The other day I was on a train heading into Zurich and there was a young lad in uniform who was as smart as 10, real poster boy stuff, but I never paid any attention to insignia so didn't note rank or branch, just he was immaculately turned out, but I've also seen the type the OP describes. and I know which left the better impression. So I guess the ability to wear the uniform with some sort of pride (in the service or there own appearance) is a personal thing.
As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.
Cheers,
Nick
In Turkey a man will not find a job if he didn't serve first. For the reason that most compagnies don't want to miss a worker for a period up to 18 months. If you have a four years university degree you might have enough luck to serve ''just'' for 6 months. Where they send you depends on who you know and how much you pay someone... If you are enough lucky, you'll do your time in Erdek or Antalya (Beaches and Resort) if not, you might be in the extreme east side of the country where it is the war (against PKK).
So I think the kids here have it pretty easy. I don't approve the obligation to serve and will never. When done in those conditions compared to others countries, I don't see much why some are running away.
In Turkey, everytime a boy has to go for his military service, it is a stress and anxiety on him and the family because you don't know if he will come back.
@pegA: i tell you what the reaction was:LOL! youre not going anywhere anyhow(in a 10 month service as a private you wont go nowhere outside the basecamp)and now go and do that training parcour as for not doing youll get a couple of days in a nice cell.after the usual 3month drill i was sent to an office that took care about the familys of guys down in kosovo. i never had to take a gun into my hand ever as a result of above mentioned. instead i supported those familys back home, shitting themselfes whenever press reported of a explosion somewhere in ex yugoslavia nowhere near of "our troops". all 3 months we organised a fam event with coffee n cakes and some entertainment for the kids. i edited a magazin with latest news and greetings page etc. and yes...i felt a bit of proud! that i did something human, social that helped to overcome hard times that these people had.
NO NO NO NO NO !!! The Swiss armed forces fo NOT have ANY respect from 95% of its soldiers ! It is accepted as rubbish to go through, it is accepted as your duty, but to ask to respect the sh....ty rubbish clearly goes thousands of miles toooooo far !
or THIS
or THIS
CH
Conscripted
No respect for the institution they are forced to be part of
No respect from the people who force them to be a part of it
UK
Professional
Respect for the institution they have chosen to be part of
Respect from the people who because of them need not be a part of it
Exceptions exist, of course - when I first came to Switzerland, a colleague who had learned of my past, was desperate to tell me his role in the Swiss Army.
Once we had cleaned up the mess - a mouthful of coffee unfortunately propelled by the sudden expulsion of a lungful of air, whilst simultaneously laughing and saying "BLOODHOUND?!?!?" can cover quite an area - we got chatting, and it became clear that he took the job seriously, and did it to the best of his ability and with pride. Interestingly enough, he didn't take the threat seriously, but he at least could separate the two issues at stake. He also commented at one point that there was no-one in his battery who didn't want to be there.
And there's the Catch 22: if all the conscripted elements behaved and performed in a such a manner - "I don't really choose this, but I'll do my best for my country" - the numbers of conscripts required could be reduced and reduced. But, of course, that needs a degree of altruism that you don't get with conscription.
As Papa Goose said, any misbehaving whilst in uniform in the UK services will get the Regulators, or equivalent Service Police, dropping on you like a ton of bricks.
I knew back in 1993 and from a credible source -- a Norwegian doctor who also served in Bosnia and was sent to the Bakovici hospital to help. He was actually quite sympathetic to the Canadians -- said that it was terrible and incomprehensible what they did there but that they must have lost moral compass being in the middle of Balkan madness.
And if you still do not believe it, here it is, confirmed by the Canadian Government itself: "17 January 1997 - The Department of National Defence made public a report which confirmed many of the allegations of misconduct by Canadian peacekeepers at the Bakovici hospital in the former Yugoslavia. Because of the statute of limitations on disciplinary proceedings, the soldiers involved will not face courts martial." ( http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collectio.../CIR/961-e.htm )
Not wearing "headdress" was a serious offence here until a short time ago, when that rule was DROPPED
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to have the boots polished is a controlled and definite rule still. BUT, the boots they take on for the weekend leave is NOT controlled as on Saturday morning also the officers are rushing
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it also in Switzerland, as recently confirmed by CIC Blattmann, still is a chargeable offence to "dress/behave" in a "manner (not manor) likely to bring the service into disrepute". .... and he promised that the Military Police still has the power to intervene, as they really DO.
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But here I tend to get angry. All foreigners here complain about CH folks sticking to rules, and when some CHers do not, then hell breaks loose ! You cannot have it both ways, CHers sticking to rules as you like it on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and being flexible when you like it on Tuesday and Thursday !!!
All I see is someone posting about the slovenly appearance of some guys in uniform, not the reason for an army (regular or conscript) in CH, or the whether Swiss stick to their own rules or not
B) your car however is part of your domicile, so you can change when you reach your car
C) in military service, sports clothes are accepted, so that to get into sports gear is an alternative
D) you when going to do the Obligatarische (yearly duty-shooting) you are in civilian clothes, but also have you automatic weapon quite openly with you (in trams, S-Bahnen or SBB-trains), so what ?
E) people going to shootings, in civilian clothes of course, not least members of shooting clubs, get around in civilian clothes and carry that automatic weapon quite openly, so I fail to see your point