Yeah agree with you on the technology mind you that is most probabaly because our government are cheapskates and wont spend on defence. My baby brother (same age as my eldest son)went into Iraq with the wrong boots had to buy his own along with a lot of other stuff as well.Did you find that our guys drink way more than US Forces.There is a big drinking culture in the Armed Forces over here not a good thing really.
Thanks for taking the time to answer
Cheers
Maureen