HOUDINI CONNECTIONS
Wrapping, strapping and tying alternatives

ARMY GAMES
(Military files main page)

Military training is a serious business. The differences between fantasy and the harsher realities of army life are very obvious.
In professional fighting forces the mix of mentalities thrown together can be explosive. The discipline often comes as an unwelcome surprise to some recruits, others learn to love it. A bunch of squaddies out on a Saturday night drinking rampage in a garrison town can bring out the worst in men trained in violence.

All dangerous territory to explore but, to people with a certain mind-set, attractive in various ways. The opportunities for challenge and self-testing plus learning endurance and survival skills make this a key topic in the context of HOUDINI CONNECTIONS.

OPPORTUNITIES
In both real life and simulated army scenarios the possibilities are there for the taking.
Familiarity with the kit can be rewarding. Physical skills can be stimulating to learn or teach to others. If high energy activities with an edge of competitiveness appeal on either a real or imagined level ... this area of the site explores ... what? ... opportunities?

BUT even as fantasy-fulfilment, military-style activities can be seriously demanding. Being in good physical condition is necessary for plausible simulated armed forces game-playing.

The wrapping, strapping and challenge possibilities are there for those who are prepared to invest some energy.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Information about real-life military endurance exercises is already on the Internet. A wide range of training manuals, videos and CDs are available, particularly from the USA.
Gradually, a list of sites will be added here. Suggestions for other sources would welcomed.

ESCAPE AND CAPTURE
Seriously challenging escape-and-evasion exercises are part of the training in many army units. Survival in a capture situation and resistance to interrogation are all simulated with ruthless authenticity by specially trained professionals.

How many people outside the military wonder if they could stand up to such treatment? How many would like to learn the skills and find people to challenge? Others prefer to confine such speculation to pure imagination (or not so pure).

Consider a few alternatives:

FICTION-BASED-ON-FACT
Authentic detail is the keynote of most fiction on this site.
A group of texts which include vividly described actual army-related happenings have, to some extent, been turned into 'heightened reality' for dramatic effect - but the basic facts are reliable.
Photo (right) is from a US Army Training Manual - applying such a tie efficiently needs practice!

FICTION - WILDER IMAGININGS
Fantasy is never quite pure. Some stories on this site are more obviously wishful thinking - but the authors in those cases knew the real-life territory where their fantasies were set - so even the wilder imaginings take place in plausible surroundings. All extracts from stories are indexed next.

This group of files can be a jumping off point for fantasy or 'simulated' reality.
For direct access to other armed forces-related topics, click on titles below