IN reply to a letter (LET, November 6) from a disappointed Army man concerning National Service.

At the time of my call-up I was so naive that I'd never travelled farther than the neighbouring streets in Blackburn, let alone out of it.

The RAF cured all that for me however, in addition to broadening my horizons and I was taught a very useful trade servicing aircraft as an electrician - something which has stood me in good stead for the rest of my life.

In the beginning it's true, we were trained as soldiers with rifles, hand grenades, bayonets and all the rest of it. Although the RAF regiment NCOs were tough and strict there was none of that sadistic 'shouting down the trainees' throats' depicted recently on television.

I had a responsible job, I was fed and watered regularly, had a roof over my head and decent clobber and boots....something I hadn't enjoyed regularly before.

As for being taught to booze and philandering, you couldn't do a lot of that on £1 a week....paid fortnightly.

I was demobbed in June 1947, had a brand-new civvy suit, trilby, raincoat etc...AND I was equipped to lead a useful, social life for my remaining time on earth with no prison record or drugs to spoil the future.

JOHN BURNS, Parklands Way, Blackburn.