To the Ex Military Among us - Does that background make living here easier?

[Pilotman]

I know that there are a significant number of ex Military people on TV and living in LOS. After a Military career of 24 years, with many overseas postings during that time, including to Asia, moving here was really no big deal. In fact, it was the years spent back in the UK that unsettled me.  I put my background and experiences  as one of the major reasons that I have adapted quickly to the life in Thailand and find most things easier than maybe someone without that training and life experience.  I was wondering about the views of other ex Service people, or indeed others who have had no connection with the Services.  Does it help or hinder? 

[vogie]

It has to help, the biggest result of (in my case the Army) is the social skills it gives you and that would have to include the confidence.

 

I always loved being in hot countries, did a couple of tours of Oman (Dennis Healys secret war), loved every moment of it, that was one of the deciding factors of retiring to Thailand. I never did any winter warfare training in Norway, but I know I probably wouldn't have enjoyed as much as the hot countries.

 

Most ex servicemen or women should be able to adapt anywhere.

[NanLaew]

Social skills and confidence aside, I would think that anyone that has lived and worked extensively in foreign countries would assimilate better, not just ex-military. Plenty oilfield trash have made Thailand their home over the last several decades of which I admit to being one with over 40 years as an international gypsy under my steadily expanding belt. With the possible exception of the diplomatic service, whether it's your government or your employer, I am glad that someone else has been footing the bill for our collective ability to hoover up all these life-enhancing, mind-broadening and hugely self-educational opportunities.

[brokenbone]

a friend that is an US ex military said he could set up

a P.O box and get mail to it without custom checks.

i havnt had the opportunity to talk with him lately about how it went

[55Jay]

I think the "suck it up" discipline is stronger, because we couldn't just up and leave if it was hot/cold/sticky/wet/smelled bad, etc.   Although I remember executing a hasty retreat the first time I wandered into the "wet" section of a BigC here.   Holy ????!!

 

[Rc2702]

Definitely, cubs and Scouts.  All those badges have prepared me for almost anything.

[billd766]

I did 25 years in the RAF with tours in Bahrain, Singapore and Germany with detachments to Norway, Libya, Germany, Gibraltar and Sardinia which was fairly easy as I was with mates all the time.

 

After that I had 7 years in the UK, married with a son, followed by 4 years on the road for the company building mobile phone base stations usually working in a team of 2, then over 10 years offshore in South America, the Arab Gulf, South Africa, Dubai/Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Angola and Kuwait. Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei in teams of 2 or more.

 

Eventually I quit the company and did jobs in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Back to Thailand then Pakistan, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea then New Zealand as my last job before I retired home to Thailand and my wife and son.

 

I just got used to being moved around and after I retired in 2009 I have only flown once to Nakhon Si Thammarat, driven around Thailand a bit but don't like to travel far any more.

 

When you move to a new country it takes a short while to adapt and settle in and quite a few years to meld into the community but it can be done and enjoyed if you try.

[champers]

18 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

Definitely, cubs and Scouts.  All those badges have prepared me for almost anything.

I thought you were in the girl guides.

[mosan]

1 hour ago, brokenbone said:

a friend that is an US ex military said he could set up

a P.O box and get mail to it without custom checks.

i havnt had the opportunity to talk with him lately about how it went

For the record, they're shutting down the Air Force Post Office "APO" in Bangkok on or about 1 Oct 2019...

[Hayduke]

 

Not really. I had figured that any county with 2,000 to 3,000 billionaire general officers on the payroll must be a marvelous sort of paradise where the streets were literally paved with gold. I was woefully unprepared for the reality and have never quite recovered.

 

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

or indeed others who have had no connection with the Services.

I think it's an individual choice to live Thailand having been in the services or not I have had no problem settling Thailand being a maverick kind of person, I was in the scouts for 2 weeks does that count. ????

[marcusarelus]

Yes much easier.  I became convinced that America and Vietnam were trying to kill me (numerous times and in numerous ways) and Thailand was a safe harbor in the 60's and 70's. 

 

The Thai soldiers were not very welcoming so I avoided them but the bar girls were very welcoming so I didn't avoid them.  This practice as a young man of avoiding any kind of authority and patronizing ladies for pay stood me in good stead all over the world. 

 

In the Army I realized that officers were all idiots and politicians even worse (see history Vietnam war) and nothing in the past 70 years has changed my opinion of this basic truism. 

 

Never volunteer for anything is rule number one and read Catch 22 at least once every 5 years will lead to a longer life.  

[alacrity]

Never served in any military, but have spent a lot of time working alongside many from different countries who did. 

It's not about what you did, so much as who you are. A lot of folks I worked with wouldn't fit at all well with your premise because of their military training. Others would fit well because of their experiences.

Were you front or back-seat in the ADV?

[55Jay]

On the flip side, the sometimes meandering ways of the host nation really grates.  Sure, years of dealing with various host nationals/foreign government officials/military, helps understanding, but doing that for years also wears down one's tolerance.  How many times I've sat quietly in Immigration, observing their processes..... just want jump in there...... so much low hanging fruit.

 

After living here a year or two, found myself driving through the local Army or Air Force base just to enjoy a familiar sense of a squared away environment.  Grass is cut, streets are clean and tidy, sound of aircraft turning, the acrid smell of burnt JP4 exhaust, the pop pop sounds from the small arms range.  

 

All good until, a number of times, they bust the sound barrier and damn near pop the windows and roof tiles off the house.  God damn Zoomies!!!!  ????

[Psimbo]

Having served in the Far East I spent time on leave here- that gave me a taste for the place. One also learns to be extremely flexible and think out the box- also needed to get by here without going nuts.

 

So in my case- yes.

 

Looking at the state of the UK these days I could never fit in there again give the laisse faire lifestyle and freedom from the PC culture i have here. Snowflakes do my head in.

[alacrity]

19 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

On the flip side, the sometimes meandering ways of the host nation really grates.  Sure, years of dealing with various host nationals/foreign government officials/military, helps understanding, but doing that for years also wears down one's tolerance.  How many times I've sat quietly in Immigration, observing their processes..... just want jump in there...... so much low hanging fruit.

 

After living here a year or two, found myself driving through the local Army or Air Force base just to enjoy a familiar sense of a squared away environment.  Grass is cut, streets are clean and tidy, sound of aircraft turning, the acrid smell of burnt JP4 exhaust, the pop pop sounds from the small arms range.  

 

All good until, a number of times, they bust the sound barrier and damn near pop the windows and roof tiles off the house.  God damn Zoomies!!!!  ????

The crackle of a twin gas turbine on full reheat does it for me. Along with; single, double and four engine merlins.

 

[AlexRich]

I'm not sure if it really matters much, anyone who has lived and worked in a foreign country is capable of adapting to living in Thailand. I suspect anyone who has got through their military career relatively unscathed physically and mentally is more suited to adapting than the average person. I wonder if anyone who has had a tougher experience wouldn't be better off at home surrounded by friends and family, as the temptation to sit in a bar and drink yourself into oblivion is stronger here?

[Pilotman]

15 minutes ago, alacrity said:

The crackle of a twin gas turbine on full reheat does it for me. Along with; single, double and four engine merlins.

 

the sound of an Avon turbine spooling up, just like a porn show  ???? 

[thaiguzzi]

5 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I know that there are a significant number of ex Military people on TV

Ex parachute regiment, SAS, and SBS and Royal Marine here.

Can't talk about it, otherwise i'd have to eat the evidence and kill you and any remaining witnesses.

But i can talk about it in a bar on my stool once i've had a few beers so what was it you wanted to know again...?

[Denim]

3 hours ago, Rc2702 said:

Definitely, cubs and Scouts.  All those badges have prepared me for almost anything.

 

Absolutely. Hardly a day passes when I don't have to almost kill someone on the way to the 7/11 to get something or other.

 

Without my SAS training I don't think I could do my shopping and survive.

 

It is comforting to live here knowing that almost ever old Brit coot I meet is a former SAS member. I sleep better knowing this.

[Rc2702]

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Ex parachute regiment, SAS, and SBS and Royal Marine here.

Can't talk about it, otherwise i'd have to eat the evidence and kill you and any remaining witnesses.

But i can talk about it in a bar on my stool once i've had a few beers so what was it you wanted to know again...?

I done a lot of white water rafting in the scouts. Hairy stuff.

[norfolkandchance]

3 hours ago, alacrity said:

Never served in any military, but have spent a lot of time working alongside many from different countries who did. 

It's not about what you did, so much as who you are. A lot of folks I worked with wouldn't fit at all well with your premise because of their military training. Others would fit well because of their experiences.

Were you front or back-seat in the ADV?

Looks like a Pussy Cat to me. So must be a front seater. Coltishall comes to mind.

[billd766]

16 hours ago, champers said:

I thought you were in the girl guides.

Perhaps you should have joined the Brownies.

 

Here is a recruitment video for you.

 

 

[ThaiBunny]

I've always been in favour of the Salvation Army

[billd766]

Or the "blue note" from a Hawker Hunter

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iixia4zaAg

 

Perhaps the sound of a Vulcan doing a display.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ARSE8jEHQ

 

I was a crabfat and worked on both types.

 

[billd766]

13 hours ago, Denim said:

 

Absolutely. Hardly a day passes when I don't have to almost kill someone on the way to the 7/11 to get something or other.

 

Without my SAS training I don't think I could do my shopping and survive.

 

It is comforting to live here knowing that almost ever old Brit coot I meet is a former SAS member. I sleep better knowing this.

Not me chief. I was a crabfat of the fairy breed.

[vogie]

My son once asked me if I ever killed anybody whilst serving my country.

I said yes, I killed 8 people.

He said, but father you told me you was a helicopter mechanic.

I replied, I was, but I never said I was a good one.

[SpokaneAl]

a friend that is an US ex military said he could set up
a P.O box and get mail to it without custom checks.
i havnt had the opportunity to talk with him lately about how it went

That option, which was available in both Bangkok and Chiangmai is being, very shortly, shutdown for good.


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[SpokaneAl]

As one who spent 26 years of active duty in the US Air Force, I suppose the ability to live outside my country has helped.

That said, when I was on active duty, no matter where I was stationed there was a nice base, and the moment I entered the main gate, I was essentially back in the US and I knew exactly what to expect and where I fit.

Between being stationed at a US Air Force base and living in base provided housing, it was easy for many to never assimilate and leave after three or four years with very little knowledge or experience in that country.


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[evadgib]

14 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Ex parachute regiment, SAS, and SBS and Royal Marine here.

Can't talk about it, otherwise i'd have to eat the evidence and kill you and any remaining witnesses.

But i can talk about it in a bar on my stool once i've had a few beers so what was it you wanted to know again...?

I 'outed' several of those during my first decade or so in los! ????