Becoming a pilot in the Royal Air Force was a choice I made a long time ago. There is I suppose, a contract that you recive an amazing flying experience, but you have may have to take lives when the time comes. On my first day in advanced jet training at Valley, the first all the new pilots on the course were called in to receive a speech from the base commander. The first thing he said to us was:
''I dont give a flying f*** what kind of pilot you are or think you are, but this is a military airforce. If you cannot put the pipper on the man in the cockpit then I dont want you on my squadron. You aim for the man because he is the weakest link. If you cant do that then you shouldnt be in this airforce.''
I have thought about this many many times, the fact that I should be prepared to deal out death and destruction upon my enemy when I receive the orders. In this thought process mainly, I have been thinking about the value of life, let me explain.
As I am sure many of you already know, I am about to be depart for Afghanistan. I will be there for 4 months. My role will be close air support, ie, reconnaissance, shows of force and of course dropping weaponry. Not a single harrier pilot that has been to Afghanistan has had a quiet tour. I doubt I will be the exception and so there will undoubtedly be occassions when I will have to use lethal force. This got me thinking on the value of life.
Normally large British units will be engaged with a comparably small force on the ground. They will call in the fast air. Say around 40 or 50 British against about 20 Taliban. In war many people justify killing, so that others may live, yet if I kill 20 to save 50, is that right? Does morality come into play? Is one British life worth more than 1 Taliban life, because the Taliban are in many people's eyes 'evil' or is all life worth the same regardless of morailty.
I put these questions to you and will be interested in seeing your replies on my return in May.
its not a question about saving the others butt(well a bit it is) but its more like your own. either you mmake the other plane go kablewie, or youll and up with a rocket up yours... and then youll be questioning weithers its your life or his.
theres nothing that can justify killing. not even war, but saving your own ass is the least you can do. somes life is never important than others. if i had the choise between me and bush, bush wouldnt live today... i think atleast.
serve your country well woody. we´ll wait for you here and want to hear your many tales from the frontlines. btw say hi to the danes down there... i know you work closely together!
I think every life is equal, no matter who they are. But when they become aggressive towards you, when your main goal is to help people, then you need to do what is necessary to ensure your survival, and the survival of your fellow soldiers.
It must be extremely unpleasant to think about having to take lives for others, and to think about why you do it. Was it because you value your fellow soldiers' lives more than others? If you think about it this way and occupy yourself with thinking about it, its going to worry you to death. Don't think about it that way. No one wishes to kill anyone. But sometimes it's the only choice you have or it's the best choice you have. And its your job, to be a protector of your nation, and to be trained to be the tough one to do the dirty work, when others can't. Theres a difference between soldiers, Airforce pilots, etc. that they are trained to do what is needed to ensure the survival of the group. And they are greatly respected.
See ya woody...good luck man ill pray for you (i know your an atheist but ill try to make sure it works lol ;P)
Also the question here is basicaly can you kill someone to protect someone you love whether it's yourself or in this case one of your squad mates. I'd say yes but this is just a morality argument.
Ask yourself the question of what would those people on the ground do for you if something happened to you. If for some reason you was to go down, what would happen if the Taliban found you first or the British soldiers? I think we all know the answer to that, the British soldiers would protect you and the Taliban would, well, let's not talk about that. So, as they would come to your aid when you need it, come to theirs when they need it. I don't know if that's the best way to think about it, but that's how my naive mind thinks about this question. Well, just make sure you come back safe and sound. I, as I'm sure most if not all of the users on this site, hope for your safe return in four months, as well as the safe return of all your comrades and everyone over there. Good luck
You kill people a mile away, I kill them so close their blood gets on my shoe. I don't really see the problem, it's the military, you knew what you were getting yourself into before you joined.
i think its bad for anyone to die. but i think its better to kill 20 to save 50, than lose 50 and leave 20 to kill more.
only use force if u have to, and dont think aything bad about it. it u let if eat at u it will, if u let it make u stronger than it will make u stronger.
