Originally Posted by QFIhawkman
Any chance we can pat backs even more?
Without even acknowledging the ground forces?
This is the prescise reason why the army take the piss out of us...
We are FAR too quick to slap backs on how well we are doing. And not quick enough to ask the guys on the ground "how are WE doing?"
I think if you ask the grunt on the ground, he'll tell you that he would like MORE air support. I've asked them by the way, which is why I'm here... Armchair warrior shouters, go ahead.
I am tending to get the impression that these days, contributors to this forum are too busy slapping backs to think about what may be happening on the ground. Wake up and smell the coffee guys. GO to Afghanistan. GO to Basrah. FOR GOD'S SAKE stop smacking harrier pilot's backs.
YES they do a good job, and so they should.
So do the Herc crews.
So do the C17 crews.
More importantly, so do the Following: The Provisional Reconstruction teams (i.e. Infantry), the Search teams (RAF Regiment and RAF Police), the ground support crews (drivers, fuellers, suppliers, mechs, techs, met, etc etc etc.)
I could... and probably should go on.
These people lay their lives on the line EVERY SINGLE DAY. We forget them at our peril. I've been out on patrol with them, and they do this without your support, without your thanks, and even (most apparently) without your knowledge.
Next time you slap the fly boys on the back for doing a good job, remember that they're not the only ones.
And by the way, for those levelling the hawk "armchair warrior" thing at me, I am an ex 16 Sqn Tornado pilot, Gulf 1 for your info. (Laarbruch 89 - 92). Some of you really need to get your glasses on and stop backslapping so much.
Last I saw, there was no RAF aircraft shot down in Afghanistan or Iraq recently.
Are you suggesting that we should only praise downed aircrew?
I bet you're a barrell of laughs to have in the front of a GR4 or the back of a Hawk.
What's up? Fed up of being stuck at Valley, missing out on the action.
Or, could it be that nobody slapped your back when you got back from GW1???
This is a military aircrew forum and is the PERFECT PLACE TO PAT OUR HARRIER, SH, AH & MULTI MATES ON THE BACK. I'm sure the pongos will be slapping backs on the army forum...
The army do not have a bad word to say about the GR9 guys & girl out there. The SH guys are doing the bizz, as are the muti mates. In a nutshell, the RAF is playing a massive role in keeping the Paras alive out there so, bloody well done.
I wish the Tonka could go out & give the Harriers a break, I really do.
People are banging on about how we are treated as second class citizens on the 'uniforms at uk airports' thread and yet, suggest that we shouldn't even offer praise internally. If we don't come across as proud of our actions & those of our fellow servicemen, how do you expect the British public to do anything different?