Computer games and movies have a lot to answer for. Mainly for making people think that soldiers have a sort of free pass when it comes to weaponry, fireworks and mayhem, when nothing could be further from the truth.

You're a soldier. When someone shoots at you, you shoot back - right?

Wrong.

Just because someone's stuck you into a uniform and handed you a rifle doesn't mean you can run around shooting at anything that moves. Or anything that shoots at you. Not even after you've learned how to shoot your rifle accurately enough to hit what you aim for.

There's a truck load of rules we need to follow. And I mean a truckload. It's no wonder my head hurts after studying Rules of Engagement and learning and practising fire control orders for most of the day.

And no. For 's sake shoot the bastard! is not an appropriate or valid fire control order…