Yes, GSS, it was posted above. Eric doesn't have much choice but to put up with it, but his being shafted doesn't alter the fundamental point that what the RBL did was thoroughly dishonest. Much like claiming what they are about isn't militaristic. I don't see any other group parading with flags and military bands - not even the BNP get away with that lot.

There is no identity or even parity between being of the military and being militaristic. The difference is one of role in society: a militarist wants the military to be given superiority, a military man should, these days, recognise that military power being a continuation of government policy by other means, then he is a servant of society. The quid pro quo recognised in the Armed Forces Covenant is that as the veteran (of which I am one) has set his normal rights aside in the interest of that service, then if there are consequences, he should receive compensating priority, which sadly isn't actually happening, yet again.

In WWII, for good reasons, the military were giiven priority, and many of them were utterly unable to give up the power afterwards. Those of us of the post-war generation all knew "the Major", claiming a rank he was no longer entitled to (only an Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshall or Air Marshall never retires, and on retirement an officer returns to civilian life with the titles he has earned). The RBL gives veterans an excessive sense of privilege, as if being in the military always and in everything entitles them to rule the roost. That's not the kind of nation I want, it's not the kind of democracy I signed up to defend, and although it's far from true of all, it's true of enough as to make any sense of charity from my side somewhat limited. For me, the military's finest hour was when Cromwell overturned the whole house of cards, Monarchy, corrupt parliament and all - and refused to become a king himself. The military must be the servant of the Nation, and not of whatever demiurge has last dreamed up the megalomanic idea that "I am the State and the State is me".
One of the things which makes the UK distinctive is that the Monarchy has actually found a way to be a figurehead without falling into that trap. It's still not true of much of the Mad in Chelsea bunch, who haven't got the message that privilege is earned, not inherited. Thankfully that's no longer true of the military, where the commanders of small units (and on occasion even larger ones) these days are as likely to have risen from the ranks as to bear a direct commission. Consequently, there is hope for the RBL, it s slowly unbending (for example in the question of Poppy Fascism) but the speed and will is still far from what should attract our admiration.
And as we have seen, sometimes they just don't get it.