Danger man Trump strikes again

Chewbacca that is how I feel.

It’s not always easy being part of an army family but my pride and support of our armed forces will never waiver.

Genuine question here for those who have stated that there is help available for former service personnel, but thy don't choose to take it. Why do you think that they refuse it?

growstuff do not use “buzzwords* just describe things as I see them.

Yes, Trisher I think we are all aware of our ex-servicemen on the streets and are unhappy about the lack of care they receive when discharged. It is something that needs addressing urgently.

I didn't mention it in my previous post because that is a quite different issue to the one that is being discussed.

growstuff that is what the forces welfare outreach teams are trying to ascertain.

And in no way does it alter the fact that our servicemen do a wonderful job and should be respected for that.

The tearing of the Nuclear Agreement with Iran and the intermediate Range Nuclear forces Treaty with Russia, have undermined peace and escalating a new nuclear arms race.

Russia has recently announced that is has developped hypersonic nuclear devices which can evade US missile defences, while the US is pushing ahead with new technology in smaller 'useable' nuclear weapons.

We are in a situation where all these developments could easily 'collide'. In this context, the assassination of Soleimani is pouring yet more fuel on the multiple and already very dangerous fires in the Middle East, with massive implication.

We currently have a environmental planetary crisis where a climate emergency is combined with a new Nuclear arms race.

Our Government should act by example by supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, rather than continuing to develop a new arsenal of our own, and blindly following Trump- because our huge need for a Trade Deal makes us vassals. So much for 'taking back control'.

I had a conversation with a welfare officer last year and the opinion was that some people regardless of if they are ex-services or not get into a downward spiral and refuse any help on offer.

As I said, the reasons are complex growstuff

Not all refuse help but some do, if we knew the answer to those we could help more.

Where was that information sourced from jura?

Thanks for the response Callistemon. I don't know the reason either and I was wondering if anybody had any insight. It is a fact that former service personnel are over-represented on the streets and in prisons. I don't for one minute think it's because they are somehow "bad" people, so I had assumed it's because there isn't adequate support to help them adjust to life outside the forces, so I'm curious about the claim that there is support, but it's not taken up.

It's certainly true that people get into a downward spiral and it becomes increasingly difficult to get out of it, but why are service personnel more affected, if there is help available?

What kind of help is it?

growstuff I can only repeat what I have learned from Army Welfare Officer’s and officially recognised forces charities.

There are some who fall through the safety net but that happens in all walks and of life.

I am sure that I have read that some ex-service personnel miss the bonds of forces community and find similar bonds on the streets,

Chewbacca, adapted from an article by Scottish CND.

Thanks for the reply GrannyGravy. Yes, it does happen in all walks of life, but I've worked with homeless charities and former service personnel are over-represented. They're overrepresented in prisons too. I was seriously wondering what further support they need because it does seem obvious that it's not working in some cases.

growstuff when service personnel are getting towards the end of their “time” they have the opportunity to go on courses to adapt their skill sets to civilian life, they have help to find accommodation if needed, they have access to job opportunities etc.

That is unless they are dishonourable discharged and in these circumstances I am unsure to what is available.

Forces in Mind Trust funded research, conducted by York University, found that of participating veterans, many experienced inconsistent quality of advice on transitioning from Service and inadequate support from Local Housing Authorities in the years after leaving service, many of whom did not identify the specialist support available to veterans.

There is a housing crisis in the UK with increased levels of homelessness and simply not enough houses to go round.

Veterans experience this in the same way any other group does and we need to build more houses for veterans, too.

Recent research from the Directory of Social Change has identified just over 4,500 units of accommodation nationwide that are ring-fenced specifically for veterans.

August 2018

growstuff yes I do agree that they are over represented in some areas, but maybe these poor souls would have ended up in the same position regardless of being in the forces.

Nuclear Disarmament jura? <sigh>

Sorry this is a distraction from the OP (maybe I should start a new thread), but it's something which bothers me. I've worked with homeless people and have spoken to a number of ex-service personnel. My understanding is that they have received practical help when they demobbed. They had accommodation and enough money initially. However, it seems that the psychological support is lacking. That's why I was curious about the claim that support is offered. Maybe welfare support should last longer and be more wide-ranging than it currently is.

Some of the homeless veterans I've spoken to, have served short prison sentences too. Once they have that on their CV, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to find a job and somewhere to live. Many of the crimes are violence-related or they've become involved in dealing or petty theft.

If you're saying that they would have been in the same position regardless of the forces, I think that's quite insulting to them because you're implying that the forces enlist people who don't conform to society very well.

My understanding is that they have received practical help when they demobbed

But, as the report from Forces in Mind states, as above, the advice they recieve regarding what help is available to them is inconsistent across the forces. They are not always fully informed of what is on offer to them for financial or mental health support once they return to civilian life. In addition, if they are single, or have no structured family to return to, Local Authority accommodation is in very short supply as it is for everyone. Easy to see why they fall between the cracks.

growstuff I have PM’d you so as not to derail the thread further.

Just to say, not only the army is in that area the Royal Navy is out there too.

The Royal Navy is a constant presence in the Middle East. Anywhere south of the Suez canal is a trouble spot and ships are manoeuvred to wherever they are needed. The two ships there at the moment have been out there for months.