I find it interesting that almost all of us are allowed to express an opinion, or hold a view on virtually anything (Islam excepted of course!) without either having direct personal experience, or equivalent academic knowledge, with the exception of the armed forces.
Some of those who post on here who have direct experience of the services post with an attitude so lofty it's impossible to see it with the naked eye!
They scoff at the very idea that anyone who has not personally seen the whites of the enemy's eyes is absolutely not entitled to venture even the most basic of views, and they should be ashamed of themselves for daring to express anything approaching an opinion.
I have said may times - usually in the face of such criticism, that I do not believe direct experience, or a high level of education, are, or should ever be, a bar on either putting forward a viewpoint or asking a question.
How else are people to learn anything?
It would be appreciated, certainly by me, if those with military experience could dial down the scorn and vilification visited on those of us who have not had military experience.
Absence of military experience does not equate to cowardice, stupidity, or membership of the exhaustively over-used 'Liberal Elite' - so maybe those who do know of what they speak can assist in educating those of us without similar experience, without making us feel like a bunch of cowardly stupid lentil steamers.
Thanks for your attention.