5 Live News Specials29 Huhti 2021

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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That Time of the Month: Periods

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15 Helmi 202441min

Westminster’s Toxic Culture

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19 Heinä 202349min

Four famous faces from Northern Ireland discuss recent events

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3 Maalis 202333min

Tasha Ghouri: Why deafness is my superpower

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6 Joulu 202238min

Voice of the UK: Accents

Has your accent helped or hindered you? A new study has found one in four people say they've been mocked for their accents at work.

3 Marras 20223min

Voice of the UK: Greta Thunberg Q&A

19-year-old Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg joins BBC 5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayake and answers listeners questions like ‘What do you find most frustrating about human behaviour?’ and ‘What can ...

2 Marras 20227min

Voice of the UK: Former refugee on migration issues

Dr Waheed Arian arrived alone in the UK aged 15 as an Afghan refugee, he’s now an NHS doctor and author. He gives Radio 5 Live’s Clare McDonnell his view on the issues at Manston migrant centre.

1 Marras 202211min