(British) War heroes 'to be forced out of armed forces'

[unhappycamper]

War heroes 'to be forced out of armed forces'
By Stephen Adams
Published: 6:30AM BST 06 Sep 2010

The Ministry of Defence is planning on getting rid of 5,000 soldiers who are medically unfit for active duty, including some of the most seriously injured in the two campaigns.

They will be pushed out to make way for new recruits who are fit to serve, and cared for with a combination of Ministry of Defence support and charitable aid from the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.

The decision is at odds with a promise made by General Sir Richard Dannatt, who when head of the army said those disabled on operations could remain in the forces.

A leaked internal briefing paper, titled Management of Army Personnel who are Medically Unfit for Service, admitted that the decision would be seen as the "MoD discarding those who have sacrificed much on our behalf".

Injured soldiers who had a "significant media profile" would "require careful handling", warned the paper, written by a senior civil servant at UK Land Forces.



unhappycamper comment: This reminds me of all the 'pre-existing condition' discharges given by Uncle Sam. PTSD? 'pre-existing condition' TBI? 'pre-existing condition'

[hobbit709]

1. Nothing changes

TOMMY

by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

[era veteran]

2. Same here

The Army uses you and throws you away. "Injured soldiers who had a "significant media profile" would "require careful handling".............. I bet they will.