Thread: Soldiers' Angels

People that know me have long since realised that I'm an unfeeling bastard whose diet consists of kitten curry and puppy burgers, so just to make the exception that proves the rule I'd like to draw your attention to the above-mentioned site.

Ridiculing the Septics has long been a sport amongst British Servicemen, but by and large has generally been good natured ribbing.
Their patriotism is often seen as over the top, and to the stiff upper-lipped Brits it feels very kitsch. Don't be fooled by the showy nature of the Yanks though, while they tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves it doesn't mean that their national fervour is any less profound to ours.

Although we are two nations seperated by a common language it would be both foolish and arrogant for either side to believe they always have the best solutions.

The Americans have often transported many of their home comforts to their bases - Burger King, Pizza Hut and bowling alleys are just some of the off-duty benefits they have enjoyed - and while the hairyarsed Squaddies considered their Spam counterparts mollycoddled; there has aways been a degree of envy in the way they are catered for compared to the spartan facilities that the MoD provide.
That conditions for Brits on Ops have been vastly improved over the last thirty years cannot be denied, and it is due in no little degree to the advances in comms, notably cellphones and the internet, and here once again the Americans have led the way.

Three years ago the mother of a GI started Soldiers' Angels, a worldwide organisation dedicated to giving support to troops in the field, with the aim of making each one realise that back at home someone cared for them personally.
Personal experience has taught me that there are quite a few Squaddies who receive little or no post, and while they'll all shrug it off there's no denying that it is a pleasure to open a personal letter - one that doesn't come in a windowed brown envelope that is.


I realise very many RP members already spend a lot of time and money sending Blueys and parcels to your other half, but perhaps you could also take a moment to look at Soldiers' Angels Europe and see if you couldn't spare a few minutes to drop a line to one of the forgotten.

Thank you StuC, if anyone has a question regarding Soldiers'Angels Europe, feel free to ask. I answer any question you may have. Shoot me an email, a pm or simply ask here.

I got confused just reading the website :?

I think it's a great idea in theory, but I for one could never volunteer - it would cause ructions with me and the OH!!

Quite rightly he would be annoyed I was writing to another soldier, and also, I get all worded out after an ebluey to my own OH!

I think this is for the single girls out there, and perhaps those with a VERY understanding Boyfriend/husband etc

I read about this on aarse, i think they do a wonderful job, i know how much my OH appreciates letters and parcels and can not imagine how it would feel to get nothing from anyone, they deserve medals for their efforts in making sure no one gets left out...

I went on the website but apparently it is for US soldiers :?: is there a similar organization for our soldiers? And second question: Although I wouldn t paticipate personally being married and all; I still would recommend this to a friend who I think would like to do it -but she is German and lives in Germany is it still possible for her? (Her English is very good)

Well, Soldiers Angels itself is for American Soldiers. Soldiers Angels Europe is for British, Germans and the Dutch as well as the poor Ugandans over at Al Asad Airbase and any other Coalition Soldier.

Of course your friend can join. I am German myself and in charge of Soldiers Angels Europe. I also try to establish a Support Group for German Military Girlfriends because it's hard to find on over here.

@Jaye: It's not just for Single Girls. Especially because we take our job very serious. We are not a Dating Service and if there is a girl who just takes it as a dating oppurtunity, she's definitely wrong. We have a lot of families who support a soldier together. If its not a "silent" Soldier, they usually become part of the family plus we are not just here for the Soldiers, we are also here for the Families if needed.

If you would sign up your own OH for example, he would get his own Angel. Some families can't afford to support their own hubbies and therefor we are looking for serious people who do not use this as an Dating Service. Most of the Soldiers are married and got submitted by their own families, friends, spouses, sister... or themselves if they have no one back home.

Tankies angel - I understand it's not a dating site - and I believe it to be a brilliant thing you are doing for morale etc - but from my point of view I wouldn't be able to do it purely because my OH would be unhappy about me conversing with other soldiers (maybe it's a man thing but I KNOW he'd be uncomfortable with it)

Keep up the good work though, and I'm glad some people will sign up and support the troops, but for now I can only support one soldier xxx

I think its a wonderful idea to raise morale, but i know there would be hell to pay if my oh knew i was talking to other soldiers, i think its maybe something a single person should be doing, I know it would cause some communication failure in my relationship in the sense that he would stop talking to me and put me out in the garden shed.

Well, one thing i've learned is that the most supportive part is the boyfriend, hubby himself. And do not forget ... there are always female soldiers who are the most forgotten of all. Everybody thinks that there are only guys out there, that is not true.

My very own better half who is a Soldier himself supports tons of my Soldiers. We support them together, he's talking more to them than I do and if I can't take over one, he does. So I can work on the Site and the Administrative stuff.

If you would love to support a Soldier but you are not sure if they'd like you to do so, simply talk to them and send them over to the website, ask them what they think of it. You'll be surprised, perhaps they know someone who could need a couple of extra letters.

@TankersAngel: I typed Soldiers Angels Europe into Google and found quite a few websites -though I found it a bit confusing. Could you name a website where to start from so I can link it to my friend?

Yeah, I know, Saluting Angels... but they are not official...and have nothing to do with us.

There is only one official Soldiers Angels Europe and you can find it over at www.soldiersangelseurope.org

As for the structure, there is Soldiers Angels, Soldiers Angels Europe and Soldiers Angels Germany. Saluting Angels is not an official Team of Soldiers Angels.

Bump.

Nice way to start the New Year.

Beebs x

I have just registered and am waiting for approval. I am just worried that I won't be good enough, or say the wrong thing. Will I receive guidance?

I participated in a similar thing through my uni, thats how I met the current OH though honestly it was never meant as that. I wrote to several people and sent different parcels, some I heard back from others not. I know the OH really enjoyed getting post as his family doesn't really approve of his job so won't write or anything.

I think I will defiantly register for the European one! thanks for the info

I've just registered as my "box boys" as I call them are back home now and I only have one new one. I'm a bit wary of this site now as I've tried to look around the site and got a 404 notification. They have all my personal details