Fish and the military

[Dave 54]

I'm ex Navy and I know for a fact there are other former and serving members of the armed forces on this site .
Just what is it in your eyes that causes many former military folk to gravitate towards keeping fish be they goldfish or koi
With me they have helped me regain my former self and helped partially to turn off the military mind ( you can ake a man out of the Navy but not the Navy out of the man, its the same in all the services).
I've found that the military disapline comes in very useful when it comes to maintenance etc on thee pond.
However I digress in your own minds, ex or serving military just what is it about keeping fish to them ???

rgrds

Dave

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

Dave,
I believe that not once i can forget about the military at all. I was in the sandbox before the U.S. declared war. Everyday i live with the experiences i have had and honestly think it clears my mind to take care of the pond and salt tank. There is nothing more cleansing than to set back on a 90d day (in the shade) watching the fish interact.

I do agree with you about the eye for things and always to continue to inspect things that may be an issue. Saltwater reefing has changed my bad habbits with keeping koi. Understanding saltwater makes ponds so much easier....

So, all in all i think the fish have relieved the constant Marine Mentality out of me, but i wont go down without a fight. Semper fi.

 

[Dave 54]

Good reply from a former comrade in arms, I only saw active service in bandit country Northern Island back in the 1970's we had your opposite numbers the Royal Marines from the Royal Marine rigid raider squadren working from the Mine Hunter I was serving on at that time it involved being moored on the border in Carlingford Loch Warren Point Mewry checking merchant vessels for arms being smuggled in for the IRA.
I left service just before the Falklands war and saw sevice on a number of other ships including two Frigates and Two Capital ships which where Aircraft Carriers the last one being a Helicopter support carrier for our Marines.
I loved every minute of my time in the military got to see the world and spent many a day in your good Country on one of four visits.
I found it hard becoming a civilian again as many of us do, here in the UK we have a program that helps men who saw active service in the many fields of combat Northern Ireland/Falklands Iraq/Afganistan calm those experiances after there were more suicides after the Falklands than men that we lost in action...
There are currantly more former Army men in Prison in the UK than there have ever been most committing violent crime GBH/ABH right up to Murder, they had been unable to calm those experiances as such and this is what has befallen them "sadly".
I agree there is nothing more calming for the mind than any aspect of our hobby.
I tend not to use salt in the pond only in our QT system is it used.
Royal Navy rules ok lol

rgds

Dave