I joined the RAF in 1959 as a Boy Entrant. I was just 16 and passed out 18 months later as a Telegraphist II. My first posting was RAF Driffield, a Thor missile site. The 18 months of training turned young boys into young men and gave them a sense of discipline and purpose that lasted for the rest of their lives. We certainly couldn't be classed as "trained killers" although we did learn to fire the .303 and the Bren.