Ex-Forces

Mtemprell said:
I think the main issue is alot of the roads for help are not well advertised to you when you are leaving. I've found the British legion is often an underlooked source of help, it's amazing what they can do for people leaving or veterans. Just not well advertised to people what they are collecting for during the poppy appeal and what that actually funds.
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RBLI helped me when I suffered a serious accident & subsequent mental health crisis when my life was turned upside down, its surprising what help they have access to, opposed to your GP & ridiculous NHS wait times.
BUT
I find it ridiculous that service personnel who are forced out by serious on the job injuries are reliant on charities such as H4H to get the physical support & longer term rehabilitation that's often needed.
& don't get me started on the fact that those that died in the sandpit & were brought home to massive pomp & ceremony, only for their families to have to pay for the funerals 🤬.
 
ButcherBill said:
I honestly don't think my 4 years in the TA count but Maybe I should lose a little weight in case someone needs a hot breakfast at the range.

www.forcesnews.com

Strategic Reserve age limit rising to 65 so more can be recalled should war loom

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns explains a number of changes are being made to bolster the UK's reserves and simplify the recall process
www.forcesnews.com www.forcesnews.com
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i done 14 years in the ta then reserves renamed this is only for the regular reserves
 
Tackle said:
RBLI helped me when I suffered a serious accident & subsequent mental health crisis when my life was turned upside down, its surprising what help they have access to, opposed to your GP & ridiculous NHS wait times.
BUT
I find it ridiculous that service personnel who are forced out by serious on the job injuries are reliant on charities such as H4H to get the physical support & longer term rehabilitation that's often needed.
& don't get me started on the fact that those that died in the sandpit & were brought home to massive pomp & ceremony, only for their families to have to pay for the funerals 🤬.
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They definitely have a lot of access to stuff. When I was leaving the RAF I was in a weird mind set and in a way felt ashamed I was leaving early and for 10 or so years distanced my self from it. I always attended the local parade on remembrance Sunday but last 3 years I've realised I shouldn't be ashamed of leaving early and embraced and worn suit and beret with pride. Then last year talking to the legion guys I pulled my finger out and joined them for a drink and signed up as a member of the legion.

I was so eye opened to what they offer and proud I did it. The guys are so welcoming and supportive and don't care if you only served 2 minutes. It was never explained to me what they can offer and never understood fully what they where about. But now I know I like to help spread the word and support their cause.
 
Tackle said:
RBLI helped me when I suffered a serious accident & subsequent mental health crisis when my life was turned upside down, its surprising what help they have access to, opposed to your GP & ridiculous NHS wait times.
BUT
I find it ridiculous that service personnel who are forced out by serious on the job injuries are reliant on charities such as H4H to get the physical support & longer term rehabilitation that's often needed.
& don't get me started on the fact that those that died in the sandpit & were brought home to massive pomp & ceremony, only for their families to have to pay for the funerals 🤬.
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They had to pay for the funerals, I didn’t know that, absolutely disgusting.
 
@Tackle @novioman
It continues a tangent but I must comment on funeral payments

I used to manage the staff who paid the bills

For any death in service there is the Joint casually centre, and my colleagues wife is in the Army’s office, and has the MBE for her work there.
Plus there is the unit welfare / families office

If a family is paying the bill then there has been a total failure throughout the units whole chain of command

Funeral arrangements would be in line with the families wishes, parts of the invoice probably fell outside of public funding so we would get our copy to pay with some lines crossed out and the families officer would sort the balance either from unit welfare, regimental association charity fund etc
 
Always had a softspot for the harrier as a youngster.

p.s. WHAT THE HELL HAVE I STARTED???
 
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Tommikka said:
@Tackle @novioman
It continues a tangent but I must comment on funeral payments

I used to manage the staff who paid the bills

For any death in service there is the Joint casually centre, and my colleagues wife is in the Army’s office, and has the MBE for her work there.
Plus there is the unit welfare / families office

If a family is paying the bill then there has been a total failure throughout the units whole chain of command

Funeral arrangements would be in line with the families wishes, parts of the invoice probably fell outside of public funding so we would get our copy to pay with some lines crossed out and the families officer would sort the balance either from unit welfare, regimental association charity fund etc
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I appreciate your info, I just remember that back in the days of the Wooton Bassett parades, which were obviously a much needed & fitting tribute to personnel that were being brought home, there then came a public outcry regarding families taking on the cost once the parade had finished.
I was shocked too, its literally mind-boggling, but thinking back to my time (mid eighties), i didnt remember anything being discussed about what happens in the unfortunate event of someone's demise on the job, whether that was intentional by the mod etc, i don't know ?, & i was lucky enough not to have lost any mates, so never had to hear of such issues.
As you say, maybe some fell through "gaps" so to speak, & those were the ones that the media etc were vocal about.

Another very moody situation that some personnel faced was peacekeeping versus combat situations, if you lost limbs in Iraq or Afghanistan, you could claim for compensation, but if you were on UN or peacekeeping duties, the Balkans were a good example, & came a cropper due to mines etc, you weren't entitled to feck all.
I'll readily admit that I harassed the shit out of my parents to let me sign at 16, but when my son hit his teens, id already decided there was no way id support him going in, which I still believe was the right thing, his best mate at school went PWRR, & had a shit time for so many reasons.
 
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