Yakky Potter

[Guest]

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Yes... I thought he was great in that movie. So different from Aragorn.
My housemate is a commando in the Singaporean army with the rank of captain - he's on study leave at the moment. we don't talk about what he does much as alot of it is classified information, but what I have learned from him is that it is a very intense and gruelling career - definitely not one for the faint-hearted! I thought the scnene where they were 'captured' and were beaten and tortured to train them what would happen to them if captured by real enemies was quite disturbing... is this the case as well in real life?

[savage727]

Yes there is some intense training conducted to expose you to what kind of things the enemy might do to you if you are captured.

I am not familiar to what extent the Seals program entails as that is classified information but I am sure it is no picnic.  

I can tell you that I went through an intensive program run by Navy Seals and Marines' to train Pilots and Aircrew what to expect if captured and again it was not a pleasant experience.  It was part of the training for the Survival, Evasion, and Escape course we go through.

Give my best to your housemate.

[Roz]

ooeer, in the days before handing my Masters Thesis in I went without sleep for about 47 hours. By the 46th hour the world seemed to be going on almost without me and in a dream world. Thankfully I had handed in my thesis a few hours earlier so I just clambered into the shower and then into bed.

Not an option in the marines I suppose  

[savage727]

Unfortunately no Roz!!  It is amazing what happens to the mind and body when you go without sleep for such long periods of time.  It is scarry really.  

[Roz]

It is - so what did you guys do to keep sharp. I was ok focussing on my work but trying to tick over on normal chores etc wouldn't have been possible!

[savage727]

I used to pinch myself whenever I felt sleepy.  Unfortunately I had to apply more and more pressure and pain the longer I went without sleep.    It was especially hard when you were not in a command position but just taking orders.  When it was your turn in a command position there was so much to think about and do that you did not feel tired.  

When I began flying long distances say from South Carolina to Hawaii or to Japan or when we deployed to Southwest Asia for Desert Storm and thereafter we were issued very strong caffeine pills that kept us awake.