The First UK Independent Defence Authority
Lima Juliet
Not to divert from the original post, but to make such an open accusation one would have to be certain of one's position. Or barking mad. It would be interesting to know if action was taken following the accusation. Has it been made before and perhaps rejected by MoD? And it's not as if MoD doesn't routinely blame those it knows are innocent. As matters stand, your post has certainly raised the profile of the issue, for which I'm sure Justice4 Troops are grateful - but not the good Air Cdre or his unamed 2 Star.
Not to divert from the original post, but to make such an open accusation one would have to be certain of one's position. Or barking mad. It would be interesting to know if action was taken following the accusation. Has it been made before and perhaps rejected by MoD? And it's not as if MoD doesn't routinely blame those it knows are innocent. As matters stand, your post has certainly raised the profile of the issue, for which I'm sure Justice4 Troops are grateful - but not the good Air Cdre or his unamed 2 Star.
I appreciate the concerns of apparent trolling on tw@tter with serious allegations etc, but knowing Sheds as many here do, I can vouch that his heart is in the right place.
I, along with many others, in the 90s and 00s were right proper shafted by the Air Secretary (head of PMA), and the assorted Desk Officers who badly mangled the aircrew headcount and destroyed many careers. They know who they are. Shame on them.
I, along with many others, in the 90s and 00s were right proper shafted by the Air Secretary (head of PMA), and the assorted Desk Officers who badly mangled the aircrew headcount and destroyed many careers. They know who they are. Shame on them.
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Women in Defence
Chair of the planned Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces, Sarah Atherton, said:
"Women make a vital and valued contribution to our Armed Forces and to our country. However, serious challenges remain. Female personnel are more likely to make complaints, more likely to report mental health difficulties and more likely to be subject to sexual assaults. We need to understand the scale, nature and root of the challenges that female personnel face. Only then can we begin to address the incidence in which the services have failed female serving personnel and identify the solutions.My hope is that this inquiry will provide servicewomen and veterans, who have too often struggled to get their voices heard, with a platform to discuss their experiences frankly, freely and without fear of repercussions. There is worrying data to suggest a disparity in the experiences of women and men both during and after leaving the Armed Forces that demands serious examination. Neglecting to do so is a disservice to those prepared to lay down their lives for our safety and protection.
Our Forces are stronger, richer and more capable when they are diverse and inclusive. A robust Armed Forces includes personnel from all walks of life, with different experiences and fresh perspectives. This is not only the right thing to do but contributes directly to operational effectiveness. We need the right person for the right role, and it is in no one’s interest to discourage women from joining and remaining in the Armed Forces."
Deadline for submissions
The Committee is asking for initial written evidence to be submitted by midnight on 31 January 2021.Pse PM if you need guidance on how to submit to such an inquiry, or go direct to Sarah
Wensleydale
That’s brilliant. Hard to believe that was the mindset only 80 years ago.
Of course if it had had a picture of a blunty (ethnically and gender diverse of course) and a caption that read “they (gender neutral pronoun) serve so they (image of ethnically and gender diverse aircrew member) can fly” it would be as relevant now as it was then.
BV
Of course if it had had a picture of a blunty (ethnically and gender diverse of course) and a caption that read “they (gender neutral pronoun) serve so they (image of ethnically and gender diverse aircrew member) can fly” it would be as relevant now as it was then.
BV
That’s brilliant. Hard to believe that was the mindset only 80 years ago.
Of course if it had had a picture of a blunty (ethnically and gender diverse of course) and a caption that read “they (gender neutral pronoun) serve so they (image of ethnically and gender diverse aircrew member) can fly” it would be as relevant now as it was then.
BV
Of course if it had had a picture of a blunty (ethnically and gender diverse of course) and a caption that read “they (gender neutral pronoun) serve so they (image of ethnically and gender diverse aircrew member) can fly” it would be as relevant now as it was then.
BV
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Part of why this issue is so important if Defence wishes to be relevant....which I offer you here....
1 - When a CO...an allegation of rape perpetrated by a RAF Instructor on a 13 yr old girl when on summer camp on my base was reported to me. My Chain of Command (22Gp) directed me to not entertain the allegation nor initiate investigation (22Gp owned the Air Cadet organisation). The rationale of the CoC being that such an allegation would in itself adversely impact on the anniversary of the Cadet organisation which was imminent. There was then no military investigation despite the military having lead jurisdiction. Not content with this, I went to the civil police, there was an investigation, there was a due process and there was a conviction - the RAF Instructor went to prison.
2 - When a CO, I also received a Service Complaint from a female officer made against me - she had every right and reason to complain! I then became 'RESPONDENT' to the 'COMPLAINANT'. What astonished me was the Lines to Take presented to me by HQ Air which was an implicit and explicit intent to defeat the Complaint, at all costs, and deny her access to justice. Moreover, I was told that this 'handy tactic to keep in the back pocket' had been used, and is still used, and is successfully used to defeat any Complaint. I objected, strongly....and that led to the point that we are at today, supported of course by ACM WIgston who rightly is trying to shake this all out
Why does it matter? Because Defence is a values-based organisation and today those values, that you all hold dear, are clearly under great pressure due operational and fiscal challenge - suggest listen to The Reith Lectures today to understand why?
I am now aware of thousands of women, and men, who once served well, have since been truly ruined by the organisation they held in high regard. That in our book, true to those values you hold dear, is not acceptable if Defence wishes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Debate....!
We are really interested in any counter view as to why those in uniform should not enjoy independent representation, as the Civil Servant does, and look forward to receiving a convincing view.......
1 - When a CO...an allegation of rape perpetrated by a RAF Instructor on a 13 yr old girl when on summer camp on my base was reported to me. My Chain of Command (22Gp) directed me to not entertain the allegation nor initiate investigation (22Gp owned the Air Cadet organisation). The rationale of the CoC being that such an allegation would in itself adversely impact on the anniversary of the Cadet organisation which was imminent. There was then no military investigation despite the military having lead jurisdiction. Not content with this, I went to the civil police, there was an investigation, there was a due process and there was a conviction - the RAF Instructor went to prison.
2 - When a CO, I also received a Service Complaint from a female officer made against me - she had every right and reason to complain! I then became 'RESPONDENT' to the 'COMPLAINANT'. What astonished me was the Lines to Take presented to me by HQ Air which was an implicit and explicit intent to defeat the Complaint, at all costs, and deny her access to justice. Moreover, I was told that this 'handy tactic to keep in the back pocket' had been used, and is still used, and is successfully used to defeat any Complaint. I objected, strongly....and that led to the point that we are at today, supported of course by ACM WIgston who rightly is trying to shake this all out
Why does it matter? Because Defence is a values-based organisation and today those values, that you all hold dear, are clearly under great pressure due operational and fiscal challenge - suggest listen to The Reith Lectures today to understand why?
I am now aware of thousands of women, and men, who once served well, have since been truly ruined by the organisation they held in high regard. That in our book, true to those values you hold dear, is not acceptable if Defence wishes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Debate....!
We are really interested in any counter view as to why those in uniform should not enjoy independent representation, as the Civil Servant does, and look forward to receiving a convincing view.......
The word ‘Authority’ in the title of this new organisation is jarring; the intent must be to give an impression of power and/or official backing to disguise the seeming absence of either characteristic. Together with the click-baity description of each case in the OP press release, this creates a negative first impression of the initiative to the sort of people it should be trying to influence.
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This example, and the JTAC role will not be lost on our aviation community.....is an example of thousands that have come to J4T on a scale hitherto never seen before. The IDA was set up to convert that knowledge into meaningful, transformative change.
Current policies, current processes and some people deny the Senior Leaders holistic integrity - what is really going on in the 'PEOPLE' space? The IDA offers that.
Anyone who has a compelling counter as to why there is need for an IDA, we stand ready to think on it.....meanwhile....do pse take a moment and read this reality....an all too common one going on in YOUR Armed Forces. Like so many, they are silenced into submission - sometimes suicide. I left the British Army in 2018 after struggling with my mental health, a back injury that prevented me from promoting any further and suffering with tinnitus/hearing loss. After joining the British Army in 2004 I passed out into the Grenadier Guards and deployed on three operational tours to Afghanistan in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
It was during a battalion battle PT session in 2014 that I was injured, I fell and struck the ground after pulling a military vehicle using rope attached. Since the injury in 2014 military doctors would tell me, ‘you just need some rest, take these ibuprofens and you’ll be fine’. It was only after leaving the military and receiving a copy of all my medical documents held by the MoD, that I see that one Army doctor decided to write in my med records, ‘He’s just trying to get out of the upcoming overseas exercise’.
I had reached the rank of Lance Sergeant and due to promote to Sergeant, all my reports predicted I would make Warrant Officer. This injury prevented me from progressing, I tried to get through Senior Brecon with the injury, failing at the first hurdle (8-mile combat fitness test). I’d gone from a highly capable Lance Sergeant and performing top of my peer group, to not being able to pass the most basic army fitness test.
I knew something wasn’t right, but with this type of attitude to soldiers medical care and rehabilitation from the MO, it made me feel that I was somehow crazy and that the pain was all in my head. It wasn’t until this month that the true extend of what was wrong with my back was found out. I was sent for an MRI by my GP and the scan showed that I had two slipped disks and damaged vertebrae.
I’d served with the Grenadier Guards for 12yrs, then another 18 months as a JTAC full-time within the Royal Artillery, transferring to them in the hope that it would be less physically demanding and the hope that I could continue to serve. This didn’t work, my mental health and injury deteriorated even further.
Prior to sustaining these injuries, I was a very fit and abled soldier, managing to achieve a distinction at the IBS Brecon, I loved running and carried out daily fitness.
When I was forced to leave due to my injuries, I received no help during my transition, the MoD paid me approximately £3k for my back injury. I felt a deep betrayal, after I had shown nothing but complete loyalty since I’d joined at the age of 15.
Even whilst I was still serving and up until recently, I’d been suffering severe panic attacks and ending up in hospital or paramedics being called out to give me the all clear, this even happened on a family holiday last year. Every time this happened, and I’d be given a clean bill of health, it made me feel even worse, I thought I was ‘wasting resources. However, at the time of these panic attacks I had an overwhelming feeling that I was somehow about to die. I find it hard to explain, but it was like a crushing feeling in my chest, I couldn’t breathe, the room was spinning and I had sense of needing to be curled up on the floor in a ball, begging that all of the symptoms would just go away. I knew I had to get things sorted, but I didn’t have the courage or the nerve to seek help, ‘why should they help me? There are plenty of ex-forces in a worse position than me’.
I’m currently due a tribunal against the MoD they have made the process as difficult as possible. Battling the MoD has been more daunting than any of the armed insurgents I’d been fighting in Afghanistan during past decade. When I first left the army, I studied a post-graduate diploma in multimedia journalism at News Associates and managed to pass and get through all my exams, with the amazing help and guidance of their tutors.
After graduating I quickly found a job at British Forces Broadcasting Service, joining an amazing team there who were very supportive, and was a brilliant place to work. However, the stress of the job, back pain, tinnitus, and dealing with transitioning from the forces and the daily 4 hours commuting took its toll and regrettably I eventually had to leave.
Until I found myself at the lowest of the low, I could never understand why a veteran could be driven to want to end their life. After going through what I have done during the past 5 years, I now know why some do.
I’m fortunate enough to have family members who have looked after me and a wonderful partner XXX, who has supported me at every turn. Without these people in my life, I would most definitely be in a very different set of circumstances. After encouragement from my partner XXX and a former BFBS colleague, I finally found the courage to get myself sorted, and for the past ten months the NHS and other charities have gotten me back on my feet.
They have helped me with receiving mental health support, fitted me with hearing aids to help with the tinnitus and I’m now in a much better place. The only thing I’m missing now is job and reason to get up each morning. I’m now settled into my new home with my partner XXX in Norfolk, I still can’t do the things physically that I used to, as I live with daily back pain that I try to manage with over the counter pain killers, but now I have an orthopaedic surgeon looking into the correct pain relief and potential surgery/treatment.
Due to my partner working full time earning 24k a year, the only help I can receive is job seekers allowance. I’ve been in work since the age of 14 – cash in hand, washing up at my local restaurant, then at the COOP, before joining the Army at the age of 15.9 months. Ideally, I’m looking for journalism work, but I’m happy to turn my hand to anything, right now. However, due to back pain, highly physical or hard manual labour is out of the question. I have applied for countless jobs, but not having any joy. I understand there are many people struggling to find work during these difficult times, due to Covid19.
I have recently had to drop RBL as my representation for the upcoming tribunal, due to the lack of real, independent support. Right from appointing them as my representation, it felt like they were trying to get me to quit proceeding to tribunal. With this new evidence from the recent MRI scan, I am hoping that I can receive proper support from Justice 4 Troops at tribunal.
My future goals are to help raise awareness in any way that I can, so that others do not have to endure what I, and many others have had to go through. Policy change, and an official organisation appointed to independently and vigorously support service members and their families is the only way to achieve this.
Current policies, current processes and some people deny the Senior Leaders holistic integrity - what is really going on in the 'PEOPLE' space? The IDA offers that.
Anyone who has a compelling counter as to why there is need for an IDA, we stand ready to think on it.....meanwhile....do pse take a moment and read this reality....an all too common one going on in YOUR Armed Forces. Like so many, they are silenced into submission - sometimes suicide. I left the British Army in 2018 after struggling with my mental health, a back injury that prevented me from promoting any further and suffering with tinnitus/hearing loss. After joining the British Army in 2004 I passed out into the Grenadier Guards and deployed on three operational tours to Afghanistan in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
It was during a battalion battle PT session in 2014 that I was injured, I fell and struck the ground after pulling a military vehicle using rope attached. Since the injury in 2014 military doctors would tell me, ‘you just need some rest, take these ibuprofens and you’ll be fine’. It was only after leaving the military and receiving a copy of all my medical documents held by the MoD, that I see that one Army doctor decided to write in my med records, ‘He’s just trying to get out of the upcoming overseas exercise’.
I had reached the rank of Lance Sergeant and due to promote to Sergeant, all my reports predicted I would make Warrant Officer. This injury prevented me from progressing, I tried to get through Senior Brecon with the injury, failing at the first hurdle (8-mile combat fitness test). I’d gone from a highly capable Lance Sergeant and performing top of my peer group, to not being able to pass the most basic army fitness test.
I knew something wasn’t right, but with this type of attitude to soldiers medical care and rehabilitation from the MO, it made me feel that I was somehow crazy and that the pain was all in my head. It wasn’t until this month that the true extend of what was wrong with my back was found out. I was sent for an MRI by my GP and the scan showed that I had two slipped disks and damaged vertebrae.
I’d served with the Grenadier Guards for 12yrs, then another 18 months as a JTAC full-time within the Royal Artillery, transferring to them in the hope that it would be less physically demanding and the hope that I could continue to serve. This didn’t work, my mental health and injury deteriorated even further.
Prior to sustaining these injuries, I was a very fit and abled soldier, managing to achieve a distinction at the IBS Brecon, I loved running and carried out daily fitness.
When I was forced to leave due to my injuries, I received no help during my transition, the MoD paid me approximately £3k for my back injury. I felt a deep betrayal, after I had shown nothing but complete loyalty since I’d joined at the age of 15.
Even whilst I was still serving and up until recently, I’d been suffering severe panic attacks and ending up in hospital or paramedics being called out to give me the all clear, this even happened on a family holiday last year. Every time this happened, and I’d be given a clean bill of health, it made me feel even worse, I thought I was ‘wasting resources. However, at the time of these panic attacks I had an overwhelming feeling that I was somehow about to die. I find it hard to explain, but it was like a crushing feeling in my chest, I couldn’t breathe, the room was spinning and I had sense of needing to be curled up on the floor in a ball, begging that all of the symptoms would just go away. I knew I had to get things sorted, but I didn’t have the courage or the nerve to seek help, ‘why should they help me? There are plenty of ex-forces in a worse position than me’.
I’m currently due a tribunal against the MoD they have made the process as difficult as possible. Battling the MoD has been more daunting than any of the armed insurgents I’d been fighting in Afghanistan during past decade. When I first left the army, I studied a post-graduate diploma in multimedia journalism at News Associates and managed to pass and get through all my exams, with the amazing help and guidance of their tutors.
After graduating I quickly found a job at British Forces Broadcasting Service, joining an amazing team there who were very supportive, and was a brilliant place to work. However, the stress of the job, back pain, tinnitus, and dealing with transitioning from the forces and the daily 4 hours commuting took its toll and regrettably I eventually had to leave.
Until I found myself at the lowest of the low, I could never understand why a veteran could be driven to want to end their life. After going through what I have done during the past 5 years, I now know why some do.
I’m fortunate enough to have family members who have looked after me and a wonderful partner XXX, who has supported me at every turn. Without these people in my life, I would most definitely be in a very different set of circumstances. After encouragement from my partner XXX and a former BFBS colleague, I finally found the courage to get myself sorted, and for the past ten months the NHS and other charities have gotten me back on my feet.
They have helped me with receiving mental health support, fitted me with hearing aids to help with the tinnitus and I’m now in a much better place. The only thing I’m missing now is job and reason to get up each morning. I’m now settled into my new home with my partner XXX in Norfolk, I still can’t do the things physically that I used to, as I live with daily back pain that I try to manage with over the counter pain killers, but now I have an orthopaedic surgeon looking into the correct pain relief and potential surgery/treatment.
Due to my partner working full time earning 24k a year, the only help I can receive is job seekers allowance. I’ve been in work since the age of 14 – cash in hand, washing up at my local restaurant, then at the COOP, before joining the Army at the age of 15.9 months. Ideally, I’m looking for journalism work, but I’m happy to turn my hand to anything, right now. However, due to back pain, highly physical or hard manual labour is out of the question. I have applied for countless jobs, but not having any joy. I understand there are many people struggling to find work during these difficult times, due to Covid19.
I have recently had to drop RBL as my representation for the upcoming tribunal, due to the lack of real, independent support. Right from appointing them as my representation, it felt like they were trying to get me to quit proceeding to tribunal. With this new evidence from the recent MRI scan, I am hoping that I can receive proper support from Justice 4 Troops at tribunal.
My future goals are to help raise awareness in any way that I can, so that others do not have to endure what I, and many others have had to go through. Policy change, and an official organisation appointed to independently and vigorously support service members and their families is the only way to achieve this.
There is a fine line between independent representation to support individuals when faced with an organised organisation that attempts to subvert 'natural justice' and independent representation to support individuals who do not agree with the way that they have been treated. Who decides who to support?
Not unconnected is the quite justified hesitation about creating any 'independent' representative body for the armed forces that could be subverted by any political factions.
I find it incredibly sad that such 'closed ranks' attitude and behaviour that you highlight still exists.
Good luck. I hope that you can engender an ethos where you will not be required.
Not unconnected is the quite justified hesitation about creating any 'independent' representative body for the armed forces that could be subverted by any political factions.
I find it incredibly sad that such 'closed ranks' attitude and behaviour that you highlight still exists.
Good luck. I hope that you can engender an ethos where you will not be required.
"the intent must be to give an impression of power and/or official backing"
That's my beef - the whole tone s that this is Official - whereas it clearly is not
Self -appointed and clearly designed to mislead
Its nearly as good as some other "front" groups I've seen on the other side
That's my beef - the whole tone s that this is Official - whereas it clearly is not
Self -appointed and clearly designed to mislead
Its nearly as good as some other "front" groups I've seen on the other side
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Part of why this issue is so important if Defence wishes to be relevant....which I offer you here....
1 - When a CO...an allegation of rape perpetrated by a RAF Instructor on a 13 yr old girl when on summer camp on my base was reported to me. My Chain of Command (22Gp) directed me to not entertain the allegation nor initiate investigation (22Gp owned the Air Cadet organisation). The rationale of the CoC being that such an allegation would in itself adversely impact on the anniversary of the Cadet organisation which was imminent. There was then no military investigation despite the military having lead jurisdiction. Not content with this, I went to the civil police, there was an investigation, there was a due process and there was a conviction - the RAF Instructor went to prison.
2 - When a CO, I also received a Service Complaint from a female officer made against me - she had every right and reason to complain! I then became 'RESPONDENT' to the 'COMPLAINANT'. What astonished me was the Lines to Take presented to me by HQ Air which was an implicit and explicit intent to defeat the Complaint, at all costs, and deny her access to justice. Moreover, I was told that this 'handy tactic to keep in the back pocket' had been used, and is still used, and is successfully used to defeat any Complaint. I objected, strongly....and that led to the point that we are at today, supported of course by ACM WIgston who rightly is trying to shake this all out
Why does it matter? Because Defence is a values-based organisation and today those values, that you all hold dear, are clearly under great pressure due operational and fiscal challenge - suggest listen to The Reith Lectures today to understand why?
I am now aware of thousands of women, and men, who once served well, have since been truly ruined by the organisation they held in high regard. That in our book, true to those values you hold dear, is not acceptable if Defence wishes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Debate....!
We are really interested in any counter view as to why those in uniform should not enjoy independent representation, as the Civil Servant does, and look forward to receiving a convincing view.......
1 - When a CO...an allegation of rape perpetrated by a RAF Instructor on a 13 yr old girl when on summer camp on my base was reported to me. My Chain of Command (22Gp) directed me to not entertain the allegation nor initiate investigation (22Gp owned the Air Cadet organisation). The rationale of the CoC being that such an allegation would in itself adversely impact on the anniversary of the Cadet organisation which was imminent. There was then no military investigation despite the military having lead jurisdiction. Not content with this, I went to the civil police, there was an investigation, there was a due process and there was a conviction - the RAF Instructor went to prison.
2 - When a CO, I also received a Service Complaint from a female officer made against me - she had every right and reason to complain! I then became 'RESPONDENT' to the 'COMPLAINANT'. What astonished me was the Lines to Take presented to me by HQ Air which was an implicit and explicit intent to defeat the Complaint, at all costs, and deny her access to justice. Moreover, I was told that this 'handy tactic to keep in the back pocket' had been used, and is still used, and is successfully used to defeat any Complaint. I objected, strongly....and that led to the point that we are at today, supported of course by ACM WIgston who rightly is trying to shake this all out
Why does it matter? Because Defence is a values-based organisation and today those values, that you all hold dear, are clearly under great pressure due operational and fiscal challenge - suggest listen to The Reith Lectures today to understand why?
I am now aware of thousands of women, and men, who once served well, have since been truly ruined by the organisation they held in high regard. That in our book, true to those values you hold dear, is not acceptable if Defence wishes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Debate....!
We are really interested in any counter view as to why those in uniform should not enjoy independent representation, as the Civil Servant does, and look forward to receiving a convincing view.......
This is why these initiatives lose credibility as a lot of the time they 'find' evidence... that isn't.
Much like the 'racist' police shootings in the USA... despite no evidence proving racism other than a white cop shot a black man.
I am 100% behind women being given equal rights and treated fairly, this extends to everyone belonging to whatever demographic. But we seem to be falling over ourselves to burn the organisation to the ground by 'finding' faults that may not exist.
A case in point, I was given a formal warning (eventually removed) for being homophobic because I said "I dont care what group people belong to, just be a good person, work hard and treat everyone how you would like to be treated."
This was in reference to the flying of the rainbow flag at RAF stations a few yrs back.
The only thing that saved me was that I had been a gay ally for 6 months when at Air as part of the LGBT forum. I argued that I could be bisexual and was being discriminated against by the system because it was assumed I was straight, as I was married.
An absolute waste of time, effort and resources and the defining act that made sure I will be leaving at my pension point on PVR. I would have had an extra 8 yrs to serve beyond that.
The system is broken... I am not sure more committees will make things better overall.
Last edited by heights good; 3rd Dec 2020 at 05:03.
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This example, and the JTAC role will not be lost on our aviation community.....is an example of thousands that have come to J4T on a scale hitherto never seen before. The IDA was set up to convert that knowledge into meaningful, transformative change.
Current policies, current processes and some people deny the Senior Leaders holistic integrity - what is really going on in the 'PEOPLE' space? The IDA offers that.
Anyone who has a compelling counter as to why there is need for an IDA, we stand ready to think on it.....meanwhile....do pse take a moment and read this reality....an all too common one going on in YOUR Armed Forces. Like so many, they are silenced into submission - sometimes suicide. I left the British Army in 2018 after struggling with my mental health, a back injury that prevented me from promoting any further and suffering with tinnitus/hearing loss. After joining the British Army in 2004 I passed out into the Grenadier Guards and deployed on three operational tours to Afghanistan in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
It was during a battalion battle PT session in 2014 that I was injured, I fell and struck the ground after pulling a military vehicle using rope attached. Since the injury in 2014 military doctors would tell me, ‘you just need some rest, take these ibuprofens and you’ll be fine’. It was only after leaving the military and receiving a copy of all my medical documents held by the MoD, that I see that one Army doctor decided to write in my med records, ‘He’s just trying to get out of the upcoming overseas exercise’.
I had reached the rank of Lance Sergeant and due to promote to Sergeant, all my reports predicted I would make Warrant Officer. This injury prevented me from progressing, I tried to get through Senior Brecon with the injury, failing at the first hurdle (8-mile combat fitness test). I’d gone from a highly capable Lance Sergeant and performing top of my peer group, to not being able to pass the most basic army fitness test.
I knew something wasn’t right, but with this type of attitude to soldiers medical care and rehabilitation from the MO, it made me feel that I was somehow crazy and that the pain was all in my head. It wasn’t until this month that the true extend of what was wrong with my back was found out. I was sent for an MRI by my GP and the scan showed that I had two slipped disks and damaged vertebrae.
I’d served with the Grenadier Guards for 12yrs, then another 18 months as a JTAC full-time within the Royal Artillery, transferring to them in the hope that it would be less physically demanding and the hope that I could continue to serve. This didn’t work, my mental health and injury deteriorated even further.
Prior to sustaining these injuries, I was a very fit and abled soldier, managing to achieve a distinction at the IBS Brecon, I loved running and carried out daily fitness.
When I was forced to leave due to my injuries, I received no help during my transition, the MoD paid me approximately £3k for my back injury. I felt a deep betrayal, after I had shown nothing but complete loyalty since I’d joined at the age of 15.
Even whilst I was still serving and up until recently, I’d been suffering severe panic attacks and ending up in hospital or paramedics being called out to give me the all clear, this even happened on a family holiday last year. Every time this happened, and I’d be given a clean bill of health, it made me feel even worse, I thought I was ‘wasting resources. However, at the time of these panic attacks I had an overwhelming feeling that I was somehow about to die. I find it hard to explain, but it was like a crushing feeling in my chest, I couldn’t breathe, the room was spinning and I had sense of needing to be curled up on the floor in a ball, begging that all of the symptoms would just go away. I knew I had to get things sorted, but I didn’t have the courage or the nerve to seek help, ‘why should they help me? There are plenty of ex-forces in a worse position than me’.
I’m currently due a tribunal against the MoD they have made the process as difficult as possible. Battling the MoD has been more daunting than any of the armed insurgents I’d been fighting in Afghanistan during past decade. When I first left the army, I studied a post-graduate diploma in multimedia journalism at News Associates and managed to pass and get through all my exams, with the amazing help and guidance of their tutors.
After graduating I quickly found a job at British Forces Broadcasting Service, joining an amazing team there who were very supportive, and was a brilliant place to work. However, the stress of the job, back pain, tinnitus, and dealing with transitioning from the forces and the daily 4 hours commuting took its toll and regrettably I eventually had to leave.
Until I found myself at the lowest of the low, I could never understand why a veteran could be driven to want to end their life. After going through what I have done during the past 5 years, I now know why some do.
I’m fortunate enough to have family members who have looked after me and a wonderful partner XXX, who has supported me at every turn. Without these people in my life, I would most definitely be in a very different set of circumstances. After encouragement from my partner XXX and a former BFBS colleague, I finally found the courage to get myself sorted, and for the past ten months the NHS and other charities have gotten me back on my feet.
They have helped me with receiving mental health support, fitted me with hearing aids to help with the tinnitus and I’m now in a much better place. The only thing I’m missing now is job and reason to get up each morning. I’m now settled into my new home with my partner XXX in Norfolk, I still can’t do the things physically that I used to, as I live with daily back pain that I try to manage with over the counter pain killers, but now I have an orthopaedic surgeon looking into the correct pain relief and potential surgery/treatment.
Due to my partner working full time earning 24k a year, the only help I can receive is job seekers allowance. I’ve been in work since the age of 14 – cash in hand, washing up at my local restaurant, then at the COOP, before joining the Army at the age of 15.9 months. Ideally, I’m looking for journalism work, but I’m happy to turn my hand to anything, right now. However, due to back pain, highly physical or hard manual labour is out of the question. I have applied for countless jobs, but not having any joy. I understand there are many people struggling to find work during these difficult times, due to Covid19.
I have recently had to drop RBL as my representation for the upcoming tribunal, due to the lack of real, independent support. Right from appointing them as my representation, it felt like they were trying to get me to quit proceeding to tribunal. With this new evidence from the recent MRI scan, I am hoping that I can receive proper support from Justice 4 Troops at tribunal.
My future goals are to help raise awareness in any way that I can, so that others do not have to endure what I, and many others have had to go through. Policy change, and an official organisation appointed to independently and vigorously support service members and their families is the only way to achieve this.
Current policies, current processes and some people deny the Senior Leaders holistic integrity - what is really going on in the 'PEOPLE' space? The IDA offers that.
Anyone who has a compelling counter as to why there is need for an IDA, we stand ready to think on it.....meanwhile....do pse take a moment and read this reality....an all too common one going on in YOUR Armed Forces. Like so many, they are silenced into submission - sometimes suicide. I left the British Army in 2018 after struggling with my mental health, a back injury that prevented me from promoting any further and suffering with tinnitus/hearing loss. After joining the British Army in 2004 I passed out into the Grenadier Guards and deployed on three operational tours to Afghanistan in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
It was during a battalion battle PT session in 2014 that I was injured, I fell and struck the ground after pulling a military vehicle using rope attached. Since the injury in 2014 military doctors would tell me, ‘you just need some rest, take these ibuprofens and you’ll be fine’. It was only after leaving the military and receiving a copy of all my medical documents held by the MoD, that I see that one Army doctor decided to write in my med records, ‘He’s just trying to get out of the upcoming overseas exercise’.
I had reached the rank of Lance Sergeant and due to promote to Sergeant, all my reports predicted I would make Warrant Officer. This injury prevented me from progressing, I tried to get through Senior Brecon with the injury, failing at the first hurdle (8-mile combat fitness test). I’d gone from a highly capable Lance Sergeant and performing top of my peer group, to not being able to pass the most basic army fitness test.
I knew something wasn’t right, but with this type of attitude to soldiers medical care and rehabilitation from the MO, it made me feel that I was somehow crazy and that the pain was all in my head. It wasn’t until this month that the true extend of what was wrong with my back was found out. I was sent for an MRI by my GP and the scan showed that I had two slipped disks and damaged vertebrae.
I’d served with the Grenadier Guards for 12yrs, then another 18 months as a JTAC full-time within the Royal Artillery, transferring to them in the hope that it would be less physically demanding and the hope that I could continue to serve. This didn’t work, my mental health and injury deteriorated even further.
Prior to sustaining these injuries, I was a very fit and abled soldier, managing to achieve a distinction at the IBS Brecon, I loved running and carried out daily fitness.
When I was forced to leave due to my injuries, I received no help during my transition, the MoD paid me approximately £3k for my back injury. I felt a deep betrayal, after I had shown nothing but complete loyalty since I’d joined at the age of 15.
Even whilst I was still serving and up until recently, I’d been suffering severe panic attacks and ending up in hospital or paramedics being called out to give me the all clear, this even happened on a family holiday last year. Every time this happened, and I’d be given a clean bill of health, it made me feel even worse, I thought I was ‘wasting resources. However, at the time of these panic attacks I had an overwhelming feeling that I was somehow about to die. I find it hard to explain, but it was like a crushing feeling in my chest, I couldn’t breathe, the room was spinning and I had sense of needing to be curled up on the floor in a ball, begging that all of the symptoms would just go away. I knew I had to get things sorted, but I didn’t have the courage or the nerve to seek help, ‘why should they help me? There are plenty of ex-forces in a worse position than me’.
I’m currently due a tribunal against the MoD they have made the process as difficult as possible. Battling the MoD has been more daunting than any of the armed insurgents I’d been fighting in Afghanistan during past decade. When I first left the army, I studied a post-graduate diploma in multimedia journalism at News Associates and managed to pass and get through all my exams, with the amazing help and guidance of their tutors.
After graduating I quickly found a job at British Forces Broadcasting Service, joining an amazing team there who were very supportive, and was a brilliant place to work. However, the stress of the job, back pain, tinnitus, and dealing with transitioning from the forces and the daily 4 hours commuting took its toll and regrettably I eventually had to leave.
Until I found myself at the lowest of the low, I could never understand why a veteran could be driven to want to end their life. After going through what I have done during the past 5 years, I now know why some do.
I’m fortunate enough to have family members who have looked after me and a wonderful partner XXX, who has supported me at every turn. Without these people in my life, I would most definitely be in a very different set of circumstances. After encouragement from my partner XXX and a former BFBS colleague, I finally found the courage to get myself sorted, and for the past ten months the NHS and other charities have gotten me back on my feet.
They have helped me with receiving mental health support, fitted me with hearing aids to help with the tinnitus and I’m now in a much better place. The only thing I’m missing now is job and reason to get up each morning. I’m now settled into my new home with my partner XXX in Norfolk, I still can’t do the things physically that I used to, as I live with daily back pain that I try to manage with over the counter pain killers, but now I have an orthopaedic surgeon looking into the correct pain relief and potential surgery/treatment.
Due to my partner working full time earning 24k a year, the only help I can receive is job seekers allowance. I’ve been in work since the age of 14 – cash in hand, washing up at my local restaurant, then at the COOP, before joining the Army at the age of 15.9 months. Ideally, I’m looking for journalism work, but I’m happy to turn my hand to anything, right now. However, due to back pain, highly physical or hard manual labour is out of the question. I have applied for countless jobs, but not having any joy. I understand there are many people struggling to find work during these difficult times, due to Covid19.
I have recently had to drop RBL as my representation for the upcoming tribunal, due to the lack of real, independent support. Right from appointing them as my representation, it felt like they were trying to get me to quit proceeding to tribunal. With this new evidence from the recent MRI scan, I am hoping that I can receive proper support from Justice 4 Troops at tribunal.
My future goals are to help raise awareness in any way that I can, so that others do not have to endure what I, and many others have had to go through. Policy change, and an official organisation appointed to independently and vigorously support service members and their families is the only way to achieve this.
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Claim?
To correct the narrative if we may? This is not 'my' claim at all - this is the experience of a 32 yr soldier who sent this over to the IDA today - I understand his experience will be in the sunday papers....
What we ought not to do is immediately jump in and suggest 'claim' when it is clearly 'evidence'...evidence that 'the system' denied to 'test'.
We respectfully refer you to the good Air Chief Marshal Wigston.....
What we ought not to do is immediately jump in and suggest 'claim' when it is clearly 'evidence'...evidence that 'the system' denied to 'test'.
We respectfully refer you to the good Air Chief Marshal Wigston.....
Join Date: Dec 2004
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To correct the narrative if we may? This is not 'my' claim at all - this is the experience of a 32 yr soldier who sent this over to the IDA today - I understand his experience will be in the sunday papers....
What we ought not to do is immediately jump in and suggest 'claim' when it is clearly 'evidence'...evidence that 'the system' denied to 'test'.
We respectfully refer you to the good Air Chief Marshal Wigston.....
What we ought not to do is immediately jump in and suggest 'claim' when it is clearly 'evidence'...evidence that 'the system' denied to 'test'.
We respectfully refer you to the good Air Chief Marshal Wigston.....
There is a fine line between independent representation to support individuals when faced with an organised organisation that attempts to subvert 'natural justice' and independent representation to support individuals who do not agree with the way that they have been treated. Who decides who to support?
Not unconnected is the quite justified hesitation about creating any 'independent' representative body for the armed forces that could be subverted by any political factions.
I find it incredibly sad that such 'closed ranks' attitude and behaviour that you highlight still exists.
Good luck. I hope that you can engender an ethos where you will not be required.
Not unconnected is the quite justified hesitation about creating any 'independent' representative body for the armed forces that could be subverted by any political factions.
I find it incredibly sad that such 'closed ranks' attitude and behaviour that you highlight still exists.
Good luck. I hope that you can engender an ethos where you will not be required.
grahamhouse - Sheds, in reference to this:
The civil police should have been your first point of call. This is a criminal matter regardless of whether it happened on your Stn or not. It also sounds like justice was served out too. But please can you stop your team from the incessant trolling on Twitter. It does your cause no good and everyone deserves a fair hearing in Court rather than a baying social media mob!
Not content with this, I went to the civil police, there was an investigation, there was a due process and there was a conviction - the RAF Instructor went to prison.