C.17 TO-NIGHT CHANNEL 4 (Merged)
Cool Mod
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OK, back on topic. The background anyone comes from is TOTAL in its irrelevance. On any given day, in any event in or out of theatre each man is equal to the next - only rank parts them - even then its only a question who says what to whom. FWIW, I believe the comment had more than a hint of admiration in it!
As I said, back to topic.
As I said, back to topic.
Hey everyone,
Can't we just get away from all this pc cr@p and just reflect what the documentary was about, the amazing work done by everyone from the aircrew to the equipmnt techs carried on board just in case there is a problem with the kit. The fact that so many have survived injuries when not long ago would have died a long way from home in a strange land. Total and utter respect to the team as a whole, lets just look after the injured both physically and most importantly psychologically. The guilt the guys from the Guards having survived when their comrades where shot must at times be overwhleming.
The RAF have been in the aeromed field since the1920s and CCAST is continuing, maintaining and enhancing a long tradition, of care for their patients and long may it continue. Maybe a certain ex RAF medical officer was watching, but there again maybe not. Normally I would have graced the titles medical and officer with capital letters, but that individual's not worthy of standing and breathing let along having the honour of tending the injured.
We had all this stuff over the thread 'Flight of Angels'' lets not go down that route again and just celebrate that there is a team of people that when the world goes to hell in a handbasket that they will be part of a chain that will do there very best to get you home to your loved ones. Too old to go back ex PM, now in early 50s, fifteen years younger, back to RAuxAF lke a shot, can't help those at the sharp end enough.
Awesome.
Air pig.
ps, If CCAST are selling their T shirts for H4h put me down for a couple, and if I ever meet you at a show, beers on me.
Can't we just get away from all this pc cr@p and just reflect what the documentary was about, the amazing work done by everyone from the aircrew to the equipmnt techs carried on board just in case there is a problem with the kit. The fact that so many have survived injuries when not long ago would have died a long way from home in a strange land. Total and utter respect to the team as a whole, lets just look after the injured both physically and most importantly psychologically. The guilt the guys from the Guards having survived when their comrades where shot must at times be overwhleming.
The RAF have been in the aeromed field since the1920s and CCAST is continuing, maintaining and enhancing a long tradition, of care for their patients and long may it continue. Maybe a certain ex RAF medical officer was watching, but there again maybe not. Normally I would have graced the titles medical and officer with capital letters, but that individual's not worthy of standing and breathing let along having the honour of tending the injured.
We had all this stuff over the thread 'Flight of Angels'' lets not go down that route again and just celebrate that there is a team of people that when the world goes to hell in a handbasket that they will be part of a chain that will do there very best to get you home to your loved ones. Too old to go back ex PM, now in early 50s, fifteen years younger, back to RAuxAF lke a shot, can't help those at the sharp end enough.
Awesome.
Air pig.
ps, If CCAST are selling their T shirts for H4h put me down for a couple, and if I ever meet you at a show, beers on me.
ThRedBearOne
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Whenever I next have a 'bad' day and find myself whinging, I shall make myself remember Liam Culverhouse talking about the Afghani policeman:
... and he only managed to hit me six times. Thank God!
Can add little to what has been said already - fantastic programme. Thought the segment where they spoke to the survivors of the ANP incident was almost surreal seeing as the event had happened only 18 hours previously. The look of shock and bewilderment on their faces ...
On a lighter note, having sat staring at the back of Spoon's head for a few months at the University of Swindon I'm glad to see he was listening in the media briefs (unlike me!). Or could his TV style have been developed following TV banter with Ms Robinson ....
On a lighter note, having sat staring at the back of Spoon's head for a few months at the University of Swindon I'm glad to see he was listening in the media briefs (unlike me!). Or could his TV style have been developed following TV banter with Ms Robinson ....
Do a Hover - it avoids G
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For a whole raft of reasons all of those interviewed came across to me as very very high quality people.
I just wish I could feel the same about the jeering shouting MPs that we see going about their work in Parliament.
How close we have come to a situation where the lunatics are running the asylum.
I just wish I could feel the same about the jeering shouting MPs that we see going about their work in Parliament.
How close we have come to a situation where the lunatics are running the asylum.
John,
You speak about MPs of present cohort, the vast majority like 99% have never served or have family that have served. They meerly cheer from the sidelines, having no concept of war and its consequences, as shown by the injured. Thanks to HRH who has been to see, had a son oin the front line, he undertands the anxieties of the families and friends of those out there.
Lets celebrate what we have and the forging of new skills and abilities and enhance the already wonderful tradition the medical services, of service before self.
Air pig
You speak about MPs of present cohort, the vast majority like 99% have never served or have family that have served. They meerly cheer from the sidelines, having no concept of war and its consequences, as shown by the injured. Thanks to HRH who has been to see, had a son oin the front line, he undertands the anxieties of the families and friends of those out there.
Lets celebrate what we have and the forging of new skills and abilities and enhance the already wonderful tradition the medical services, of service before self.
Air pig
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How moving ??
Stumbled on this programme whilst channel hopping..... having spoken to my eldest son earlier that day who had just got back to barracks in one piece... joy at listening to his excited voice, back in the UK, safe until next time...... content with my lot for the time being then wham..... watching those injuries, watching the total bravery of those soldiers, watching the dedication of the medical teams, the flight crews... everyone involved. The compassion and care shone so bright. It was a deeply moving experience... I wonder how many others sat on their comfy settees in our safe country in tears...?
HH2
HH2
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STOP...Regardless if they were from, or if he said, council estates, as I hail from who gives a toss...Every person stepping on or off that C17 should be respected and feel proud..infact every person in our Armed Forces...I coundn't give a damn of his/her back ground...
Be it a good/bad growing up in the estate they have made a choice to join the Armed Forces and fight for Queen and Country and be in constant harms way.
If You or I were in sh!t street I now know somebody out there who I don't even know would move heaven and earth to reach me ...fix me...attempt to keep me alive to see my family but....
most important than all of the above........ they will bring me home!
Be it a good/bad growing up in the estate they have made a choice to join the Armed Forces and fight for Queen and Country and be in constant harms way.
If You or I were in sh!t street I now know somebody out there who I don't even know would move heaven and earth to reach me ...fix me...attempt to keep me alive to see my family but....
most important than all of the above........ they will bring me home!
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Long Haul
As I understand it the same crew goes out and back to Birmingham and then, because of crew duty time, gets a bus back to BZN. The cab then gets picked up by a fresh crew to go home.
Huge hand of respect to the girls and boys involved in all aspects of the operation. There can be no doubt that without their utter professionalism and dedication, many many more would not be making it home!
Huge hand of respect to the girls and boys involved in all aspects of the operation. There can be no doubt that without their utter professionalism and dedication, many many more would not be making it home!
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For those that want to view the program
The video is floating around the internet now. Go to thepiratebay.com. Get the "torrent" and download the video using Bittorrent or other similar program. If you don't know how to do this, pm me and I will gladly assist you.
To make it even easier, here is the location for the torrent file:
Cutting.Edge.The.Air.Hospital.WS.PDTV.XviD-FTP (download torrent) - TPB
CV-580
To make it even easier, here is the location for the torrent file:
Cutting.Edge.The.Air.Hospital.WS.PDTV.XviD-FTP (download torrent) - TPB
CV-580
Last edited by CV-580; 26th Mar 2010 at 19:49. Reason: added the torrent file url
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Watched it sitting in the mess at Lyneham last night with the on call CCAST (who were mercifully not out on a task). Generally very well received. We like the aircrew banter and Gezz VZ 'clearing his mind' in the cold air on the bottom of the ramp. He will suffer for that one! His comment about being unable to work out how long he'd been up for while restocking in Bldg 6001 was quite telling
We were most moved by the two guys having difficulty coming to terms with it all. The Fijian lad who felt guilty for not shooting the Afghan plod and the young lad who hasn't worked out how he will cope with it all yet almost had me in tears
Shame the voice over described us as people working for the NHS and CHOOSING to work for 4 months on CCAST was a bit misleading. We do work WITH the NHS when we aren't on CCAST but CCAST is out primary role and the NHS work is what we do to keep ourselves current for CCAST
Nitpicking but there you are!
We were most moved by the two guys having difficulty coming to terms with it all. The Fijian lad who felt guilty for not shooting the Afghan plod and the young lad who hasn't worked out how he will cope with it all yet almost had me in tears
Shame the voice over described us as people working for the NHS and CHOOSING to work for 4 months on CCAST was a bit misleading. We do work WITH the NHS when we aren't on CCAST but CCAST is out primary role and the NHS work is what we do to keep ourselves current for CCAST
Nitpicking but there you are!
Top Notch
Fantastic programme, huge respect for all those involved (got slightly confused who of the medical team were regular RAF and who was not, but that is a side issue. I am not military myself - a serving cop as it happens). I marvel at the commitmengt shown.
I shook my head yet again as to why the UK is involved in this conflict. The politicians say it is to get rid of the terrorist threat at source, well that is b**ll**ks. The threat to the UK from ICT is huge and it is well known that the huge majority of those trained are over the border in Pakistan. that is not even taking into account home grown Jihadi's who will travel to Pakistan to train.
We are too far into this cr*p to just pull out without the Government losing face, but I am not sure what we are achieving. Looking at those young lads discussing the firefight with the Afghan Cop made my heart bleed.
As for the flight deck chat re food, clearly an idea by the producers to let the public know the guys up front are human. Been there, done that. It's not important. A good friend of mine ended up a Tanker Driver on 101 and I met many of them. Whether you are a Tanker Driver, a Cop, or a Dustman, you are still human.
To 99 and the medical staff.......................
Regards,
TN
I shook my head yet again as to why the UK is involved in this conflict. The politicians say it is to get rid of the terrorist threat at source, well that is b**ll**ks. The threat to the UK from ICT is huge and it is well known that the huge majority of those trained are over the border in Pakistan. that is not even taking into account home grown Jihadi's who will travel to Pakistan to train.
We are too far into this cr*p to just pull out without the Government losing face, but I am not sure what we are achieving. Looking at those young lads discussing the firefight with the Afghan Cop made my heart bleed.
As for the flight deck chat re food, clearly an idea by the producers to let the public know the guys up front are human. Been there, done that. It's not important. A good friend of mine ended up a Tanker Driver on 101 and I met many of them. Whether you are a Tanker Driver, a Cop, or a Dustman, you are still human.
To 99 and the medical staff.......................
Regards,
TN
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What is the training for CCAST medics? Do they join direct from NHS and do a PQO course at Cranwell? Or are they RAF career medics?
And if you want some background reading on the incident that lead to the unexpected extra casualties for the return trip that they mentioned, there is an article here:
'It was like Zulu' - Telegraph
Guardsman Janes later died. It surprises me that (as far as I know) none from that incident were recognised in the recent awards list.
And if you want some background reading on the incident that lead to the unexpected extra casualties for the return trip that they mentioned, there is an article here:
'It was like Zulu' - Telegraph
Guardsman Janes later died. It surprises me that (as far as I know) none from that incident were recognised in the recent awards list.
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I have just tried to watch this programme. I say that, as I am not sure if I have watched the same programme as other posters did. The one I saw had a member of the aircrew talking about the soldiers in the back of the aircraft. IMHO, and partly looking through my counsellors eyes, I saw a man who was hugely moved by the courage, fatalism and plight of troops on the ground. He was displaying amazement at their ability to cope in combat and afterwards, and to succeed with limited life experiences prior to Afghanistan!
This does not seem to fit in with some other posters idea on his assessment of their backgrounds, whereas to me, it was in order to emphasize his respect and admiration for them.
Oh, the crew ate food too, which is just as well, as I would not want any aircrew to be over tired through lack of hot food or liquid. I mean this seriously, as Coming from a green background, I realise just how important the cargo on these trips are (a fact observed by the crew too)
Overall, an excellent programme which moved me a great deal. I have no idea if it is because I am getting old, or because I have two sons of similar age to the soldiers, but I just don't see the conflict as being worth the suffering it is causing. These soldier look like young boys to me*, and I do not want them to be put in harms way in my name, or to bolster any politicians aims. I have no idea if I am right or wrong on that call, and also know that I would have seen it differently while I was still in uniform too.
*They look like young boys, but their eyes give away a rapid ageing and maturing process brought on by combat. These are men in boys bodies, but men all the same, and I am always inspired at their determination and selfless attitudes.
Being a cold war dinosaur, I also did not fully understand the employment status of the medical team, and thought they were NHS as the programme suggested. Can someone please enlighten me about this superb team.
This does not seem to fit in with some other posters idea on his assessment of their backgrounds, whereas to me, it was in order to emphasize his respect and admiration for them.
Oh, the crew ate food too, which is just as well, as I would not want any aircrew to be over tired through lack of hot food or liquid. I mean this seriously, as Coming from a green background, I realise just how important the cargo on these trips are (a fact observed by the crew too)
Overall, an excellent programme which moved me a great deal. I have no idea if it is because I am getting old, or because I have two sons of similar age to the soldiers, but I just don't see the conflict as being worth the suffering it is causing. These soldier look like young boys to me*, and I do not want them to be put in harms way in my name, or to bolster any politicians aims. I have no idea if I am right or wrong on that call, and also know that I would have seen it differently while I was still in uniform too.
*They look like young boys, but their eyes give away a rapid ageing and maturing process brought on by combat. These are men in boys bodies, but men all the same, and I am always inspired at their determination and selfless attitudes.
Being a cold war dinosaur, I also did not fully understand the employment status of the medical team, and thought they were NHS as the programme suggested. Can someone please enlighten me about this superb team.