What I've perceived over the years is
You know, we're not a Victorian army,
a Second World War army or Air Force.
But there are certain
resilience that are absolutely timeless.
Military discipline is one
might seem dated to some,
An air gap between ranks is absolutely
of mates, you are a military unit.
And that fabric of ranks and structure
It doesn't stop you all getting on,
a military enterprise,
And I did see a squadron where
clearly proud of the fact that he was
his unit was a bit different.
It was all first name terms.
It was very chummy.
And I think that probably worked
I don't know.
I still have my doubts whether that's
to do in any circumstance.
And when that unit came under the same
when people were really feeling
that bedrock wasn't there and everyone
and there was no leader and there was no
at the Padre and at the Doctor and we had
almost pleading with the Base Commander
were scared,
you know, some of them were going sick.
And I took him aside and one or two others
come on, mate, that's your job.
But the trouble is, it was too late.
I mean, he tried to kind of
But it was way too late.
You can't do it in the moment.
You have to build this from the start.
So, you know, that was.
It did reinforce for me that for all the,
military units, their resilience
And thankfully,
on, but I was never a friend of anyone.
I was a Squadron Commander.
There was always a gap between me
as there should be,
NCOs and the senior NCOs and their
It really matters.
