Your son needs to take courses for other training. The army is desperate to train up soldiers for all sorts of jobs.

    My son is now a qualified Clerk of Works with high voltage electrical qualifications, Health and Safety Manager, and at times has been the qualified holder of the master keys to Brize Norton! He is also a qualified snowboard and ski-ing instructor! Estimated cost of his training, about £250,000!

    He has been to Falklands, Germany, Norway, Rwanda, Bosnia, Ascension Island, Oman.

    You will be so very proud of both of them. They will probably meet their future spouses there (Our son is married to ex RAF girl) and you will see them mature into "nice" people. Let them go and encourage them!

    Hope this helps!


  • my dad is in afghanistan right now. if you think about it you are worse off in the streets in the U.S. your kids will be fine. it's only natural to worry. just let them know and tell them EVERYday that you love them. i wish my brother would join because he is running the streets and working at a dead end job....







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