Well timex you are in fact wrong. Most aircrew were given at least a few opportunities to go out on patrol in South Armagh. Trust me this is NOT a pleasant experience but nowhere near like being shot at, petrol bombed etc. Even although NIBAT1 was a nasty place its not as bad as Iraq. Believe me, even now i wouldnt want to go on patrol in NI, never mind Iraq.
Well I can honestly say I never saw or took any aircrew out on any patrols, I also never dropped off any aircrew on patrols either. As for being shot at, you are right it's not nice, neither is being Mortared, Machine gunned or Shelled, and its even worse when it starts raining. As for going on patrol, if you 've not done it then how can you comment or say I'm wrong.
As I said "walk a mile in their shoes"