risks
Confessions of a Drone Warrior
30/10/2013GQ Magazine
GQ Magazine
Killing with drones and PTSD
PTSD ‘most common in young soldiers’ says new report
28/10/2013BBC Newsbeat article and video
BBC Newsbeat article and video
Young British army recruits at higher risk of PTSD and suicide, says report
28/10/2013The Guardian
The Guardian
Former soldiers criticise MoD recruitment practices, with Britain one of only 19 countries to allow 16-year-olds to join up
British army: one young recruit’s story
28/10/2013The Guardian
The Guardian
Britain is one of just 19 countries that still recruit 16-year-olds to the armed forces. A new report from ForcesWatch claims that younger recruits are more likely to suffer from PTSD, alcohol problems and suicide than those who join as adults. This video tells the story of David Buck who joined the army at 17 but now feels he was conned by misleading recruitment marketing.
The Last Ambush? Aspects of mental health in the British armed forces
October 2013
This report from ForcesWatch, shows that young soldiers recruited from disadvantaged backgrounds are substantially more likely than other troops to return from war experiencing problems with their mental health. It calls for the policy of recruiting from age 16 to be reviewed so that the greatest burden of risk is not left to the youngest, most vulnerable recruits to shoulder.
War trauma hits young soldiers hardest: new report
27/10/2013ForcesWatch press release
ForcesWatch press release
Young soldiers recruited from disadvantaged backgrounds are substantially more likely than other troops to return from war experiencing problems with their mental health, says a wide-ranging report published today by human rights group ForcesWatch.
ForcesWatch response to the Ministry of Defence’s statement about The Last Ambush, 28 October 2013
27/10/2013ForcesWatch
ForcesWatch
In response to The Last Ambush report, the Ministry of Defence has issued a statement containing some claims that are either inaccurate or not relevant to the report’s findings. Here we respond to each claim in turn.
Tortured: Young Army recruit tells how he went AWOL after becoming a victim of brutal bullying
03/10/2013The Mirror
The Mirror
“It all lasted about 10 minutes. If it was to happen in civvy street, all those lads in that picture would be arrested. But it’s a normal day in the Army.”
Young soldiers ‘more likely to die’
22/08/2013Evening Standard
Evening Standard
ForcesWatch response to the Ministry of Defence’s statement, 22 August 2013
22/08/2013ForcesWatch
ForcesWatch
In response to the paper, ‘Young age at Army enlistment is associated with greater war zone risks’, published by ForcesWatch and Child Soldiers International (August 2013), the Ministry of Defence have issued a statement. Here we respond to their points.