beands said:
I, personally, don't want some drunk in the trench next to me.
Drinking and soldiers. There is a time and a place for it. Gone are the days of 'piss' in the field, and if any of my soldats had 'piss' in the field, or drinking on duty, they'd be doing the hatless dance, and if in theatre, they'd be well on their way back to Kuwait, and sent home embarrassed to love ones and those back at the unit. When on my tour in Iraq, we had an sactioned period of two beers per man perhaps on specific days of national siginficance, of which you could count on one hand, plus only 1/3 of the troops were allowed at a time, as not to quash our tactical advantage over the Enemy, who were always active, and near by.
As for smoking and soldiers, now a days we have two things, one is policy, and the other something called 'duty of care', and this is enforced both at home and abroad, although on Ops it may be relaxed somewhat, the the overall guidelines must be adhered to. Policy is simply that. Failure to do so causes nothing but problems not only with the pers who don't smoke, but overall, as its policy, anda like it or not, thats just how it is.
Smoking in the field, depending on whats going on, I don't have an issue, regardless of your 'smokers rights' its whatever the tactical scenerio and your leadership dictate, and I guarantee ther would be no smoking at night on a tactical ex period! As for the same on Ops, you would simplly be eating that cicarette, and your crediibility with others would expire.
Australian soldiers have known the rules, and have accepted them, liking it or not.
We have something also called commonsense, so use it.
Wes
And no, I don't smoke.
SMMT when you start wanting things banned because you don't like them (even if they are still legal) don't piss and moan when they start to ban something you enjoy!
