Could Russia hang on a bit till we get the right diversity to fight them

[Pat ex]

They're building soldiers, fighting machines, there to defend our country. I agree any blatant 'ism' directed towards someone within our own forces isn't justifiable and should be stamped out by those in control, however we surely need to be careful we're not going down the route of making our forces all cuddly wuddly and inclusive of everything.

You don't stamp out racism by going all "cuddly wuddly", whatever that is supposed to mean.
They're soldiers, but that doesn't mean they should expect to be treated with discrimination or suffer abuse.

 

[IT Minion]

Typically, British Army Infantry units will carry the most weight (25 kg). Combat Support Arms, Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, and Royal Artillery) carry a lower amount of weight (20 kg).

The Overburdened Infantry Soldier - Think Defence

Since there were first soldiers, the weight they have carried has been subject to cyclical variation. The upward trend that saw its zenith during operations in Afghanistan is now subject to realisation that it is both unsustainable and undesirable.

www.thinkdefence.co.uk

25kg is battle order, how much you carry when you've dropped your Bergen and are running around being shot at.

Copy and pasting from sources you've Googled doesn't add much, even more when you don't include the link. Especially when you don't understand what you're quoting.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

You don't stamp out racism by going all "cuddly wuddly", whatever that is supposed to mean.
They're soldiers, but that doesn't mean they should expect to be treated with discrimination or suffer abuse.

God help 'em if they ever get caught and interrogated behind enemy lines ...

 

[IT Minion]

God help 'em if they ever get caught and interrogated behind enemy lines ...

It's normal to expect the people you serve with to treat you better than a torture squad.

 

[ajohn]

25kg is battle order, how much you carry when you've dropped your Bergen and are running around being shot at.

Oh dear. The info is easy to find. How about the SAS

The first stage of selection, known as The Hills, is designed to test recruits' endurance, map-reading and navigation skills. When they arrive in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, recruits are given rifles, rucks and rations weighing up to 30kg, and sent on continuous 12- to 50-mile marches over arduous terrain, navigating between checkpoints and always against the clock. In summer, it's blisteringly hot. In winter, it snows.


At the end of the first week, recruits have four hours and 10 minutes to tackle the highest peak of the mountain range, Pen y Fan, in an infamous challenge known as 'Fan Dance'. The fourth and final week, known as Test Week, culminates in a 40-mile trek dubbed The Long Drag. Recruits march with a bergen backpack weighing 25kg – not including water, food and a rifle – and can only use a map, compass and memorised grid references to find their way. To qualify for the next phase, they must complete it within 24 hours.

 

[IT Minion]

Oh dear. The info is easy to find. How about the SAS

The first stage of selection, known as The Hills, is designed to test recruits' endurance, map-reading and navigation skills. When they arrive in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, recruits are given rifles, rucks and rations weighing up to 30kg, and sent on continuous 12- to 50-mile marches over arduous terrain, navigating between checkpoints and always against the clock. In summer, it's blisteringly hot. In winter, it snows.


At the end of the first week, recruits have four hours and 10 minutes to tackle the highest peak of the mountain range, Pen y Fan, in an infamous challenge known as 'Fan Dance'. The fourth and final week, known as Test Week, culminates in a 40-mile trek dubbed The Long Drag. Recruits march with a bergen backpack weighing 25kg – not including water, food and a rifle – and can only use a map, compass and memorised grid references to find their way. To qualify for the next phase, they must complete it within 24 hours.

Which doesn't prove anything, soldiers regularly carry well over 25kg. But this is utterly dull.

 

[Odds]

Oh dear. The info is easy to find. How about the SAS

The first stage of selection, known as The Hills, is designed to test recruits' endurance, map-reading and navigation skills. When they arrive in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, recruits are given rifles, rucks and rations weighing up to 30kg, and sent on continuous 12- to 50-mile marches over arduous terrain, navigating between checkpoints and always against the clock. In summer, it's blisteringly hot. In winter, it snows.


At the end of the first week, recruits have four hours and 10 minutes to tackle the highest peak of the mountain range, Pen y Fan, in an infamous challenge known as 'Fan Dance'. The fourth and final week, known as Test Week, culminates in a 40-mile trek dubbed The Long Drag. Recruits march with a bergen backpack weighing 25kg – not including water, food and a rifle – and can only use a map, compass and memorised grid references to find their way. To qualify for the next phase, they must complete it within 24 hours.

The Special Air Service are an elite regiment and expected to endure beyond the limits of regular troops.
Soldiers try out for the right to join every year and many do not make the cut; even para's can struggle through the gruelling selection process.
It's an unfair comparison.

 

[ajohn]

It's an unfair comparison.

I know and wasn't comparing other than expected carrying weights which are pretty standard. Food and water then added but as I understand it that still puts bergen weights to <30kgs or there abouts. The SAS are expected to do a lot more with them.

The subject cropped up in relationship to women soldiers - can they do this. Pass, I don't know but did mention what the female ex navy PM candidate said about this area.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

The subject cropped up in relationship to women soldiers - can they do this. Pass, I don't know but did mention what the female ex navy PM candidate said about this area.

If they can pass an equal selection test?

Not all women are delicate ladies, not all men are big and strong.

Is it right, I don't know enough about the military to comment, I have only seen it from the outside.

 

[Vinty]

Do you not read the news?

'It wasn't just Army banter - it was racism'

The British army says there is no place in it for racism, yet accusations from ex-soldiers persist.

www.bbc.com

The stark reality of life for women in the armed forces

Veterans and MPs tell Maya Oppenheim how issues of sexual harassment and sexism prevail

www.independent.co.uk

If a bird in the arny can't defeat a horny squaddie wtf is she gonna do when she comes face to face with a mad Russian with an AK47.

 

[Vinty]

They're soldiers, but that doesn't mean they should expect to be treated with discrimination or suffer abuse

War is the ultimate form of of discrimination.
You dont shout abuse at your opponents, or threaten to come round to their house and critise their curtains.
You ****ing kill them.

 

[Vinty]

Not all women are delicate ladies, not all men are big and strong

Exceptions don't make the rule.

 

[Vinty]

War is about killing the enemy before they can kill you, all this diversity stuff will go out the window if a real war starts.
Women have a role to play in war but not on the front line, having said that, there will always be exceptions but they will always be exceptions.

 

[Vinty]

Has it been discovered that the forces are biased against employing women and/or people from ethnic minorities

Funny that in the last European war,(WW2) where the main players were white Europeans, the government mobilised millions of Asians in India and the other colonies to fight on behalf of the allies.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Exceptions don't make the rule.

So you would be happy with a bunch of guys who would prefer to bake cakes than go to war ?