I also knew I had better odds of killing or getting killed on a weekend drive to the beach than while in the army. As for willingly subjecting myself to the commands and whims of any halfwit with a few stars and bars on his collar, as Moby Dick’s Ishmael said, “Who ain’t a slave? Tell me that.”
The division of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots within a new army sounds daft. Imagine if South Africa had created two armies in 1994, one white, one black.
I get the blur of conscription vs enlistment. I coincidentally made notes about that the other day. I was avoiding, but then enlisted for my conscription after Mandela was released. No blurriness when receiving the measly conscription salary which was worth about a daily (discounted) beer. I did 12 months, and later one or two one-month camps.
Imagine being a rural Russian being offered a car and R40,000 per month for a year-long military contract. For perspective, ‘cause dollars isn’t, Russia’s standard of living is close to South Africa’s, hence me using the Rand, and that amount is 6-7 times more than the minimum wage.
“Feeling disgusted at the mess the drunken officers had left behind, the cook and I turned on the ceiling fan, and threw lettuce into it. Whoever was going to do the actual cleaning was going to be disgusted…”
That’s so crazy I actually had a short story idea for this, but in Lebanon.
I look forward to your series.
The division of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots within a new army sounds daft. Imagine if South Africa had created two armies in 1994, one white, one black.
I get the blur of conscription vs enlistment. I coincidentally made notes about that the other day. I was avoiding, but then enlisted for my conscription after Mandela was released. No blurriness when receiving the measly conscription salary which was worth about a daily (discounted) beer. I did 12 months, and later one or two one-month camps.
Well said. Yes, the salary is paltry. There's money in it, but not for the conscripts.
Okay, so when do we get your army memoirs...?
Imagine being a rural Russian being offered a car and R40,000 per month for a year-long military contract. For perspective, ‘cause dollars isn’t, Russia’s standard of living is close to South Africa’s, hence me using the Rand, and that amount is 6-7 times more than the minimum wage.
“Feeling disgusted at the mess the drunken officers had left behind, the cook and I turned on the ceiling fan, and threw lettuce into it. Whoever was going to do the actual cleaning was going to be disgusted…”
I’m thrilled I can now add this to the comment strain:
https://substack.com/@mikehampton/p-148213590
Discovered in the wrinkles of Substack...
Lettuce be attentive!
Where's the video footage for this one...
Ha ha. The joy that can only be found in the company of the Wit.
I’m always up for a bad pun