RAF pilot: 'utterly horrific' drone warfare gave me PTSD

RAF pilot: 'utterly horrific' drone warfare gave me PTSD

A former military drone pilot says he has been left with PTSD after being put at risk of "psychological harm" for years on end while viewing "utterly horrific" things on screen. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Adrian Chiles, ‘Rob’ (not his real name) also said he became suicidal due to the way the armed forces dealt with his request for mental help. Rob was a member of 13 Squadron until 2017, a specialist team within the Royal Air Force which operate unmanned drone aircraft from a military base in the UK. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, or Reaper, was first used by the UK in Afghanistan in 2008 for surveillance, and later fitted with weapons. By March 2015 the UK had carried out some 70 drone strikes against so-called Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq.

The MOD issued this statement, ‘‘We do not recognise the allegations made with respect to the working environment on our Reaper Squadrons. The RAF actively manages Reaper Force crews to ensure that their workload is manageable, sustainable and balanced, alongside providing world-class military healthcare for those that need it. “All allegations of civilian casualties are subject to extensive investigations. We continue to do everything we can to minimise the risk of civilian casualties through the rigorous targeting processes and the professionalism of our crews.”

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Modern Slavery: Sanu’s Story

Modern Slavery: Sanu’s Story

A victim of modern slavery has told BBC Radio 5 Live how he was forced to work seven days a week for seven years. Sanu, not his real name, came to the UK from Bangladesh to study and was befriended by...

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The election is looming - and already we're seeing polished films on social media, snappy campaign slogans and fiery exchanges between politicians.Behind the scenes are groups of specialists - all com...

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Fertility treatment: Is there enough workplace support?

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Fertility issues affect an estimated 3.5 million people in the UK.IVF is an option for some couples, but attending many medical appointments - alongside dealing with the physical and mental effects of...

29 Loka 201944min

Northern Ireland abortion law change: Two opposing views

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In Northern Ireland, the laws on abortion and same-sex marriage are due to change at midnight on 21st October.Abortion will be decriminalised while, under the same act, same-sex marriage will become l...

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Killer in the Congregation

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On the surface, he was the charming, caring young man who gave sermons in his father's Baptist church. But Ben Field had a sinister project: to seduce vulnerable individuals and get them to change the...

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The UK villages feeling the impact of climate change

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Fairbourne is a small village on the west coast of Wales. In the shadow of Snowdonia, the village, thanks to rising sea levels, is expected to be the UK’s first community to be decommissioned as a re...

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Emma Barnett meets John Humphrys

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After 32 years presenting the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, last month John Humphrys hung up his headphones and stepped away from the microphone for the final time. He's interviewed every British pr...

8 Loka 201924min

Why was MP Stella Creasy targeted by anti-abortion ads?

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An anti-abortion billboard campaign targeted at pregnant MP Stella Creasy is being pulled down amid claims the posters were a form of harassment.Clear Chanel, which owned the billboards, apologised an...

1 Loka 201921min

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