Exhibition Helmand - the Soldiers Story

Critically acclaimed exhibition Helmand: The Soldiers’ Story, open now at the National Army Museum, has been longlisted for the prestigious Art Fund award. Selected, along with nine others, from over 250 entries nationwide, Helmand tells the achievement and the story of the British troops who entered Afghanistan’s Taleban heartland, the Helmand province, in March 2006. Since [...]

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Reinstatement of military hospitals.
Bring back dedicated military hospitals and provide adequate facilities (non NHS) for members of the Armed Forces who are injured or disabled in the course of their duties.

Housing.
As the government accepts that housing for servicemen and women in the UK armed forces is "not perfect", many serving soldiers or family members highlight problems with single living accommodation (barracks) and service family accommodation. The complaints cover a host of problems, from cracked walls and broken pipes to mildew and even rats.

We at Abex DEMAND better for our service personnel. A home fit for heroes, nothing less.

Retraining opportunities & lobby employers.
The Government, i.e. The People, spend vast sums on training raw recruits to become the very best soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the world.  No argument there.  This is a fact.  What they fail at, miserably, is to re-train them for Civvy Street.

When a serviceman tenders his request for termination of Service and this request is accepted the individual should be transferred to a home posting and offered re-training in any industry or enterprise that he or she wishes to engage in including fully funded full time education if so desired.  Advice, help and counseling should be provided.  This should be undertaken during the period of "notice."

After the individual leaves the Service, a period of, say, twelve months should be maintained to monitor the progress of the ex-service man or woman.  This training and counseling should, ideally, be carried out be fellow ex-service personnel. Potential employers should be offered generous financial encouragement to employ ex-service people during their "on the job" training once they take up civilian employment.

Withdrawal of troops from arenas in which British interests are not threatened.
ABEX is, unlike other ex-service orientated organisations, not confined to a strictly non-political agenda and will, therefore, actively campaign, where we see the need, against the deployment of our troops in foreign wars that are not essential to, or in the best interest of Britain or the British people.

We consider that the "wars" presently being waged in Afghanistan and Iraq fall into that category.

Support for service personnel & families on leaving service.
Following on from the previous statement it should be obvious that it is not only the ex-service man or woman who needs to be cared for and nurtured but also the families involved, as well.  It can be a very stressful time for spouses and children at such a dramatic change in life style and circumstances.

There are many very worthy Organisations out there that are very eager to help and assist.  These include, among others, The Royal British Legion, SAAFA, RAFA and many more.  However, they can only assist people who need help, advice and counseling if they KNOW of the problem.  We in ABEX, would advocate making it mandatory to enroll ALL service people in these Organisations and make it very plain to these Organisations that they would be expected to keep in touch with their new members and their families over a certain period of time.  It is those who slip through the net who run the risk of living in a cardboard box under a railway bridge.

Support county regiment associations.
The bedrock of our Military (and here we also include the other Services) and the feature that has made our fighting personal the envy of the World is the fact that, traditionally, they regard themselves and their comrades in arms, as one large family.  Whether it be a Squadron or a Ship's Company or a Regiment, the feelings of belonging, trust and, dare we say, love of your comrades has been evident and demonstrable for centuries. The winners of the Victoria Cross did not do what they did for the sake of their own glory.

They invariably did what they did for their pals.  The pride and companionship of these units should not be lightly dismissed but, when you have a Government in power that may possibly have only a handful, at best, of Ministers who have any clue as to the value to morale that these old, traditional arrangements engender the risk is very grave. We, at ABEX, will continue to lobby for the retention of these traditional ways. 

Dedicated mental health services.
We have saved the most serious problem facing our boys and girls upon leaving the Services until last.

Those who have or who are now, suffering the Hellish torment of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome will know exactly what we mean. It is bad enough to be sent to a Civilian Hospital, probably miles from friends and family with a staff who do not have the faintest idea of what you went through before losing your arm, leg, sight or whatever.  How much worse for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman to have witnessed at first hand the true horrors of war and yet show no obvious damage, at least not on the outside.

It is these shattered young people that need, no, DEMAND the very best of care and treatment.  This care will probably be required over many years or, over a whole lifetime. The cost?  Probably no more than a few "Smart Bombs" or a single Cruise Missile!  What these young people don't want is Charity.  What they DO want is understanding and respect.  Respect for what they have done for US. NOTHING is too good for these youngsters.