Thanks guys for putting me on the platform today. Am humbled by your willingness to share with me my little experience that I have before,during and after my army career.  My name is Assenso Kwabena Onyinah (AR160). I speak three different languages ie twi ,English and the Army. I have lived a life where A2 assault rifle was called my custard and a beer stain on my T-shirt referred to as a canteen medal. I will try my best to stick with the English but if by any chance the army pops in please excuse me. 

 

An army can be defined as a) A large body of people organized and trained for land warfare. b) often Army The entire military land forces of a country. c). A tactical and administrative military unit consisting of a headquarters, two or more corps, and auxiliary forces.

Within this structure are men and women who fight,carry weapons and risk their lives in the process who we know as soldiers. 

An active,loyal or militant follower of an organisation can also be called a soldier.

 

Basic Combat Training (BCT) is a training course that transforms civilians into Soldiers. Over the course of twelve weeks  recruits learn about the army ethos

The British Army is underpinned by the quality of its people who abide by distinct values and standards. The Army’s ethos is the spirit that inspires soldiers to fight. It derives from, and depends upon, the high degrees of commitment, self-sacrifice and mutual trust which, together, are essential for the maintenance of morale.

 

Some of the British Army Core values include 

• Treating others with decency and respect at all times.

• Always putting the team and the mission before our own needs and

• trusting each other totally - even with our lives, if necessary.

• Facing up to danger and doing what is right. This means having moral courage as well as physical courage

• Discipline- All teams need discipline to ensure that orders are carried out and so that everyone knows they can fully rely upon their team-mates

• Integrity- Being honest and true, to earn the respect of our comrades.

• Loyalty - Staying faithful to our comrades

 

The current most dangerous job in the Army is that of infantry rifleman, with a risk of death or injury 12 times higher than any other army employee. An Infantry rifleman is more likely to be  wounded,  experience an IED (improvised explosive device), come under small-arms fire, under rocket, mortar or artillery attack, and the worst of it all being killed.

 

As a Soldier in the British Army, you're tasked with upholding the Constitution and protecting British freedom. You wear uniform and based in camps when you are inland or out on operation. This is what we know about a modern day soldier.

 

Question: can anyone call him or herself a soldier outside the conventional soldier that we know?

It's common these days for people following ideologies or organisation who are willing to die for the course to call themselves soldiers. Are they really soldiers? They wear no uniform,strap themselves with explosives and get blown up taken with them some innocent civilians are they soldiers?

 

Well they're all soldiers. They may be violent or aggressive to their approach to justify what they believe in but the concept still remains the same fighting for a course. 

 

Now let's turn our attention to non-violent soldiers. People who endure all the hardship and dangers of a conventional soldier  at war time. 

Apologies to other faith on this forum. I have to give an example here from the scriptures which is the Bible so please bare with me. Paul is a perfect example of a non-violent soldier. 

 

II Timothy - 2:3-4 Paul wrote to Timothy 

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."

 

 The portion of this verse in which Paul states we must endure hardship has a lot of meaning that deserves some thought.  Most people would generally agree that serving as a soldier during war time is no fun to say the least.  Being a soldier during a time of war must be a difficult thing to deal with.  Back in the days of  Christ, soldiers often went without water, food, sleep, medical treatment, seeing their family, not to mention other unimaginable hardships.

 

The obvious implication is that as a Soldier we will suffer.  While this may not seem like an appealing thought to those serving in a war of this world, it is truly an honor to suffer for the sake of our Lord Jesus.  When one considers all of the suffering He endured for us, our pains and tribulations are virtually non-existent by comparison.  When we consider the great affliction He suffered, we must keep in mind that He did so because of our transgressions—not His.  We deserve all that He suffered and more; He did not.

 

Tying in with the goals for this ministry, Paul lived what he preached; he walked the walk.  Many students of the Bible believe that he was the greatest Christian of all time.  One of the things that made him such an effective disciple and teacher is that he was willing to suffer all things for Christ.

 

Paul follows the example set by Christ.  Just as Christ used His great suffering for glorifying our Father, Paul uses his sufferings to glorify Jesus.  To better appreciate the trials of this one Apostle, we need to look back and see what he experienced.

 

First, his enemies continually plotted against his life; at least six recorded instances are in the Bible.  The first occurred in Damascus, after his salvation.  “After many days, some Jewish people made plans to kill Saul. 24 They were watching the city gates day and night, but Saul learned about their plan.” (Acts 9:23-24).1  The second, third and fourth conspiracies are recorded in Acts 9:29, 20:3, and 23:10.

when Paul was asked on his persecuting of Christ followers to the extent that Paul did and then being propelled onto the same side as them?

 

Paul responded:  “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” (Phil. 3:7-9).4

The final aspect of Paul’s sufferings was his death.  It was in Rome that the apostle Paul suffered martyrdom.  By order of the Emperor Nero--he was beheaded. The apostle Paul gave every aspect of his life for service to Jesus.  This is what he meant when he wrote to Timothy: endure hardship...

This throws light on the diverse nature of soldiers.  There must be more soldiers in the house than previously thought.

 

I will like to simplify what soldiers do when they are on camp because it is not that interesting. Simply is same sh*t different days.  As a Soldier in the British army,you're tasked with upholding the Constitution and protecting British freedoms. But it's not always work — Soldiers have free time just like everyone else to spend with friends and family, or take part in sports or hobbies. Soldiers continually strengthen themselves mentally and physically through Ongoing Training. And most important Soldiers live the Core Army Values every day.

 

When out on operations it's different ball game. This is when all the skills and knowledge you have acquired through different phases of your career comes to play. It may be tough and dangerous but you have your mates with you. There is always a plan and you work the plan through the chain of command. 

 

As an individual the army gives you a lot of exposure such as Traveling round the world,an insight into the art of war and playing with real men toys like riffles to mention a few.  It is also very challenging which sometimes brings the best out of you and boost your confidence.

 

 

Being on the front line boosts our intelligence. Current scientific research shows that danger stimulates brain power and inventiveness, and the benefits are lasting. Is this really true? If yes then why is the transition from the army to a civilian life so difficult.?

 

As members of the British Army, each soldier will inevitably return to civilian life at some point, whether at the end of their formal engagement, or due to family obligations, health or unforeseen circumstances. When you've been in the forces and fought for your country there's a feeling of entitlement, as though you're owed something and should be able to step into a job in civvie street without any problems. But it's not that easy.

The challenges of daily life can be overwhelming when you first leave the military. While on active duty, the military gives you a place to live, food, clothing, a job, friends and comprehensive health care. What the military doesn’t give you is freedom and choices. 

 

Once you leave the military the story is reversed — you have lots of freedom and choices but very little else.

Although much attention is paid to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the most common mental problems we face are alcoholism, loneliness and depression The truth is about 15 percent of service leavers lives on the street while Military divorce rates are double those for civilians.

 

Often it is the little things that are the most difficult. Not saluting, having to buy and choose clothes every morning, and waking up too early with nothing to do are a few of the things that often feel foreign to new civilians. Don’t despair! You will adjust are the things we say to yourself to keep going.

From the moment you join, you will be preparing for life after the Armed Forces.

Transition is the through-career preparation of all service personnel to make a successful return to civilian life. This  takes the form of information being made available to all soldiers and their families in order to;

 

• increase their awareness of the challenges they will face so that they can successfully navigate a return to civilian society

• highlight opportunities to develop themselves whilst still in service 

• plan their future taking account of changing circumstances, and 

• ensure that the basic requirements for a successful future are regularly checked.

 

The pillars of a successful transition are: Employment, Education, Housing, Health and Welfare. If you are well prepared in these areas, your transition to civilian life will be much smoother.

 

Thank you for your time!