Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
9 February 2011
23:0392116#1
Did any of you watch this programme tonight.
If so I would like to hear your views.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
10 February 2011
08:1892140#2
Sadly I didn't Ian, I was at a meeting.
I'm sure it must have been an emotional experience for lots of people; made many cry I'm sure.
Roger
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
11 February 2011
01:3892243#3
Just watched it on the i player very thought provoking indeed, Rudyard Kipling's poem Tommy Atkins springs to mind. I know someone who is involved in this kind of work up north they get no funding at all but ex-prisoners are the highest funded group of homeless of all the groups. Why haven't we got men of col Tim Collins stature in parliament. A simple example of the peoples priority is shown in the lack of replies to this thread.
beer the food of the gods
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
11 February 2011
08:2692255#4
They certainly have their priorities arse-about-face Guzzler.
I don't know if it does come into the equation Guz, but whether people agree with the war we're fighting, our soldiers deserve so much more support.
I know there are organisations like Help for Heroes and a damn good job there is too, but more (Government) money should be put into supporting them after they're wounded and equipping them in the field.
Roger
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
11 February 2011
10:2892269#5
I saw the programme that was about the soldiers who had left the army, if this is the one that the OP refers to. Prior to #3 I had no idea what the programme was so could not make a comment.
Leaving the army has always been a problem for some as they just cannot cope with life in civy street. I felt really sorry for the ex-soldier who could not cope with sudden loud noises it must be hell for him and his family but he seems to be improving. Sad he did not get help earlier but did he or the family seek any, I might have missed the answer to that bit.
Help for Heroes is a brilliant charity, they do a wonderful job.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
11 February 2011
10:2892270#6
the reason that many people have not replied is that nobody has said what the subject matter was.
i haven't a clue, i never saw it.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
11 February 2011
10:3892273#7
I missed it too and did not know what it was about.
Must see if I can catch up on it and watch it soon.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
11 February 2011
10:4792275#8
It was mainly about PTSD.........Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In short.
One day you are a civvie and the next you are in the forces, over time you learn how to become a highly trained and highly motivated individual and team player. you learn how to defend yourself and your comrades even if you have to kill to do so.
this may never happen or if your unlucky it could happen alot. ( One example is an army sniper with nearly 100 kills to his name )
When the time comes your in the forces one day and a civvie the next. No one de trains you, your left to get on with it.
Lots of people are fine with it, you find your own way.
If your unlucky and have PTSD, no one wants to know you, you can't get work, you don't fit in.
No one has told you how to contact the people you need to. life goes down hill.
In short that is what the prog was about.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
11 February 2011
10:5492276#9
sadly that has always been the case, after the falklands war many service personnel got their marching orders(no pun intended), thrown onto the dole with no pyschological back up.
the americans after returning from vietnam suffered badly from lack of support, many took to living rough in remote areas.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
11 February 2011
11:1792282#10
Defence spending increased for several years after the Falklands, it was only reduced after 1990 as a result of the end of the Cold War in Options for Change. So to describe 'service personnel getting their marching orders' Howard, gives the wrong impression. Many did leave after that war as part of a natural turnover of personnel and no doubt some decided to get out as a result of their experiences and yes, many did need help in adjusting back to civvy life that was often not forthcoming.
More help must be made available to them. It is a serious problem that must get the attention it deserves.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
11 February 2011
11:5192288#11
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder must be like a Living Death, which won't go away; and there is always so much after war and conflict especially.
I guess people suffering it need a lot of help and support for a long time.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
11 February 2011
13:2692299#12
People who have been wounded in war and have lost one or more limbs, or who suffer phsychological trauma after a war, or both, can be helped, but, in particular those who have been seriously wounded, will not get their lost part of the body back.
And the fallen will be mourned.
I would go immediately to defend our Shores from an invasion without second thought, but I do not agree that our soldiers should be sacrificed in Afghanistan. If the war in Afghanistan could be justified, than British soldiers could be sent as a policy to any country to be sacrificed.
I signed a BNP petition to get our soldiers out of Afghanistan immediately!
Soldiers obey orders, but when they are sent to somebody elses war to be shot at and blown up, and fed with propaganda as to why they should be there, they are victims of other peoples decisions firstly. Then comes the ordeal of figthting another peoples war.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
11 February 2011
13:4692304#13
This thread, Alexander, is nothing to do with whether our troops should or should not be in Afghanistan, it is about them as people and what they suffer after any conflict.
We can argue your rather simplistic view of Afghanistan on another thread, this is not the place.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
11 February 2011
14:1492311#14
If I remember correctly the soldiers involved had not been in Afghanistan, as Barry says that area of the world and it's problems have nothing to do with this thread.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
11 February 2011
14:5492315#15
PTSD can appear in many shapes or form and can actualy takes years in some cases before it rears its ugly head. Just the fact of leaving your comrades ( family ) behind is the start of it.
On leaving the forces all you usualy get is a quick basic medical, no information or who to contact should you need help.
If I'm wrong then I'm sorry but if this is still fact then I think it should be looked into.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
11 February 2011
21:0692347#16
There are too many ex-army guys in the criminal justice system who should not be there. I didn't see the programme but have been around long enough to know the high levels of ex-army on the streets, in the prisons and in the secure units. It is outrageous.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
11 February 2011
23:2692356#17
Thank you Bern, serious debate now.
I've never met you but I think I know what you do for a living.
We cannot let ex forces to be tossed aside and left on the scrap heap, they deserve much much more.
I know not where to go from here but would whole heartedly give my support in any way I could, even as a volunteer.
I have looked at various web sites but cannot find anything for this area.
No doubt someone will enlighten me????
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.