Is the British Military really the BEST in the World? | Jason Fox | The Big Jim Show

[@markaguilera493]

Here's my little story about Brit soldiers. About 20 years ago I was working in the south of France in a service station. Every evening guys from a private security company would come round to check on us. One of them was a former foreign legionnaire of Polish nationality. Had a little chat with him. "-Where do the best legionnaires come from ?" Without the slightest hesitation he blurted out" Britain." I was a bit surprised so I said" Are you sure?.. How about the Russians? Or the Africans?.. Or the Spaniards? "Nope. The Brits. Always. Brits are the best soldiers." So I proceeded to ask for more details. "In what field are they the best?" "In all fields. They're the hardest fighters. They're the first to get up in the morning. They're great to have fun with in every way. They do not shy away from responsibility and embrace promotion. They are the most loyal. When they are commanders they are tough but fair." So there's definitely something going on there. Brits are a rare breed of men. It's no surprise the figure of the knight in shining Armour befits Britain so well. Britain is the table of the knights of the round table. Embrace your greatness with humility as you were taught. Keep that stiff upper lip, be merry, be jolly, be kind and forgiving. But don't let those savage degenerate bastards from foreign lands rape your children and seize your lovely country.

[@joshuarahi4662]

From threats both foreign and domestic, also don't let there be false witnesses bear against anyone otherwise the real culprits get away, as was the case of The Central Park 5 who got unjust prison sentences and were years later acquitted, no scapegoating of anyone either, realising the limitations of stereotypes and generalisations outside the contexts of comedy so that everyone is on the same page and no longer polarised would help our society too.

[@markaguilera493]

@joshuarahi4662 Calling out the criminals when we know who they are is not scapegoating. On the other hand referring to criminals as scapegoats is indeed a dastardly ignorant deed.

[@giveusanesirbobholness7199]

Cheers mate 👍

[@magnacarta9364]

As an ex cpl from the 2eme REI back in the 80's that is correct, we were know as the Mafia Angliase, which meant any english speaking nation Legionaires there. But now I would reakon it has become minimal now. We used to sing football songs the Germans which were many sung SS songs in the main bar.

[@joshuarahi4662]

@ not what I meant good sir

[@TheCheshireWanderer]

Its just a shame we have such poor politicians along the way.

[@TheCheshireWanderer]

@DemiDogInvictus 1st off, 🔔end, you can't go to war unless you're 18 or over. 2, the Russians war machine that's being held up by Ukraine and just let its ally in Syria be overthrown without a fight 🤣🤣 no f**k off.

[@Casshern2010]

@@DemiDogInvictusWhat a dumb comment.

[@Andrew-dm8mk]

⁠@@DemiDogInvictus Yes indeed because in the past our politicians got and had their priorities right? What and the Russian war machine too?… That’s why they were the Second best army in the world for a reason. By summer of 2023 all their best didn’t exist any more. ~755940 Eliminated Personnel and counting up and til now.

[@Andrew-dm8mk]

@@DemiDogInvictus Russian war machine? Are you for real?😂 Obviously you haven’t being paying attention to what’s been going on in Ukraine since Feb ‘22, that Russian war machine doesn’t exist anymore.

[@kendiamond8722]

The couldn't win a raffle, during the war's they were always destroyed up against another army, their the best at murder civilians 😮, but during the war, why did the German's stop at Dunkirk, Africa they were the same couldn't win a battle, Yankee had to go into Africa and show them how it's done, DDAY they were given a job to take Caan, fucked that up also, decided to wipe out the civilians by carpet bombing the city, bridge to far, another fuck up, nothing but delusional tossers, 😂😂😂

[@jjann8387]

Bloody LOVE Foxy. What an amazing guy .. thank you for service Sir xxx

[@Bosspigeon230]

I have a school mate who said he learnt half his Army training working as a labourer in muddy building sites for 2 years. Being wet and muddy for 6 months a year, having a job to do & a good sense of humour with a shit ham sandwich at lunchtime; set him up big time!

[@LookDeeper]

Labouring definitely prepares you.

[@soldierssoldier.1503]

Ham? I think you mean an egg banjo, there were not much ham sarnies about in my time, you're right about spending a lot of time in muddy conditions, there the norm, not so sure about todays lot though 🙂

[@snow1366]

It’s hard work💪🏻👊🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Bosspigeon230]

@@soldierssoldier.1503 I mean he had cheap sandwiches while labouring, no doubt (I know) spending his hard earned at the weekend!

[@Bosspigeon230]

@@LookDeeper He alway says it's the get up, get the job done because all the other blokes have kids and mortgages etc. When with other new recruits he said he was used to the mud, cold, the wind & the focus on achievement despite the crap, wet feet etc. The details of uniform and rank etc I don't know, but I suspect he was ahead of most when being in the field & probably not that good at ironing!

[@derek9153]

I am American and I served in the US Marines and US Army. He is correct about the relationship between training, environment, and soldiering. To suffer is to soldier. I have never been impressed by what people can do under ideal conditions. I want to see how people perform when they are exhausted, cold, wet, tired, and hungry. That’s when character is revealed. I never served in the British military, so I can’t accurately compare. My family was English and immigrated to America. Maybe it’s personal bias, but I’ve always considered people from that region to be tough.

[@braindeadhoovy2562]

It's in your blood

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@@derek9153 The people who emigrated to the USA, (before it became the USA) were pioneers who were both physically tough and mentally resilient, but also self-reliant, with the ability to self organize. They had to be to settle a new country.

[@jakehowie442]

U.K. is a lot tougher than the US, mainly cos of the weather and mainly cos it’s a shithole. The ghetto is nice in the US compared to the U.K. ghettos imo

[@cartmanbraahnd6660]

You missed out religeous zealots lol

[@russcooke5671]

True. Pressure changes everything. ❤❤❤

[@kevinthorp1419]

I joined the Royal Engineers in 1992. We were not elite troops. On my final exercise we went out for 5 days with no waterproofs, (well we did have waterproofs of the cheapest kind which made so much noise at night the corporals told us to take them off). No gortex, 58 pattern webbing and 58 pattern dose back. No bivi bag. We had a pouncho with the hood tied up and bungees to create a shelter it was November it rained all week. Some didn’t make it to the end due to hypothermia. It was the coldest I have ever been in my life and I’m 53 now. Shared suffering brought us and our corporals together. I turned into a British Soldier that week. The best of the best.

[@NewMinority]

We did that in army cadets in the 80s at age of 15. No one had waterproofs then. Would be a crime now to take army cadets out in the rain

[@kevindevlin7025]

I experienced that in 1974 before gortex was a thing, foam bed mats didn’t exist and we used ponchos for a shelter. We had cotton jackets which soaked up the wet and took ages to dry out. I thought it would have improved by the 90’s but apparently not.

[@ArthurTanner-d7s]

I was in the TA around the same time. The only way you could keep those waterproofs quiet was to wear them UNDER your smock. Did our end of basic training exercise in December and like You I’ve never been so cold in my life (and I also used to climb mountains in winter). Remember the rations? Bacon burger….biscuits brown…….hexy stove………..The current ones come in a bag and get this, they’re self heating. It’s witchcraft I tell ee!!

[@15kilkenny]

I was in the engineer's 1997 and it was the same crap equipment and SA80s that jammed for fun

[@wargey3431]

@@ArthurTanner-d7s the current ones are most defintly not self heating they have alcohol though instead of Hexy and you still get biscuit browns

[@ruzziasht349]

The British Empire at its zenith (around 1920) covered approximately 13.7 million square miles, or about 23-25% of the Earth's total land area. It governed over 412 million people, about 23% of the world's population at that time. It was the largest Empire the world has ever seen.... not bad for such a tiny country.

[@richardduplessis1090]

We are where we are, and it'll take more than a few hundred special forces guys to change anything, especially as they take their orders from whichever anti - British party is currently in power.

[@oudloek]

Thanks for the history lesson. But this is now and almost 2025.

[@ruzziasht349]

@@oudloek It's to give you plebs an idea of where British military experience comes from.

[@MrGraemeb2022]

‘The sun never set on the British empire’ (Because no bugger trusted the Brits in the dark…😂)

[@theconsistentnoddy9851]

It’s still the biggest empire to this day, even after the woke brigade forcing us to let many countries have their independence 🇬🇧

[@mariewolton7027]

I worked at a famous british company in the 80's & 90's. My boss came back from a visit to a customer / country in Africa. He informed me that this particular african nation had confided that in the future and because of other countries soldiers that they would only accept soldiers sent by the UN who came from the UK. Very telling.

[@geraintjones6401]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jason Fox and the SAS Who Dares Wins team when they visited N Wales this summer. They rode the zip lines where I work. They're a cracking bunch as you'd expect and Rudy was "whooping" a lot now you come to mention it. Cheers guys, you made everyone's day.

[@charlesharrington9116]

Have to agree with the comments, I am a retired U.S. Army Senior NCO, I served from 1979 to 2000. The British soldiers I served with were extremely good soldiers. The comment Jason made about all the support the U.S. military personnel get from U.S. citizens should be taken with a grain of salt. I served post-Vietnam, during my service, not once did anyone say to me the bs statement "Thank you for your service". We never expected it, and we never received any special recognition or benefits etc... No get on flights first, free meals, free tickets, etc... Again, we never expected it. After the U.S. got kicked in the bollocks on 9/11, all the sudden everyone is a frickin Hero. During my years of service we were regarded as a necessary evil. No one gave a rat's behind about the sacrifices military personnel made. I am sure it was the same in the UK. After I retired, I heard all the time, "Thank you for your service." I just think to myself, does that statement make you feel good? Go join up, freedom isn't free and talk is cheap. I do agree with mant of the comments made by Jim, the UK Army/Marines are one of the best ground forces bar none.

[@patsanters2741]

|During 2nd World war my late Father a Scot with his mate an Irish guy both without speaking walked into a Usa barracks and aided themself to a good meal then both walked quietly back out again to their British base ..My late Father said Americans have it so much better with equipment and their food was better by far ..Nothing has changed and id think this makes a British infantryman more stronger as most hve had a tougher life before joining up . But today britain doesnt have much of a force and would not last 3 months against Russia .

[@nicholasjohnferriman8283]

Yes, the sentiment noted. I remember hearing the Regimental Sergeant Major tell us new recruits on the drill square, "Gentlemen, in war time you are a hero. But in peace time, you stand out like a pair of bulldog's bollocks. You're a fact of life, but everybody pretends you don't exist". Welcome to the British Army.

[@Mitch_Richards]

I worked with British Soldiers in Afghanistan and again recently in Poland training some "allied partner forces". They are professional when and where they need to be, well trained, and just plain fun to work with otherwise in a not so serious way. Are they the best? I don't know that answer, but I would work with them again any day! Cheers

[@womb_raider]

thats because your a trainer not a soldier whos seen battle

[@Mitch_Richards]

@@womb_raider lol, wrong... Keep trol ling dipsh't.

[@grajammellor660]

I tbink he sbowed e ough respect there. Thsts hes opinion he didnt say no.. he said he didnt know the answer​@womb_raider

[@Mitch_Richards]

@@grajammellor660 I have great respect for British troops, martial history, etc. I thought I made that pretty clear, but there's always "that guy" who needs to take a shot regardless. I have 3 combat tours... which is why I was selected to train Uke troops. I worked with Brits, Canadians, Aussies, Poles, Germans, and 2 Japanese Officers too. Great group, awesome memories.

[@OliTaylor]

@@Mitch_Richards do you know which regiment you worked with in Poland?

[@nixbronowski5822]

Had the pleasure of meeting Foxy at a charity event in London.. In a room full of the most insincere people ive ever met.. with women fawning over him with cheap lines. I got to sketch his caricature... He was one of the most humble guys I've ever met. Total Gent. Hats off to u Foxy..Total Respect.

[@DangerClose0608]

I did nine years in the US Marines that included time in Afghanistan and Iraq. After a couple years I stopped comparing the foreign military to ours. After hanging out with and working with the Brits, South Koreans, Australians, Canadians and a few other European countries you find out you all trained to accomplish a mission. That mission can change from place to place in country to country. Training shows that. It was especially evident with the South Koreans's for obvious reasons. I had a great time all nine years I was in the military but it's a brotherhood no matter what country you come from or are serving in. Even what might be considered enemy service members. The Russians I got to hang out with were cool as shit. They were people like anybody else but that military bond is strong.

[@nicholasjohnferriman8283]

Other features that British soldiers bring to the game centre around their cohesiveness which are as follows. First is their ability to cobble together a plan and execute it when everything is going wrong. They don't panic, they look for a solution, and they muck in to make it work - on the fly! This happens at all levels of command, all the way down to the private soldier. It makes them exceedingly difficult to break as a fighting force. Second, they enjoy being out on their own a long way from home. It doesn't faze them. This allows for a greater dispersal of forces. You can therefore cover a greater area with less forces without loosing cohesiveness Third, British soldiers are quick to respond. They react well when the sh*t hits the fan. They come to the assistance of other units in trouble. Finally, teamwork. Tommy forms teams very quickly. For example, when their respect sub units have been hammered, or they have lost touch with them in the heat of battle, they are absorbed readily into other units to fight another day. Again, a reflection of their cohesiveness. They also have a cracking good sense of humour which makes them good to be around.

[@Axispaw1]

Agree with all of this and well put. The sense of humour I'd put above all else in all honesty. That black humour even at the worst of times can be a huge moral boost.

[@ArthurTanner-d7s]

@@tbrowniscool £11k. But lodgings in luxurious accommodation and Cordon Bleu meals. ;-)

[@T57Custodian]

The british mindset is the same as the rugby mindset. "Oh I've snapped my toe off...anyway carry on"

[@mogznwaz]

Yes. This is the Britain I know. But for how long? Efforts have been underway for decades to deplete, denigrate, demoralise and de-fund our greatest assets and our only defence.

[@T57Custodian]

@@mogznwaz our PM uses russian talking points and ideas from just before crimea. Let me tell you if we british can't have our home then nobody can. Many silos over the uk

[@lacelotte82]

American soldiers will fight for their flag and country. A British soldier will fight for his mucker beside him.

[@krankenhosen]

One of the first things I was told during basic training at Pirbright in the late seventies: "You are not fighting for your Queen, or your country, or the politicians. None of them give a fuck about you. You are fighting for the men around you, for each other, for your regiment." There was no talk of patriotism.

[@EmmettBrooks]

American and British soldiers fight for the wealthy and powerful. They fight for war profits.

[@Jamesbrown-xi5ih]

We also fight for our brothers, not just country.

[@chrispack3131]

@@Jamesbrown-xi5ihI’m sure you do mate 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

[@ericworst]

Stupid thing to say - all soldiers fight for their section, platoon, company and bttn - mostly they fucking loathe the civilians they supposed to be protecting. It's called small group cohesion.

[@HarryFenton6124]

My artillery regiment in the 70`s was basically 600 skinheads with the extra ability to live rough for weeks on end in the mud whilst also being very good at soldiering.

[@wodens-hitman1552]

I was 39 heavy in the 80s in senelager. A few tossers but mostly good lads

[@HarryFenton6124]

@@wodens-hitman1552 19 Regt RA. Yes, one or two nutters but most were good lads.

[@HarryFenton6124]

@@bojanvukobradovic2504 My lot were old men by then. They all came from heavy industry, the mines, the docks, etc. The new generation aren`t the same.

[@peterwait641]

@@HarryFenton6124 27 field loads of strange people lol

[@HarryFenton6124]

@@peterwait641 I look back and can`t believe I put up with it for 6 years. My final straw was 3 extras for a tiny thumb print on a brass thingy that was under my epaulette, picked up on daily parade. I PVR`d after the parade. F that.

[@campbellpaget453]

In a 2 week exercise in January 1975 in several degree under, snow on the ground but raining hard, my college of Sandhurst cadets were the only people out on the Brecon training grounds except for the SAS. It was our final exercise before commissioning. Never experienced worse weather in the world: could cope with anything after that.

[@grahammoore8967]

That took me back. I did SMC8 from Jan 75. Those exercises certainly were hard.

[@stevencottam7570]

Celebrate success and patriotic, you would be accused of being far right in the UK

[@Nathann99]

😂😂 there is a difference between being patriotic vs being nationalist

[@waldorfmcvitty4854]

Thats entirely the fault of the far right im afraid mate, they stole your flag. Them and the football hooligans.

[@markaguilera493]

@@Nathann99 Which is?..

[@jackhebdon8360]

​@@Nathann99 can you answer?

[@BillDavies-ej6ye]

@@jackhebdon8360 For my country and people vs against others.

[@jonathanware4096]

Got so much time and respect for Foxy. Such a sound guy

[@HelloJamesBond]

Jason is absolutely bang on with his thoughts on Brits and Americans. Hit the nail on the head 💥

[@SAPPERBRAVO]

Saffa/Hawiian here. Served 13 years as a U.S Army SAPPER. I gotta hand it to them poms, brilliant soldiers. And ive got close mates in the British army and one in the commandos. The British Army, is QUALITY over quantity per soldier. The U.S Military is QUANTITY over quality, again per soldiers capabilites. Some may even say, the British airbourne units, infantry could be compared to an Army Ranger in regards to capabilities because end of the day you work with the budget you have and make the most of it. Then it comes down to what we believe in and no insult intended, but in this day and age, American soldiers are probably more willing to give everything for our flag and country regardless how we see it, vs the British for theres. Because i reckon the Brits right now, again with respect, do not even know what being "British" is anymore, hard to be patriotic if your troops cant be arsed either, because majority of the British civillian population dont care. And when the peasants populatio. dont care, then the sons of said peasants wont care about service and pride to country either unfortunately. Leading to a weakened force by retention. Which is whats happening in the UK now. Its all fun and games UNTIL a massively weakened British Army goes to war with zero capabilities to acomplish the mission. The UKs military budget has to increase drastically.

[@bradevans9173]

I don’t often comment on KZbin but this comment you made is spot on! I am a proud welsh man who’s also proud to say I’m British and would always support other brits.. but I don’t think many would these days! I’ve always admired the American support and enthusiasm for their troops, wish we could adopt some of that American passion!

[@Danzkaz]

Agreed

[@acidpunker1]

Give it 20 years and we'll all be shouting Ali Snack Bar. The country is f""ked

[@monstroleads]

That is absolutely spot on about us Brits being not celebrating. When I've spent time in the US, it doesn't matter if you've known the person 10 minutes or 10 years. They'll congratulate you on the smallest of things. Here in the UK it is as Jason said. "Eh how did he get that?" there's more jealousy than congratulating which is disappointing.

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, as a foreigner who served with the British Paras in the late fifties, I can tell from experience why the Brits were the best. 1. They recruited by Regiment, signed you up for 22 years and you joined the family. 2. The old blokes (survivors of WW2) always said that the British made the best soldiers, the Germans best tactical officers and the Americans had the best gear. The French the best food and brothels. 3. The biggest groans were food, accommodation and pay. Try living in tents on a spare runway in the Persian Gulf for a year on Brit Compo Rations! Cheers mate. Harera

[@jBear-ku7vp]

Ok civilian chef here, I have cooked at a few of the commando bases and I have to say for our lads and lasses I’ll cook for you any where. My small contribution to say thank you. I appreciate everything you do for us out here on civi street.

[@Aaa-o7h8z]

The British are extremely tough

[@paulsmith1431]

My grandad killed at least 200 men ww2 . He was an army cook.

[@conormaher2283]

I read about that, army cook kills 200 of his own men by food poisoning, brutal.

[@Really-hx7rl]

I was in the Army in the 80s and I think we were better trained then than now. We've always had crap equipment but I loved the SLR. If you shot someone with that weapon they were not getting back up...ever! Also back then we were also on active duty in N.I and belive me that honed your skills especially in House to House. There was a reason why the British went into Basrah.

[@SimDeck]

You my friend are talking utter shi*te. You were porobably a back squadded remf who found the BFT a bit hard. Did about 8 weeks training and jacked it in. I can hear it, and we can all hear it in your tone. For example "honed your skills especially in House to House" I served in an Infantry unit and we don't say that sort of thing. We are not a Sabre squadron lol. Dear me. Listen dreamer. If you served in Northern Ireland you wouldn't even use that laungauge. Grow up mate and make your own dreams a reality.

[@BarryGibson-h6r]

As a 76 year old I have the highest regard for all our girls and boys who join any of our armed forces. They deserve our respect. A heartfelt thank you to all of them.

[@jjohanesson9139]

It's shit pay, shit equipment and shit when you leave .

[@Lee-qd3pw]

The pay's relative. Different for the married folk, but for a single guy - little domestic expenses etc. etc. depending what you want to spend on a car or a phone, it was a lot of beer money.

[@PaulVickers-n6k]

My old man would have agreed with you on that. When he was in Malaya in the late 50s, think he said about £3 a week my Mum was earning more in a explosives factory He was watching something once and a squddie was moaning about sleeping bags, he said they should be lucky we didn't have 1... Like he once said, you just get use to it.. but he did moan about typical parliament guys on front line with out the equipment and they cut spending...

[@Bikes_N_things]

Another reason no one is joining

[@alanwood7373]

I loved being in the wet and mud. What prepared me for armed service was being in the scouts. I spent a lot of time camping and wild camping all over the UK.

[@gameram6382]

As a vet infantry, its so true, wales, Scotland are horrible environments to soldier. I found the jungle, Africa and Middle East supper easy.

[@posniknelb6114]

The jungle ain't super easy 😂 And yes I am a veteran

[@ms16648]

Middle East supper is anything but easy. It's all bread and yoghurt and roast chicken. Very filling and there's no cutlery either.

[@SammyCustard]

Scotland's easy for me but I've lived here all ma days😂 of bothy have hunting we go;plenty old castles and ruins

[@ltippers7029]

You haven’t done the jungle properly then fella….

[@mcorco516]

That acommodation in Sennybridge barracks; total shithole!

[@bobbobertbobberton1073]

When talking to Americans they don't believe how cold it gets in Britain because of the damp and rain and high humidity and constant gale force winds and how mild dry winters are even if its low into the -degrees. The degrees might say 0 but it feels like minus 18. The way to describe it to people is like go in the show don't dry off and then go out into -0 weather. The only other place that is like that is Alaska, they have the same damp, rain and cold and if you are from Alaska or Britain you know that what the temperature is at doesn't mean anything. I mean last year in Scotland it got to -18 degrees, no one even noticed that is was -18 lol.

[@CleonSecond]

I know that feeling, I've tried explaining to Africans how your cold to the bone and the can't fathom that level of cold. Garelochead and Snotterburn have nasty memories for me..

[@dallassukerkin6878]

Quite so! Before Brexit barfed it up for me I was in the motions of moving to Finland and spent some time over there in the winter with my Finnish friends - it's lovely :D It might say -50 on the thermometer but it's nothing like the vile bone-biting chill we get over here :) And, to give the other side, I have had Finnish friends over here and they say quite plain that it's worse than their winters :chuckles:

[@dirkscott5410]

British forces suffer from many problems. First is the “it matters not that they fall” attitude of politicians and generals who seem to expect our fighters to die unnecessarily. Low level bombing with Tornados in Iraq, wandering around Basra without helmets… nuts. Second is the poor political support for British tech. We create great kit, fail to invest in it or develop it, then are forced to buy American. Then they take our ideas and develop them and sell it back to us. Nuts. Thirdly, the UK is rubbish at celebrating its forces with the population. Government needs to engage the best marketeers to create a long term program of making our services front and centre in our society, not hidden away like some embarrassment.

[@paddioche]

Much of the british homegrown tech was privatised and sold off in the early 90s, from then on they started to cut the budget every year

[@Mulberry2000]

There is a reason the Brits do not celebrate their military, they do not want that force to have too much support as in the past that military repeatedly turned on the government of the day. Historically the British have always fielded a small army and a large navy. Its done for reason, the navy is far away fighting the French and the army its too small to bother the government if it decides to go into revolution mode. The founders of the US had the same idea.

[@adamnewman6846]

The less the enemy knows about our success's the more shocked they will be when they lose

[@LemonScreech]

Soldiering… not being phased by being extremely uncomfortable for extending periods of time. The British climate is perfect for this, you can be so cold and wet it is painful without extreme danger (mostly 🤣). Hence extremely tough warriors.

[@grahamcoates9017]

Im a ex green howard. Based in Catterick in the early 90s my platoon had to go to teesside airport to unload a US hercules bringing supplies to take up to otterburn for the yanks. It was full to the brim with milkshake

[@SgtOfChaos]

The culture is different between the States and us lads - over there they objectively promote hope even when it's false - we don't do that... apart from when the World Cup is mentioned - and even that is tongue in cheek.

[@RawPower-69]

Because you are a traitorous communist.

[@leonandrews9486]

I did Catterick in 86, but at -28 degrees we were in our normal sleeping systems ( 58 sleeping bags). We had everyone leave the training area, including the royal marines. It was shitty. We got on with it. We at a later date did heat and cold, yet we didn't whinge about it, we got on with it. The difference is the adaptability of the soldier. I wasn't SAS or SBS or SRR, that may be different with today's standards, but we got on with it. We didn't need to be SF, we were British. We went through selection at the centre and then we went through selection at our depot. After that we specialised, in my case sniping and reconnaissance. It wasn't easy to get there either, I spent time in a rifle company and it was actually my Battalion 2IC who put me forward to Sniping. A man who I have a huge amount of respect for, even to this day. The SAS, SBS and SRR are a state of mind, which few (even when they're capable) are actually are capable of attaining, even when physically they're capable. In the UK it seems we learnt mind trumps body every time.

[@shadow-Sun]

I am an ex Royal Marines Commando (retired) and I think Brits /scots /welsh /Irish are or can be -great soldiers and fighters, we are not the biggest or the loudest but we can scrap , our history tells that story so clearly , if we were an animal I'd say we were a Honey Badger vs say the Russian Bear analogy . Anyone who knows what a Honey Badger is capable of will see my description as being quite apt .

[@DaveDave-e6t]

You mean English/Scots/Welsh/Irish..

[@bonvoyage5377]

@@DaveDave-e6t NO, he means english scots,welsh,.........and northern irish

[@shadow-Sun]

@@DaveDave-e6t that's exactly what I mean . so glad you added your comment to clear up the confusion

[@Jaytwisty23]

I smell bullshit. An Brit would have said English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish

[@shadow-Sun]

@@Jaytwisty23 my friend it is merely the skidmarks in your skivvies that you smell .get over yourself mate .

[@Gaudi007]

I was lucky enough to be invited to a dinner at Shrivenham defence academy near Swindon. The only military academy where the Army, Navy, and Air Force have a presence. There were around 200 people at this dinner and I asked one officer why there were so many different uniforms from around the world. He pointed out that countries from all around the world send their soldiers/officers to the UK, Shrivenham in particular, for training........I think that's says enough.......It also raised a bunch of other questions but I won't get in to that now.

[@Twirlyhead]

Describing what makes Brits tough he virtually described Frank Herbert's Sardaukar.

[@ChrisOHare89]

Is there a longer version of this podcast

[@markpearson3780]

100% you just brought back so many memories

[@derryparke9123]

Its amazing to read the respect from other countries. I was in the RAF cadets as a kid and it was my dream to serve. But sadly epilepsy got in the way. I think in the UK's current military, we definitely have a lot more improvement. We're not what we used to be

[@naughtiusmaximus5057]

I am British, but see how everyone claims their army / soldiers are the best. So if they can say that about themselves, why cant we 😂 Not my sort of thing though, saying such things. One thing: we are (and it was a US general who reminded people of this recently) the only country since WWII to successfully prosecute an expeditionary war.

[@ruzziasht349]

what US general?

[@Attitude-Media]

Do you mean execute not prosecute? i.e. the Falklands?

[@JohnSmith-gy8rc]

The yanks have done several. Let's not pretend they actually needed us for Iraq and Afghanistan.

[@ChampChamp2024]

@@JohnSmith-gy8rcThey did 😂😂😂 Isreal needs. Both our nations.

[@LoyalandTrue.]

@@JohnSmith-gy8rc They begged for us, get your facts right.

[@davidsmith5899]

My dad did his cadet training in Barmouth WWII The cadets were marched into the sea at 5.00am and not allowed to dry off even in the winter…..did field training with live ammunition etc Everyone wanted to go to Sandhurst cos that was easier.

[@michaelconnolly4382]

"If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it". This was said by Rommel after the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt, where the Australian and New Zealand divisions of the British army fiercely defended themselves against German attacks. The Aussies and Kiwis are small in numbers but pound for pound you can't beat them!

[@marilynrodgerson3331]

Well said 👍

[@DarkDonnie-82]

Largely British colony decedents also

[@conoreast9574]

Aussies are British

[@Cantgetitright-e4j]

Same as reports from the First World War, the Germans only considered certain regiments of the British army as top tier, and all New Zealand, Australian and Canadian regiments were considered elite

[@Jeansieguy]

​@@conoreast9574 A troll me thinks

[@darrandavies9557]

As a former soldier our training is good thorough training and the weather's all over the show and we are made of good stern stuff and a good sick sense of humour

[@SuperKinlo]

Reason 1 - Brecon. What a horrible environment to train/live in. My concern for the UK now is the lack of care towards the country, what am I fighting to defend?

[@Bikes_N_things]

Exactly my thoughts

[@jamescunningham1973]

Being Ex Green Jacket,i can definetly say that training on Brecon was the hardest thing i have ever done,it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it,after 2 weeks in the field,we did our 28miler followed by the obstacle course,i was dying.

[@braindeadhoovy2562]

British people in general have an uncanny ability to make do with what they have on hand and get exceptional results

[@RelationalDatabase-us7fr]

General Jackson said they would get on with it (pre entry into Iraq I think) when asked about the shortage of kit.

[@normanbatees5785]

We play rugby - they play football - nuff said.

[@cosworthr6]

It's such a shame that veterans or the military are thought highly of in this country. I felt so proud to have attended the Remembrance parade in London this year after serving 13 years in REME, it was an honour to have been there in person amongst thousands of like minded people.

[@Alfred5555]

Maybe it's a catch 22 with British demeanour. We don't want to be rude in both ways, either by being a bit strange and going out of our way just to bother people to thank them for their service in a way that might come off as a bit self-righteous, or for servicemen themselves who don't want to feel like they're being a bit too loud and proud, or a bit too "American" about their medals or cool cap. I'm sure you've seen them but there's those old American ww2 films about teaching their troops about the countries they were visiting and how to fit in. We might think that after ww2, not many were loud about their time in the war because literally everyone their age had similar experiences and it was just a normal thing everyone lived through. But even during the war, those American films all pointed out how the British are just very quiet and reserved about everything like that, like how the films would juxtapose that Americans visiting British homes for dinner would be shocked by how its common that Brits keep pieces of the bombs dropped on their street as souvenirs and think nothing of it, or that a RAF pilot would shoot down 5 planes and come home just saying "It was a good day, not too windy", and stuff like that.

[@tomtom4405]

Brits are the best in terms of some specific units and individuals, but the last 20+ years of politicians have undermined our capabilities so badly that as a force sadly we're not the best. How long could we operate in a conflict?

[@EasyTiger.01343]

Current estimate is around 15-30 minutes…

[@colinfarrelly2513]

Nailed it they have some great specialists, but look at Israel.

[@ruzziasht349]

As the Ukrainians have clearly proven, well trained soldiers last much longer than those who are not.

[@BigAlsLittleKingdom]

​@@EasyTiger.01343 well that's bull. Your source is lying... ah, thay's because you made it up. The M.O.D's estimate is 3-6 months of constant fighing before we are depleted of supplies.

[@overthewebb]

You are looking at things at the Macro overall level, but British soldiers are better trained than most

[@abnon-tha3088]

The thing is, we may be 'the best' but volume is required. Without numbers, it doesn't matter how well trained and well equipped (I'm not enormously inclined to keep believing the latter, despite the MoD's protestations) our forces are; adversaries prepared and doctrinally-inclined towards attrition are going to succeed, because we cannot sustain losses and remain viable. This was the opinion of a senior British member of the top brass, expressed just a couple of weeks ago. '99% need not apply' was always, in my view, a stupid slogan.

[@fundyden4771]

I never had the honour to serve in our military, i didn't pass medical. But I don't think our government treat soldiers who are serving with the respect they deserve and they certainly don't treat our veterans with the respect they have earned. I have great admiration for any one who has been in combat. We owe these people who are serving so much more than they get to day. God bless all that serve, in our military.

[@howardchambers9679]

Yeah I failed my medical too. I was gutted, it was my only escape from a shitty home life at the time.

[@ryane7906]

What did you wee fannys fail on?

[@howardchambers9679]

@ryane7906 arrythmia. Erratic heartbeat. And here i am at 66 still going strong.

[@ryane7906]

@@howardchambers9679 oh yeah the old heart murmur or irregular heartbeat nonsence. My mate got turned away for breaking his wrist at school 😂 I got in after breaking my leg after getting knocked over. Now 🙃now people are getting in with mental health problems, troubled childhoods. So they are in need of therapy before they've even started hahaha... insanity!

[@fundyden4771]

I was fit as hell at 19, but the bloods they took showed I had rheumatoid arthritis. 5 years later, my fingers twisted out of shape. I was gutted me and my brothers were the only generation that never entered the armed forces. My dad was the last in our family.

[@paulos78]

Quality is one thing. We have problem with quantity.

[@philbo2152]

The terrain and weather in the UK is minging most of the time. I’d take Belize over Brecon any day, even with the spiders and snakes

[@marc-l5o2m]

brecon lovely I visit there often pen y fan and good fishing there too.

[@hannankhan5589]

I think a more accurate description would be “the British army is one of, if not the best, TRAINED armies in the world”. The best is still under contention but no one can deny their brilliant training.

[@Davidonezero]

Not a matter of who’s best. Stay humble wherever it may be 🇬🇧

[@Fein528]

1000 years of fighting experience and a long naval seafaring history cannot be brushed under the rug. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇬🇧

[@RawPower-69]

Britain is only 300 years old. It is England which is 1097 years old. The flag you can't fucking show on here.

[@Jts-s8k]

You certainly brush all your military defeats under the rug ...

[@DaviesMartinezBeats]

The UK can't afford to send a man up a ladder wearing a tracksuit, let alone a direct war with anyone...

[@RawPower-69]

That's what you propaganda bots keep telling us.

[@DaviesMartinezBeats]

@@RawPower-69 - The UK is broke and broken... What planet do YOU live on?

[@richardmassingham1800]

Jim - I'm a rugby guy at amateur level and found your channel. This interview is exactly how it should be - honest non woke chat like you are in a bar over a pint. I'll be looking out for more.

[@El-Armstrong]

I remember a time we English had pride in our culture n country. Nobody seems to care anymore. I also envy the Americans’ patriotism. Ive known quite a few Americans and they all wore their hearts on their sleeves haha but admirably, they apply that emotion to love of country

[@ArthurTanner-d7s]

To be honest I find it all a bit cringe and as for the constant wittering of ‘Thank you for your service’……… They/we chose to join up and were paid to do so. I’ve been visiting the US several times a year for three decades and it’s now at the stage where some people expect preferential treatment, something I don’t see anywhere else in the world.

[@John316OBrian-cm4fj]

Yes the empire was great 😂😂

[@RawPower-69]

England hasn't existed for over 100 years because of a communist takeover. The English will defeat their enemies and restore their constitution as they have done many times before for over 1000 years. But first they need to sober up and notice that their country no longer exists and they are under attack.

[@jayc342009]

Tbh the UK is not something to be proud of anymore, I used to be patriotic but now I despise this country for how it treats native brits.

[@El-Armstrong]

@@jayc342009 yeah same and its devastating. They tax normal hardworking citizens in every way they can as much as they can too

[@BritishReaction]

First Tac-ex at AFC Harrogate opened my eyes to the reality of the army, sitting in grim water overnight and finding my stag point within the PBH at 2am was minging but learned some good lessons.. when my cpl who was a sniper in 1RRF appeared behind me and said "your not fucking sleeping are you danger mouse" I thought shit, i better work on how alert I am 😂

[@borderreiver1555]

I used to work with a german lad who was ex military. I asked him who did he rate out of occupied sectors (other two French and US) and he answered with 'Only in the British sector do all the bars have baseball bats behind them' Meaning we fight for fun

[@derekking5386]

Individually probably. But as a whole we hardly have an army. Politicians have shit on our armed forces

[@rubixreviews8743]

But when we need soldiers we have the training program to get an army ready ie ww2

[@little_error295]

@@rubixreviews8743lol this is cope 😂 trust me bro if we need them we’ll magically rebuild our entire military overnight despite decades of degradation

[@footychat3992]

@@little_error295 Crazy how a lot of people really, really don't grasp how badly we're lacking behind our "peer" nations or even nations we'd consider weaker than us without the facts and figures in front of them. We barely had any challenger tanks a few years ago, this is before we apparently sent a bunch off to be destroyed in Ukraine. This is equipment being sent abroad which soldiers in our own military would consider in shortage, just handed off. As far as ethos and temperament go, we're still easily near the top. For now, at least. It seems as if our forces and the government who fund them have their priority set more on how they appear to the public than how effectively they're functioning as our protectors.

[@Richard-d1y]

What do we need an army for? We haven't been invaded for nearly 1000 years. And we certainly shouldn't be invading other lands.

[@RGC_91]

@@Richard-d1yin that last 1000 years we’ve needed an army a few times I can recall 🤔

[@rutherglenbluebell5]

Enjoyed that chat great content

[@RoughWalkers]

Going off the thumbnail the best soldiers come from the North Big up 1Lancs 💪🏼💪🏼⚡️

[@Fein528]

Because they come from more humble and tougher lifestyles, it makes them more resilient and stronger.

[@RoughWalkers]

​@Fein528 i know im from Lancs 💪🏼⚡️

[@12dougreed]

@Fein528 not true old chap

[@praisethelordpig1212]

The real north Scotland

[@RoughWalkers]

@praisethelordpig1212 Thats strange, iv never known the north of england to he known as scotland Being half Scottish your comment embarrasses me

[@Katmand0000]

I joined the Royal Artillery Res in 1979. At that point, and in that time, I think it's fair to say that British Army Reserves were just as good as several countries Regular forces. Timewarp forward 40 odd years, I think the British Army are among the best trained in the world however, the lack of numbers, seriously lets us down.

[@iain-e5x]

I was newly commissioned and stationed with the depot regt at Woolwich in 81/82. Loved the TA when they came for their 2 week summer camps, their enthusiasm was amazing. Being new, we along with the PT team, were assigned to the TA training program. Was that really 40 years ago.......

[@RawPower-69]

It is all irrelevant because countries are all run by the same people anyway. Wars are just theatre.

[@Katmand0000]

@@iain-e5x Indeed 40 years... wow seeing that in writing is 'weird'. I did my basic training (2 weeks) at Woolwich in the spring of 1980. I'll never forget that massive parade square, where we did our PT test. Christ, I's struggle to walk that far now...

[@MrChillameno]

It's like talking dirty when he was talking about how hard it is. I miss that hard ship about the Army. The word brecon still sends shivers down my spine, though 😂

[@Jinke888]

Brecon puts the himalayas to shame

[@posniknelb6114]

Fooking Horrible. I got the Sennybridge shivers 😂

[@2018eiger]

Once you hit that cattle grid all bets are off😂

[@wargey3431]

worst thing you can hear is we are going to sennybridge for 2 weeks

[@stuartsmith7907]

It doesn't matter how bad things get, it's 'the I can hack it' attitude that wins through also looking after your mate's

[@mrmrgaming]

It is one thing to prep for desert training and another for freezing temps......but when training in the UK, more so in certain parts at certain times of the year, you can start off on a cold morning. It then rains, and you get wet, then the sun comes out, and your you, back to rain, then the sun again, rain, then a cold night, and you wake to fog/mist, damp cold, within 24hrs.24 hours. Oh, and if they take you up mountains (down to when and where), and you will have snow to deal with.

[@mcorco516]

I served in the British army infantry in late 90s and early 2000s. Back then we did genuinely believe we had the best trained soldiers at that time. Fitness standards then were very high, certainly the highest in NATO back then, even for conventional units. Technical skills and training courses were high standard too and we had a lot of other NATO forces attend these courses in the UK too e.g. junior brecon. Some of the drawbacks I personally experienced was underinvestment in kit, most of which was total shite compared to what American's and Germans were issued [e.g. personal weapon, webbing etc] Another issue then with the infantry and from what I hear this was the case in the 1970s and probably now too, is it was full of narcissistic arseholes. Yes some of these lads had excellent soldiering potential but couldn't give a fuck about most of the guys in their section or company. They'd screw over or grass on their colleagues given any opportunity. Having worked with Americans, Canadians, Irish etc, those guys have a far better camaraderie and sense of purpose in their military than I observed with most our guys. Nowadays the army is tiny, fitness standards are an embarrassment and it's full of DEI initiatives. There's no way we can say we're better that US, French or other top military nations. Better for us to be humble and look after defending our interests rather than picking fights we can't win e.g with Russia and China.

[@jsg9575]

what were the fitness standards?

[@mcorco516]

@@jsg9575 To give some examples, in 1999, any male soldier passing out of basic training had to achieve these minimum scores. Do a minimum of 50 press ups in 2 minutes, 50 sit ups in 2 minutes and go straight out and run 1.5 miles in under 10 mins 30 seconds. The same day, you would then do an 8 mile speed march which had to be done in 1 hr 50 mins. Every male soldier had to achieve this standard regardless of trade. Airborne soldiers then, still classed as conventional troops, had to do the same number of press up and sits ups, but run 1.5 miles in under 9m 18 seconds. The speed march was 10 miles in 1 hr 50 mins. These were basic tests. Infantry training once in battalion was obviously much harder. From what I can see, army fitness tests are nothing like that now.

[@carwyngriffiths]

To be fair mate, fitness standards across the west have dropped significantly. The fitness requirements for the US forces are lower than ours, I’m not too knowledgable about the French but it very much seems to be universal across Western Europe and Northern America.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

Wish I didn't but I agree with your general assessment. Politicians have destroyed Britain as a whole and our forces are a big part of that.

[@RawPower-69]

You betrayed your real nation by mistake.

[@CleonSecond]

As a Glasweigian i can confirm we do eat Kebabs off the floor, we have a five minute rule, not five seconds

[@aleph8888]

Well, England was the most successful country of the last Millennium. History remembers the law-givers; the colonies kept the common law after independence, and it now contains a third of the World’s population, and the most representative, open and successful countries on the planet.

[@maconescotland8996]

England ? While the Welsh, Irish and Scots were holidaying in Benidorm ?

[@ElDubz420]

​@@maconescotland8996 no point mate. They only remember the Scots when Britain fails at something. When success is involved the English love to claim it. Same thing with inventions, all the great things scots have invented are British apparently. Same with sports like tennis etc.... Andy Murray wins he's British but if he loses he's Scottish. Always been that way

[@graemelough7174]

Britain.scots,welsh some irish guys done alot of the dirtt work.

[@reinarrhor8101]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ruzziasht349]

Last 100 years? that's when it started to go wrong. The British Empire at its zenith (around 1920) covered approximately 13.7 million square miles, or about 23-25% of the Earth's total land area. It governed over 412 million people, about 23% of the world's population at that time. The largest Empire the world has ever seen.

[@johnwells6010]

I also think where up there as the best is because from joining at 16, constantly breasted and constantly training, drilling things into you, before you know it you knew your role, instructors always had high standards, then once you do Jnrs and Snrs and meet up with troop from other units, build from each others experience. Definitely believe our TTP’s are ahead of other nations, I understand our kit wasn’t great in 2003 crossing the LOD in green kit and leather boots lol, but is getting slot better and heavier. But when the chips are down and shit hits the fan, we have this cutting edge, moral, humour, determination and willpower. Then spark a bone up on the re-org.

[@ericworst]

20,000 infantry and costing £56 billion a year says otherwise. British army would get rolfstomped in any peer to peer conflict and would I suspect run out of men. equipment and ammunition within 45 days of fighting. Too much attention and priority is given to things that do not increase effectiveness in any way? Compare capability of say Israel to Britain.

[@paulwonderley538]

Your forgetting the UK is a island so it would be hard to land a effective landforce early on so it would come down to airspace or missiles. Wiles this was happening the UK could mobilise it's also got a small army but well trained and supplied modern army it also has nukes. So I would put it far above Israel in it's effectiveness.

[@LordSeth-hf8ew]

Why Israel? I feel like that’s such an odd comparison

[@ciaranReal]

Where is our budget going?

[@seanp9277]

@@paulwonderley538 The UK lacks air defense.

[@ericworst]

Israeli budget is USD 30.5 billion, Britain's budget is nearly double, who do you think gets more effective bang for their buck? 2,200 mbts, vs 150. 323 combat jets vs 130. Britain's defence is a joke.

[@shaunhall7997]

As a military historian and been in the south african military.in the 80s What made us the best at Bush warfare during the Angolan conflict we were were well trained,well disaplined and weren't scared to fight.

[@dannystubbs2061]

As an Englishman working in Scotland. There is no finer people on Earth than the Scottish. Love em. If your shit stinks? They’ll tell you. Honest, hard working x x x

[@ChampChamp2024]

My partner is Scottish, greatest person I’ve ever met.

[@peterwait641]

@@ChampChamp2024 Found some very friendly , a man from Glasgow bought me a pint, a few seemed to have a resentment to English !

[@praisethelordpig1212]

@@peterwait641I’ve seen it vice versa too

[@stevehilton4052]

Hahaha I recognise the English accent in Scotland, I'm an Englishman born to Scottish parents, every year we'd visit family and I used to dread it.Having an English accent made me the target the moment I opened my mouth,I got it from my cousin's at home but they wouldn't let anyone else have a go outside..... I'm grateful to those years for being able to fight now. Then years later I joined the royal navy and was drafted to a type 21 frigate built in Glasgow......it was just like being a teenager again, but I must admit I used my best Inverness accent when I wanted to avoid the inevitable. During my time in the RN the bravery and great history and traditions were embarrassed by everyone and the desire to not let those that came before us down was the incentive that makes the RN the most highly respected in the world.

[@garyi8045]

You would get done in with a Inverness accent in Glasgow 😅

[@RawPower-69]

Everyone needs a history lesson about England and fast.

[@Janpan69]

Ignore that bit 😂😂😂😂

[@ajhd95]

British are an exemplary military force no doubt, we are also lucky to have many contingents of gurkers, hindus and seeks who faught for Britian and our values vallently. We all bleed red. I'm extremely proud to be British. Humbly so, there is a scourge on our nation top down from the political class but we will band together and come out stronger than before.

[@kevingallen1678]

Who can compare with the IDF?

[@pincermovement72]

I don’t think fighting goat herders when you are actually not shackled with rules of engagement is anything like our army has to do is anything special.

[@ms16648]

The Nazi party. IDF can only fight unarmed women and children.

[@benji-pj4dp]

Didn't the uk just lose to afgan goat herders? Israel has dealt with deep anti air in syria Iraq and Egypt and fought the Russian air force. It's had huge modern tank battles. It has modern drone and air force and some of the most top anti terrorist special forces on the planet. The British Iran embassy raid has absolutely nothing on the entebbe raid.

[@FromaTwistedMind]

Clearly women & children can't compete with IDF 🤭🙄

[@graemelough7174]

​@@benji-pj4dpthe US stops money to israel,israel cooked,end of story.doesnt work like that with the UK.we didnt lose to goatherders.at some point everyone has to go home,no matter who u are.jews didnt fair so great in the 2nd world war.weve fought 2&won.

[@stephenmorrow3490]

Nothing specifically to do with Glasgow. It’s the west coast of Scotland’s weather that toughens you up. My father was a welder on the lower Clyde ship yards for years. Outside in the wind, rain and cold. He was a tough man. They all were enduring those conditions.

[@pathfinder5651]

Not anymore

[@JLOCC23424]

Erm yes anymore LMAO no ones better than the Brits.

[@Brit_81]

They still are

[@Steamerbeen]

Agreed (Ex-Army)

[@davidcrawford8583]

I'm a Northumberland native and I love Otterburn, I live very close to it. My brother in law is a Para Sergeant been in for years and he hates where his sister (my Wife) and I live. :D :D

[@richierich1470]

ive always loved my Country Great Britain and our Military!!! And to me just saying we are the best in the World i think its just our Mentality and we make it work because we have to

[@stuarthorobin9854]

I think Jason is spot on saying we never celebrate, and we never take praise and gratitude well…! Our Politicians are two faced too, and let our Forces down with cut backs, but then wear Our uniforms for a PR Stunt . Where the Americans are very proud of those who have served..!!

[@TheGrowler55]

The Scots have always been fighters and the backbone of the British Army and long may it continue, 👊😎🇬🇧👍

[@trampertravels]

I think the main difference between others forces and the British is that most other forces have external command and external things (ideology, flags, an education system that promotes being the best, etc.) that empower them; whereas with British Forces it is individual internal strength and shear (sp?) 'bloody mindedness'.

[@albania8982]

British are the best. Its a reason why most of the world 🌎 speaks English..Respect to UK 🇬🇧

[@Jts-s8k]

Most of the world speaks English because of America not because of the British.

[@Yese7]

@@Jts-s8k English is our language, you're using a borrowed language, the fact you speak our language proves it's because of us and not you. Get your own language then you get to talk.

[@Jts-s8k]

@@Yese7 Much less people were speaking English when the British empire was at it's zenith than they are today. America defeated Britain to get its independence and went on to become the most militarily and economically powerful nation that the world has ever seen and that is why English is widely spoken today. And American English is different from British English.

[@Yese7]

@@Jts-s8k Still doesn't change the fact you're using a borrowed language. You don't have your own, so you can't speak about ownership and rights of the language, and by extension can't claim any glory of a language that isn't yours to begin with. You speak English because of us, we don't speak English because of you, that alone is proof.

[@user-oo8xp2rf1k]

I ran a half marathon in the USA and the spectators were very interactive with 'go go go ' etc and I remeber a banner ' jenny don't puke' . I didnt meet jenny, whoever she was , but judging from her fans, I got the impression jenny gives her half marathons everything she's got . British crowds are great - but the Americans are so in your face its like having donkey from shrek on your side I loved it .

[@truthsearcher596]

Tell me who's a Brit in 2024.

[@sgh1963]

Me. Ex 1 Para, ex Firefighter. 61 now and still English to the core. I despair how my country is being run now.

[@Martin.462]

I'm born and bred londoner but I'm ashamed to see that this once envied respected and proud country our grandparents defended without hesitation is a disgrace and the men and women who died are being insulted to such a degree the powers that be need to be charged with treason

[@ixurlife8062]

Me except I am a 100% Scottish Hamilton who's ancestors fought beside both The Bruce and Wallace❤🎉 Also Alexander Hamilton helped write the American Constitution And was the 1st every treasurer of the U.S.A and designed their entire financial system 👍

[@RawPower-69]

All the bots and thousands of youtube channels, all paid by the establishment to continue the lie.

[@jayc342009]

I'm English with Welsh ancestry and this country (england) is no longer the country i recognise growing up.

[@sgu02nsc66]

I tried a bit of army life by joining the OTC. And even at that level: wet salisbury plain, muddy, soaked sleeping bag….it did toughen me up 😁

[@lindapaterson266]

They don't eat kebabs of the floor

[@alexshmalex]

You're right, first they eat the floor off the kebab.

[@garyggriffin1983]

😂😂​@@alexshmalex

[@GoPro-TV]

Great insight!!

[@GonzoTehGreat]

The video title is misleading, because Foxy didn't claim that the British Military was the best. He said it has the best soldiers, which is a subtle, but important difference. The USA has the best military, by far, because they pay for it, which sounds glib, but you can't attract, equip, train and retain personnel unless you're well funded, which is why the UK armed forces currently have both a recruitment and retention crisis. As for actually being the best soldiers, no disrespect to Foxy, but he's wrong. The Aussies and Kiwis are just as professional and experienced. The French are just as competent. The Poles are just as tough. However, if anyone deserves to be regarded as the best soldiers, it's the Nepalese Gurkhas.

[@Scaleyback317]

Not convinced of that last statement. Not saying they are not good - they're up there with the best but that's because they are the cream of their nation. Take the most pansyish nation on earth and if if you have a gruelling selection process to weed out the wheat from the chaff then you have a good basis for miliitary raw material. Then you have to train them - the Gurkhas not only enjoy the training they are given some of the best available anywhere and the equipment they get it usually top quality also.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@Scaleyback317 _"they're up there with the best but that's because they are the cream of their nation_ This is the same for UKSF, RMC or Paras - all of whom have gruelling selection courses, training and equipment. Soldiers aren't born, they're made. Indeed, every soldier undergoes some type of selection and training, but they don't all end up as professional as the Gurkhas. Also, Gurkha selection is easily the most arduous for a standard military unit, yet many still aren't recruited because numbers are limited, not because they don't qualify. I can't think of another regular unit where that's the case. Regardless, no amount of training or gear can make someone into a soldier if they don't want it. The Gurkhas do.

[@jamesdavies3237]

The French and poles are no way near the standard of a British soilder. When was the last war they fought?? Did they deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan?? It's called being battle hardened. Knowing what to do when the shit hits the fan, like your mate has just had his leg blown off by an IED. Keeping composure when bullets are snapping near your head. You can't simulate that in training. The brits are better than any in Europe because their soilders in far greater numbers have been in conflict in very hostile places. How many French German or poles went to Afghanistan? Like 20??? Why brit special forces are so reverered. How many French special forces were kicking down taliban commanders doors in. That's right none😂

[@Scaleyback317]

@@jamesdavies3237 If you did just a quick google search you'd discover how much of a twat you've made of yourself. Both Poland and France deployed troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan. France also have been deploying troops to their vairous colonies to fight the little bushfire wars which Britain had to fight in the 50's/60's also. They have been in almost continual combat for decades at one of their outposts or other. BTW Both France and Poland had SF units actively involved in Afghanistan. Do your research.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@@jamesdavies3237 _"The French and poles are no way near the standard of a British soilder."_ History shows this to be false. Foxy's argument that Brits have been fighting for a millennia, applies equally to the Franks, Germans and the Poles. Also, his argument that army training in the UK is particularly harsh and miserable ignores that similar conditions and climate exist in Europe. _"Did they deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan? It's called being battle hardened."_ The British Army hasn't fought in Iraq since before 2009 (15 years ago) and Afghanistan since before 2014 (10 years ago). Consequently, while they do indeed have more recent operational experience than most, especially amongst their NCOs and officers, the average soldier (aged 18-30 years old) isn't more "battle hardened". Regardless, if you want to rate a military by their operational experience, which is a reasonable criteria, then the US army has more than the UK. Also, by your own logic, both the Ukrainian and Russian armies are now significantly more experienced, so should also rate higher...

[@ENGBriseB]

We always fight above are weight and we will continue fighting too. Something about the worst it gets the better we get.

[@barbosaguzman6101]

Fine example of the state of OUR country. Learn to spell and use correct grammar you mong.

[@jimmymc10021]

I'd say the Aussies would be up near the very top.

[@richierich1470]

New Zealand

[@mr.d.6529]

Spat me tea out mate..

[@davidryan4454]

@@richierich1470all 12 of them 😂

[@EarthtoAdam95]

Ah yes Australia with their extensive military history

[@Noneofyourbusiness-rq9jq]

aussies are teir 2 at best

[@Ben-yt9nu]

I learnt to find a happy place in my own mind while at Brecon 😊

[@annabee75]

Nobody outside of Britain thinks that the British armed forces are even up there.

[@jayc342009]

Right...

[@Lfc517]

Well there stupid then arnt they considering wev had the biggest empire in the history of the world

[@miked4027]

Nobody? I take it you've not travelled much, or listened to many peoples views other than your mums!