Girls on the frontline

[Over The Hill]

I generally don’t go for fly on the wall documentaries as they are often just cheap idiot TV. This was “today’s choice” in my Radio Times so I gave it a go.

It was an amazing insight into many things: Front line in Afghanistan, Women (certainly not girls) in the Army and life for a serving soldier.

It was on BBC3 so may get repeated on 1 or 2. Well worth a look.

I really had no idea of the conditions in Afghanistan and the way they engage the enemy.
I was not aware how women were integrated in the army: they live and sleep in a mixed sex room with the guys, but I guess you need to be one of the lads to fight with someone.
The matter-of-fact way they deal with things from relationships to having your dna and photo taken before the posting (they all know it will be the photo used if they died) down to having only mince to eat for months because that was all that was sent was an amazing insight.

 

[snapper_37]

Thanks for that OTH. My female cousin has been in Camp Bastion for 3 weeks now so will make interesting watching.

 

[bauldbairn]

It was an amazing insight into many things: Front line in Afghanistan, Women (certainly not girls) in the Army and life for a serving soldier.

It was on BBC3 so may get repeated on 1 or 2. Well worth a look.

+1,

It was a very good program - it just happened to start when I walked into the living room and made very interesting viewing. I had no idea these women were in mixed accomodation or that they were used on the front line like the guys - good on them.

 

[bikermaze]

Interesting. It's not common for girls to be placed in the front line. Though I guess it would be a problem mixing them in the same room with the dudes.

 

[ACS]

I left the armed forces over 6 years ago and have been at the forefront of a couple of confrontations where servicewomen have been fully integrated into an operational combat teams. It was never a problem even when shared accommodation was used ground rules were set and respected by all because without the trust and respect of the person next you, the consequences could be fatal. It's always a good idea to pi$$ off the people watching your back or covering your progress.

 

[Coco]

Did they really call it 'Girls' on the frontline?

 

[ACS]

During the Gulf confict my two 'girls' were called Harry (Elizabeth Carpenter) and Bob (Roberta Jones). Bob also looked a bit like 'Bob' from the Blackadder series.