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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Leader of EDL Tommy Robinson steps down

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Underage Drinking

Underage Drinking

Exclusive figures obtained by the Victoria Derbyshire programme on 5 live reveal the true extent of underage drinking in the UK. The programme has discovered that nearly three hundred children aged 11 or younger went to A&E last year for an alcohol related condition. In total, 6,500 children aged 17 and under were admitted to hospital in the last year as a result of drinking.

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Ed Miliband with John Pienaar

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The Labour leader Ed Miliband tells Drive the House of Commons made the right decision by refusing to rush to military action in Syria. But he says Britain still has enough weight in the world to make a difference. Hear his interview with John Pienaar here:

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27 Elo 20131h 12min

Kenny Sansom

Kenny Sansom

Arsenal left back Kenny Sansom was one of the golden boys of football earning 86 caps for England In recent years he has been secretly battling with alcoholism. His alcohol addiction and gambling left him with money problems so severe he was homeless and had to sleep on park benches. With the help of the Professional Football Association, Kenny has been in detox and is now sober. In his first interview since his detox, he talks about his struggle with alcoholism.

23 Elo 201322min

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