Thread: Smoking and The Army

With it being New Year I am going to try and quit smoking. I was just thinking why do so many soldiers smoke especially with them trying to be as fit as possible?

My boyfriend is 19 and in Afghanistan. Before he joined the Army I don't think he had ever smoked and always said it was disgusting and he never would smoke because of his fitness and nagged me a bit about smoking. Then the first weekend he came home from training he was smoking himself. He said that nearly all the other lads smoked and he just decided to start.

Just wondering if your boyfriends/sons whatever smoke and if they started smoking in the Army or before? I don't mind him smoking but was just surprised that he started.

Stress relief, companionship, they are very cheap for them (so not much incentive to not smoke)... well they are for Navy guys that are on Ship draft.

Everyone has different reasons, but I think for a fair few, it's stress relief and a chance to get 5 mins away from work which is hard work plus it's being part of the group.

Just my views

duty free fags onboard ship, can't beat it

stress, conforming, bored, you name it, many things really.

I've begged my fella to stop so we can consider child adoption or fostering in the future. For him its a social thing in the UK and a stress thing when in theatre. He never smokes in the house and I won't let him touch the baby if he's been smoking as I dont want baby associating with the smell (like I used to as a kid). It just leaves me fed up when my fella wont stop, a bloke who is so powerfully single minded when it comes to achieveing goals, be it mental or physical, I just can't get my head around why he cant just give it up. Well clearly its because he doesn't want to....which breaks my heart slightly...

He is a bit old for peer pressure, isn't he? Sounds to me like he is desperately trying to fit in with everyone else, which tells me that as soon as he is feeling a bit more comfortable he will pack the fags in. Hopefully.

TLC x

It's a while since I served (in my late 20s in a TA medical unit - so members could be expected to understand potential long term consequences of smoking) I must admit that I could see the short term advantages of smoking - extra breaks - but could also see the disadvantages - cost as well as effects on health etc - and as a student at university, I prefered to save my money for travel, sports, activities etc, and there were a few fellow members who thought the same way, so that made it easier for me to stick to my chosen course of non smoking.

its a social thing alot of the time same as the drinking anyone had issues with partners and drink?

My fella smoked ten years and then gave up completely before we met, and stayed gave up for 4 years. Which was good because I am a non smoker from non smoking parents and I have no tolerance for cigarettes. But Since basic training, he has picked up a habit of having a cigar on a Friday night. Now one a week doesn't bother me, per say, but I do think its a social thing. He steps out with a stogie (Churchill sized, bless him) when the lads are smoking fags and they chill like that.

My vote is on the social thing. It's still dangerous and bad to get hooked though so set down a few ground rules. None in the house. None if the guys aren't around. None before 5 pm and no sex after.... whatever you feel you can comfortably get behind. And hold him to it. I've lost a few relatives to emphysema and I tell you now it is a slow, lingering, painful agonizing death. It can last months. It's devastating and best avoided.

Theres onlty one thing you lasses should be smoking....and it isn't cigarettes or cigars

smoking hot....???!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Miss Pushkin

smoking hot....???!!!!!!

Not quite....but very good answer.

Well this Dragon is now standing up and saying I am a non-smoker! (it's a lot easier psychologically then saying I've quit). 2 months now since the last one and doing well.

Mr Dragon, didn't smoke when I met him, but I did, then he took it up, and quit again, and then smoked on every Op tour, and quit on return. I've lost count, but he is now at 51 a very anti-smoking, ex smoker...