Afghanistan on fire, troops hater more than ever before, innocent workers killed.

[Zebo]

I don't know about the British system, but maybe it's similar. It's not the norm, but it's actually not that uncommon for a 44 year old to be a captain. Many officers are former enlisted E-5 to E-7 beforehand. And some civilians join the officer corp in their 30s which could make them a captain at that age (although that scenario is very unlikely for SF). I will probably still be a captain when I'm 44, but not much longer after that.

I'm not sure about being 44 in the SF, but there's a shit ton of SF in their 30s and the average age is most likely somewhere in the low 30s. For officers, it's probably a little higher.

Any reservations I have about JoS being SAS have little to do with age.

30's is a massive difference than 40s. Male athletic peak is 28-32 and shit starts breaking ligaments tendons etc and not healing as fast as you hit 40+. There is a reason most pro athlete are spent at ~ 36 (now where is my DMSO I need to rub on my calves)

 

[Nebor]

I don't know about the British system, but maybe it's similar. It's not the norm, but it's actually not that uncommon for a 44 year old to be a captain. Many officers are former enlisted E-5 to E-7 beforehand. And some civilians join the officer corp in their 30s which could make them a captain at that age (although that scenario is very unlikely for SF). I will probably still be a captain when I'm 44, but not much longer after that.

I'm not sure about being 44 in the SF, but there's a shit ton of SF in their 30s and the average age is most likely somewhere in the low 30s. For officers, it's probably a little higher.

Any reservations I have about JoS being SAS have little to do with age.

See my explanation of the British system above. They don't really have the option of OCS like enlisted military personnel do in the US. Essentially their sole commissioning source is Sandhurst. It's a post-university school that takes approximately a year to complete. I believe both Prince William & Prince Harry completed Sandhurst. It's maximum entry age is 28, so there's really not a lot of opportunity for prior service personnel to get out and apply to Sandhurst. The only other way they get commissioned is by climbing all the way through the enlisted ranks to be selected as an LEO (fewer than 200 per year.)

Oh, and JoS already said he didn't go to Sandhurst. So that pretty much just leaves LEO.

A little googling shows that on average it takes UK officers ~5 years to make Captain after commissioning. So the odds of being a 44 year old captain seen long indeed.

 

[iGas]

Saying "got to go" doesn't mean shit. On the other hand, claiming sub 1" groups at half a mile with anything other than a laser beam says that the claimant is full of dookie.

JoS, what color is the boathouse at Hereford?

How the fuck should I know

Do I need to suggest that you forget us...........because we will not forget!

 

[maluckey]

I JUST finished reading this EPIC post...and my eyes are bleeding!

Lots of stuff to comment on. I'll JUST touch on the highlighights of my thoughts.

1. Nothing in Afghanistan is compatible with Western ideas or ideals.
2. The war CAN be won, just not with sunshine and lollypops (AKA USA method)
3. 40 years of age isn't always ancient in the military. I deployed to the nastiest jungle anywhere looking for UXO and building trust at 39, and to Northern Iraq at 41. Granted, I'm no longer active (lost the thirst so to speak), but I STILL pass SOF standards for 18 year olds.
4. Personal attacks are part of the ATPN way of life. Get over it and man-up!
5. Drunk posting makes an ass out the best of us (Me included!). If we limit the trash talking to while we're NOT under the influence, we do ourselves a favor.
6. There's never an excuse to act inhumane. If you need to kill, do it quickly and move on. Killing someone over an idea...in another country...under another flag... and apparently different God.....PLEASE spare me the reaoning....2 to the heart, one to the mind is how I win those hearts and minds!

Out!

 

[werepossum]

I JUST finished reading this EPIC post...and my eyes are bleeding!

Lots of stuff to comment on. I'll JUST touch on the highlighights of my thoughts.

1. Nothing in Afghanistan is compatible with Western ideas or ideals.
2. The war CAN be won, just not with sunshine and lollypops (AKA USA method)
3. 40 years of age isn't always ancient in the military. I deployed to the nastiest jungle anywhere looking for UXO and building trust at 39, and to Northern Iraq at 41. Granted, I'm no longer active (lost the thirst so to speak), but I STILL pass SOF standards for 18 year olds.
4. Personal attacks are part of the ATPN way of life. Get over it and man-up!
5. Drunk posting makes an ass out the best of us (Me included!). If we limit the trash talking to while we're NOT under the influence, we do ourselves a favor.
6. There's never an excuse to act inhumane. If you need to kill, do it quickly and move on. Killing someone over an idea...in another country...under another flag... and apparently different God.....PLEASE spare me the reaoning....2 to the heart, one to the mind is how I win those hearts and minds!

Out!

Well said, and thanks for your service.

 

[JEDIYoda]

6. There's never an excuse to act inhumane. If you need to kill, do it quickly and move on. Killing someone over an idea...in another country...under another flag... and apparently different God.....PLEASE spare me the reaoning....2 to the heart, one to the mind is how I win those hearts and minds!

I agree with what Maluckey has posted...but....to go even further...

Whats wrong with a lot of these sniveling miscreants who have never deployed to a war zone is that they fail to understand that in a war-- killing is NOT -(added 4/11) inhumane!! Everyone is the enemy and you chose your targets wisely. You do NOT indiscriminately kill civilians yet these idiots honestly believe that a war can be won with NO civilian casualties.....so what exactly do you do when even the civilians are out to get you...

Sorry I left out the word NOT....

 

[Abwx]

I agree with what Maluckey has posted...but....to go even further...

killing is NOT inhumane!! Everyone is the enemy and you chose your targets wisely. You do indiscriminately kill civilians yet these idiots honestly believe that a war can be won with NO civilian casualties.....so what exactly do you do when even the civilians are out to get you...

Lol , nazi ideology apology !!!

You should buy yourself a brain, the few neurones
you still got are seriously overused..

 

[JEDIYoda]

killing is NOT inhumane!! Everyone is the enemy and you chose your targets wisely. You do indiscriminately kill civilians yet these idiots honestly believe that a war can be won with NO civilian casualties.....so what exactly do you do when even the civilians are out to get you...

actually it should have read -- killing is NOT inhumane!! Everyone is the enemy and you chose your targets wisely. You do NOT indiscriminately kill civilians yet these idiots honestly believe that a war can be won with NO civilian casualties.....so what exactly do you do when even the civilians are out to get you...

But you Abwx are so far out of the loop it`s silly how you the local village idiot thinks he knows what is going on....

 

[JEDIYoda]

Lol , nazi ideology apology !!!

You should buy yourself a brain, the few neurones
you still got are seriously overused..

-- lol whenever you get owned you always play the NAZI card...Your parents still live next to lemon laws parents on the Gaza????

My parents have been dead for quite a while.......but hey my son has a condo in Tel Aviv....so go figure.