Cyprus-Forum.com

[T_C]

I'm doing my national service as we speak, Im on leave for the weeked and going back tomorrow at 6am.

I was supposed to do 2 weeks now and 2 weeks next time I visit (I get off lightly because I live abroad and have paid money to do it less...) but I am now doing the whole month in one go.

I agree with the comments above. The army SUCKS but its rewarding at the same time and a HUGE learning experience, I'm actually enjoying it and feel quite proud

[iceman]

T_C there is no way you can compare service done 24 months and the service you are doing...The one you are going through is a joke & purely designed to make money for the army..

[natalia19]

devil - i totally agree with you. ok so i'm only 19 but i could never imagine guys my age going into the army!!! so many of them are so lazy and only care to go out drinking and getting wasted - which is why i think it must be so different for young men in cyprus to have to go.

My GC friend says that its just something he has to do so might as well make the most out of the experience which i think is the best way to be. i agree it will be character building as you say and just a completely new experience.

do any GC members on this forum have any comments about their experiences in the army?

[cypezokyli]

the army in cyprus is a necessary waste of time.
it is not only anarchists, that escape the army. the last 5 years there is a new apolitical, an-ideological group that evades the army. it grew that much that our legislators had to take action in order to stop it.

i dont believe that the army shaped my personality. i learned some things, but in comparison with what i could have learned, the learning prospects in the army are next to zero.

i dont know about the rest of europe, but in germany one has to do either military service or social service.

yes, there was compulsory service for gcs before 1974.

[Shipwreck]

Military service is without a doubt character building and teaches young men/women self discipline and respect. However the time spent under National Service must be productive and the training must have value. I hear all too often from my GC friends that their time is just wasted sitting around smoking and playing tavli!

[iceman]

the army in cyprus is a necessary waste of time.
it is not only anarchists, that escape the army. the last 5 years there is a new apolitical, an-ideological group that evades the army. it grew that much that our legislators had to take action in order to stop it.

i dont believe that the army shaped my personality. i learned some things, but in comparison with what i could have learned, the learning prospects in the army are next to zero.

I think the main difference between GC & TC compulsory military services is that TC dont have to do it as long as they are studying and they have the option of doing it as an officer under better conditions if they hold a university diploma...On the other hand,from what i heard (please correct me if i am wrong) GC youth have to put their studies on hold to do their military service and then carry on studying from where they left when they finish..

yes, there was compulsory service for gcs before 1974.

So DT's point that GC youth is doing compulsory military service because 37% of Cyprus is under occupation is not true...

[Southerner]

I was very dissapointed when the UK ended conscrition in 1960 so I volunteered, I was in the British army Terretorials and Regulars from 1962/1969, one of the appeals was the overseas postings accompanied by your family, 5 monthe after joining the regulars I found myself in Cyprus, we had just got married the posting was like one long honeymoon, the two summers 66&67, in Cyprus, living amongst the Cypriot people in Limassol left a lasting impression on us.
When I left the army in 1969 I was ready to settle down, I don't think that this would have been the case had I not joined the army.

[T_C]

T_C there is no way you can compare service done 24 months and the service you are doing...The one you are going through is a joke & purely designed to make money for the army..

F**K THAT!!!!!!

Still, it was supposed to be ''a joke'' where we dont do nothing but because theres quite a lot of people doing bedelli this year we're not exactly chilling...we're out in the sun THE WHOLE f****g day, running around like lunatics!!!

I know what you mean though, my dayı had to do his military service for TEN YEARS because of the war. Gece nöbet dutardı, sabahada lisesine giderdi...

[Southerner]

T_C there is no way you can compare service done 24 months and the service you are doing...The one you are going through is a joke & purely designed to make money for the army..

F**K THAT!!!!!!
Still, it was supposed to be ''a joke'' where we dont do nothing but because theres quite a lot of people doing bedelli this year we're not exactly chilling...we're out in the sun THE WHOLE f****g day, running around like lunatics!!!
I know what you mean though, my dayı had to do his military service for TEN YEARS because of the war. Gece nöbet dutardı, sabahada lisesine giderdi...

When we were on holiday in Side Turkey the conscripts were being used to provide cheap labour clearing beaches etc for the hotel complex where we were staying, the commanding officer was receiving backhanders from the owner of the complex who just happened to be a member of parliament

[Smiler Brian]

Gece nöbet dutardı, sabahada lisesine giderdi... That's easy for you to say!