A sad state of affairs, but hardly surprising given that for years now British military personnel have been percieved as a separate entity to the rest of the general public. As a civilian, unless you have an interest in military matters, have friends or relations in the military, watch a few World War II films or Red Arrows air displays, are an ex-serviceman yourself, or, dare I say it, maybe have had a brawl with a few squaddies on a Saturday night out on the town about twenty years ago, contact with the military is pretty limited. The restrictions that The Troubles in Northern Ireland put on personnel wearing their uniforms in public didn’t help either. And prior to now, the government has done little to raise military’s profile within British society. Regardless of who the culprits were, there’s a long way to go before the British armed forces get the same support that the US military get from their own public. And a few Ross Kemp documentaries from Afghanistan or town parades are hardly going to change that. People need more education on the armed forces, while the forces need more interaction with the general public. Very sad.
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