Ross Kemp in Afghanistan
 

Just for those people who haven't seen all the advertisments.

Ross Kemp in Afghanistan starts Mon at 9pm on Sky 1. Has had some really good reviews and may be worth watching.

Spam

Watched his interview on Richard & Judy yesterday. Looks very interesting with AK rounds whizzing literally within a foot or two from him. He also exposes the way our soldiers are treated in regards to compensation and the 'points' system to which they are under first hand with injured soldiers.

Word from the guys is that he was very well behaved whilst out there, and that he was a great listener. Great to see some interest from the UK media and public.

:ugh::ugh:We need more programs like this and Commando Frontline to bring us british public closer to the reality of what is really happening out there!
I have two family members who are both RAF Docs and who have been out in Afghan / Iraq and have seen and done some truly horrendous stuff out there.... but the british public have no understanding of it...

it must be hard for the guys who ahve spent months out there to come back to this country where they are all slagging off the way that they ahve spent months in!

Anyway.
I don't have SkyOne which is a big shame!

Another that was extremely well done in my view was the one that followed a Chinook pilot in Afghanistan, I think it was called a day in the life of or similar.

"Another that was extremely well done in my view was the one that followed a Chinook pilot in Afghanistan"

BBC, One Life series 'Above Enemy Lines' :ok:

Watch it now
 

If you have Sky + you can watch it now on the anytime facility.

Watched it last night and it is a good insight, especially the steep learning curve from training to fighting an enemy who is shooting back.

Well done and honest insight from Ross Kemp even the frank admission of scaring himself wet, as would a lot of people!

Heard the trailer for it on the radio.

"I spent time with the Army fighting in Afganistan", (or something like that) "Its thanks to them I'm still alive".

It seems that the Army has a lot to answer for....

I watched the first one last night. I don't know much about Mr. Kemp (long time since I lived in UK, not seen much else he's done at all) but from a civilians perspective it seemed that he had empathy, was sensitive to the military and their family and was respectful of and admired the service people he was with.
For me the thing civilians don't understand is the scope and complexity and shear size of what is going on over in that sandy place and the reality of it is often lost on us as the normal (spit) media only reports sensationalist sound bites.

.

Just in case you hadn't noticed, and it may come as a terrible shock to you, but the vast majority of us are very well aware of the difficulties the armed services face in any conflict, but we are also very well aware that everyonein any of the services is employed to go where they are told and do what they are instructed to do, if they don't like it, they should leave and do something else.

What comes across in many different posts on this forum, is that there are some posters who genuinely believe that thay are entitled to some sort of cult status because they are or have been, in the services.
Sorry to disappoint you, but you're no better than anyone before you and you're certainly in position to judge the public opinion.:ugh:

Niknak

If that is your point the why dont you do us all a favour and ban yourself from the military forum? Stay out...do us all here a favour.

Not that easy, many are really really trying to leave, but before they do they are kept in for another 18 months with the promise of more holidays in the sand pit.

Thanks niknak - I needed reminding I wasn't entitled to have an opinion on these matters and that I should not under any circumstances have any sympathy for the position that the services and their families are in - I won't try to improve my understanding of the situation and shall live in happy ignorance from now on. Got a copy of the Daily Mail I can read?

My Niknak, you must've used a crew ladder to climb on that high horse. :rolleyes:

What people like NikNak fail to understand is that those that have served their country or are serving their country are special. However you would only understand that if you had first hand experience.

And just to put you in the know Nik Nak, a lot of the public don't understand and quite a few don't care, just how difficult it is and how under resourced the military presence is.

Fortunatley there are people like Ross Kemp and his team and Chris terrill who are prepared to put their lives on the line just so ignorant fools like you can have some education crowbarred into your selfish little lives in between Corry and X-factor.

No, I have served, so I can stick my head over the parapet. We are not special, some of us who served did something special, not me, and lots of you are doing something special. Not quite the same.

Niknak.aka Swiss Des

I think niknak just got washed ashore with all the other planks.

I would like to reassure you good people that nik nak's comments are not representative of all of us here in civvyland.

Mr Kemp has gone up in my estimation, I have to say.

His experience means that he'll now be better able to cope when his wife decides to beat the cr@p out of him!

Respect for armed forces
 

Topslide6,

Agree with you in spades.

I don't agree with how we ended up in Iraq and Afganistan but I have nothing but respect and admiration for the way the job is being done by our forces and the dedication and bravery of all concerned.

The way you guys are being treated back here is a joke, the lack of proper equipment to do the job is mad and the points system for injury is a national scandal......

Not everyone back here thinks like niknak......

Stay safe.