Books

[StevenPreece]

Did any of you guys read my first or second book.


I guess my first book was an untold story for a lot of us, but writing it helped me to move on from a very violent lifestyle.

As for my second book:



It wasn't easy changing from a dedicated serviceman to an ordinary civilian. I guess my journey was a walk that many people follow.


To any forthcoming authors: I wish you all the very best of luck with writing and publishing your work. All the very best for 2008.


Best Regards

Steven Preece

[MSG Glenn]

I used to write for Fishing Facts Magazine between my Navy & Army years. I was also interviewed & some quotes of mine were used by Kevin Dockery, a military historian. That's the closest I came to authoring anything.

What was the name of your book? (Without putting a large display up)? I'm a voracious reader. Go through about 3 or more books a week. Right now I'm reading Stephen King's "The Stand". I had read it before but this edition is the updated one with all the original deletions added.

If one of the members on this site, Freddy Forsythe, is the actual person & not just using the name he's the author of "The Day of the Jackal" & "The Deceiver" amongst others. Good stuff.

[Nightflyer]

Did any of you guys read my first or second book.


I guess my first book was an untold story for a lot of us, but writing it helped me to move on from a very violent lifestyle.

As for my second book:



It wasn't easy changing from a dedicated serviceman to an ordinary civilian. I guess my journey was a walk that many people follow.


To any forthcoming authors: I wish you all the very best of luck with writing and publishing your work. All the very best for 2008.


Best Regards

Steven Preece

Hey steven,
I remember you guy... it's been awhile...I still have to read your first book and within a year and half...and your opening your second book? sick....good stuff PFC Preece...I'll get that first book..title? please. I'll follow up on the first and I bet that the second book follows where that first one left off....That would be cool...anyways, "Nice". I'll be reading up....get us that first title please...Hit us up with the info....I remember the first time ...you came on..."You took nothing for granted." It's all about the future....and sure enough your getting there....Awesome..We're proud of you....Good stuff....

Spc. Nightflyer.

[StevenPreece]

Hey guys its good to touch base with you after all this time.

I was lucky, I guess, to be able to write about the difficulties I experienced when I made the transition from a Royal Marine to a civilian. I'm sure many of you will have had similar experiences and could relate to this.

ALWAYS A MARINE - Introduction Chapter

Leaving the armed forces is a big step for a lot of soldiers. They spend their careers working with colleagues whom they can trust with their lives. Teamwork is crucial to their job, as is the ability to work alone when necessary. When they walk into civvy street, they need to learn to dapt quickly to a different life style in a world full of individuals.

I left the Royal Marines in 1990 after serving for 7 years in various parts of the world. I'd been trained to live, work, think, react and survive as a Marine. What I hadn't been taught was how to stop being one. It wasn't something I could just turn off. The propensity for anger, aggression and violence hadn't gone away. This was something that only time could heal: in my case 13 years of time.

This story portrays my journey through life as a civilian. I have worked in various locations throughout the world, where I have experienced many kinds of different challenges and emotions, including violence and desperation as well as warmth and laughter.

When I left the Marines, I expected to walk into a new job, but I found it hard to find work with my skills and background and had to register as unemployed. The respect I had grown used to from the people of my home town soon disappeared, as they began to realise that I was no longer a Marine. Suddenly I became a target for them to test their fighting skills on. They were even coming at me with baseball bats. Yet I was not defeated and I forged a life amongst them.

My aggressive reputation preceded me in the work place and eventually I was forced to work abroad. What follows at this point is a blow by blow account of the situations I got myself into and the types of people I met and worked with. At times the survival skills I was taught in the marines came in useful, when I applied them in violent and difficult situations. As you will see, what finally stopped me from unleashing my violent nature on those who crossed me was the love of my family and the healing non aggressive philosophy of the ninja.

Best Regards

Steven Preece
Author of Amongst The Marines
and
Always A Marine

[Nightflyer]

Wow...Wait till the doggs see this....Thanx, Awesome stuff Marine...Theirs alot to learn in this world but I know this...Family is the clue that keeps us together.....keeping the faith always helps too.....Thanxs, PFC Preece.....

Sounds like a great read. I'll be on the lookout for your book.....


Spc. Nightflyer.

[StevenPreece]

Here's the Introduction chapter from my first book. I guess it would be best if you knew the whole story. If you read them, read this one first as the second book starts where the first book finishes. Please bare in mind that this book might shock you a little. It starts in 1983 and finsishes in 1990. My second book explains how I made the transition from the person I'd become in the marines. A long journey, explained in "Always A Marine.", but I got there in the end.

Introduction
chapter 1 —
The Royal Marines are widely known as one of Britain's finest fighting forces. Marine Commandos are trained to the very highest of standards, and face roles and situations which only the most dedicated and exceptional of troops can handle. Because of this, Marines are a breed apart from regular soldiers, and have their own way of getting things done. This is no less true of their social lives than it is of their hours of service.

This story portrays the social side of an elite soldier's life. It does not focus on the special demands and dangers of battle situations, or the heroics of military glory. Instead, it portrays the private life I experienced as a Royal Marine Commando, after the day's work was complete and the battles were won.

My story begins with a snapshot of Marine life, in describing the reception that lay in store for me - and for all newly trained Marines - at my first Commando Unit in Arbroath. I then go back to describe my childhood and the events leading up to this moment, including my rigorous Marine training at the Commando Training Centre near Exeter. What follows from this point is a blow by blow insider's account of the social life of the marines spanning the seven years of my career. I have it on authority that things are very different in the marines today, and that violence amongst their ranks and other kinds of bad behaviour are no longer tollerated. I can only narrate what happened to me, however, and what life was like there as I found it.

To those outside of Marine culture, these pages will be more than an eye opener. Some may find certain passages of this book both disgusting and disturbing. These episodes, though, give vivid insights into what makes a marine tick. What others would call dangerous and repellant, we marines called entertainment.

I joined the Royal Marines on the 7th February 1983 and served with several different units until 8th May 1990. During this time, I changed from being a quiet, sensible young man into an aggresive fighting machine.

-----------------------------------

If you o read them and have any questions, please ask.


Best Regards

Steven Preece
Author of
Amongst The Marines
and
Alwaya A Marine

[MSG Glenn]

I was fortunate that after 27 years in the military I was able to adapt to civilian life. what helped me the most was my last assignment as an Active Army advisor to the Army Reserve. The Reserve Center was one mile from my home & it allowed me a more toned- down job than Airborne Infantry or even Commo & it was almost like being in a civilian job with military uniforms & military courtesy thrown in.

When I retired I went into armed security & I feel much more comfortable carrying a firearm & being in uniform. I tried a few other jobs at 1st & found it hard to relate to the civilians I worked with & they didn't quite know how to take me.

My son gets out of the Army Airborne Rangers in May & I hope he has no problems although he wants to go into law enforcement & he'll have to go into the Army National Guard for a few years. That should give him time to decompress.

Do you any post military counselling available? We have the Veteran's Administration although I'm not too sure how effective their counselling is. Never felt the need to try it.

Good luck, Steve!

[StevenPreece]

Thanks MSG, I have now some years on come out the otherside from the problems I had encountered making the adaption from a soldier to a civilian. I also think being lucky enough to be able to write about it helped me to do this.

Here's a newspaper article from an interview I had after the release of my second book:

http://archive.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/2005/12/16/214137.html

There is very little help available for those who need it. Sadly, 10% of London's homeless are former servicemen, some end up in jail and a small amount take their own lives.

Those who do adapt easily generally find something else to beleive in, a little like you have described. Personally I found my peace inside ninjutsu.

No doubt some find it easy, but I know there are many that don't.

Cheers

Steve