no
the damage is done to the Regiment and to the Army in general
I'm old school military - there's no such thing as 'it's not your fault'
it's his name and deeds that have been splashed all over the bloody world - he's got a huge part in that.
now - that might be difficult to understand for civilians - but, let me give you a small example -
I was charged once in the army - a small thing, but instructive on how military thinks.
I was to report for duty at 7am. I was staying at home - about ? can't remember, maybe half an hour drive.
I left home with lots of time to spare, I used to get into work about 20 minutes early.
This morning, I went onto the highway and there was the mother of all traffic jams - a major accident which blocked the whole highway - that highway turned off into another major road onto a river bridge crossing - the only choice I had was to sit and wait or to go back and go a hell of a long way around to another bridge crossing - but, that was a very long journey and would have made me monstrously late.
So, I waited in the traffic.
It cleared after a while and I ended up late - can't remember how late - maybe 20 minutes or so - missed the morning parade and things -
got charged, can't recall the exact charge - but, here's the point - there's no excuse ------------- you are late, that's it
so, I got given ?? I think it was a week of extra duties. I recall standing on the mat in front of the CO, I was pretty respected in that unit and he gave me the extras -------- I just accepted it happily, I knew the rules. I saluted and walked out, did my time - that's it.
I was complicit, I was late ----------- sure, I would have to have found a phone box and a superman costume to make it happen otherwise, but, there's no excuse for failure
that's it
Ben Roberts has failed the Regiment big time ------------- that's it.
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