Senior Australian Army Commander: Soldiers have An Image Of War Based On Movies And Computer Games

Illustration: Ron Tandberg

Blast For 'Gladiator' Diggers -- Sydney Morning Herald

A senior army commander has blasted the behaviour of some Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, saying they expected to be treated as ''Roman gladiators'' and had an image of war based on movies and computer games.

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Smith, who was commanding officer of Mentoring Taskforce 3 for six months, catalogued dangerous and ill-disciplined conduct - including sunbathing on missions and hitting golf balls into areas where militants could be hiding - in a post-operation report from January last year.

It is believed the report was distributed widely to other commanders by a dismayed Chief of Army, David Morrison.

Read more ....

Update: 'Roman Gladiator' Australian soldiers in Afghanistan caught playing golf and sunbathing -- The Telegraph

My Comment: We are definitely living in the "Me Generation".