I've been here a while so consider some people here virtual friends.

My 19 year old son, my oldest had just been given his start date for army training. He's starting 23rd April at Catterick for basic training. He's then posted to 1 PWRR. He is so excited. He's had struggles in his life but always wanted to be a soldier. He wants to be a Para but is happy to take his lot and work for it in the future.

He'll be the first soldier for a generation in our family and I couldn't be prouder.

I can't help but be jealous! The one thing that stands out for me is in his training, he was told..... Respect the old soldiers. Loved that.

Anyway, it's St Patrick's Day so I'll be getting the Guinness in!

I don't even know why I posted this, but just felt like I should?!

Congratulations to both you and your son!

Oh thanks PM that means so much.

You should be proud, papa. Good luck to the boy.

Be sure to tell him how proud you are. I'm sure you have, but too often I see people say the nicest things except to the one person who should hear it.

Good advice. Don't worry I'm all over that and we are close.

Oh thanks for commenting. This old man here is the proudest dad ever.

Good luck to him and congrats to you both! Best wishes on his new career!

Outstanding

Well done!

Thanks Art and you too Cyber.

Pleased as punch he'll serve.

Congrats.

What is 1 PWRR?

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, Light infantry.

He always wanted infantry. Told by many including myself to get a trade like engineers or signals but he's been resolute, wanted to join to be a soldier. Been streamlined to heavy weapons after if he does well fingers crossed.

Thanks everyone, it's been a hard few years and he's done it.

I remember that feeling from when my oldest son became a US Marine in 2010, congrats!

A Marine wow, well done to him and you for getting him there. It's a good feeling. Thanks.

Good luck to him.

Give him my respects from an old soldier. One of the best things about soldiering is seeing the new ones come in and then watching them come up to speed.

Tell him to be careful with who he partners up with. But when he finds some good ones commit to keeping contact with them. One of my regrets was that I was so concerned with today that I didn’t think about the future. Tell him that once he makes some solid friends that they make some sort of arrangement where they can contact again.

Tell him that you can act as a contact for them.

Good news for sure !

Solid advice I reckon OG. Thanks. I'll take anymore to pass on to him from anyone with knowledge.

I'll copy and paste your message to him verbatim if ok with you. And then chat it through.

Thanks OG. I'm confidently nervous for him if that makes sense.

"Tell him that you can act as a contact for them" - OG

He's already said that was a great idea and it should be wide spread. OG! What ya know that we don't!

Congrats to you and your son Ross. You should be proud, no harm in sharing that.

You're proud of your lad as you should be mate, tell him well done and enjoy your family.