5 Live News Specials29 Apr 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.”

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(437)

That Time of the Month: Supporting a partner

Naga Munchetty chats to Jen and Chris Moore about what it’s like supporting a partner going through terrible menstrual pain and the lengthy battle for treatment. She’s also joined by regular experts ...

22 Aug 202449min

That Time of the Month: Women & Sport

Naga Munchetty chats to former Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley about the challenges facing women when it comes to playing sport and doing exercise while on their period. She’s also joined by regular exp...

24 Jul 202443min

That Time of the Month: PMDD

Naga Munchetty is joined by TV personality Vicky Pattison to talk about what it’s like living with PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder). She’s also joined by experts Dr Nighat Ari and Dr Christine ...

8 Mai 202459min

That Time of the Month: getting pregnant

Naga Munchetty is joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on trying to conceive. Each month Naga and the team will take your questions on a key sexual or repr...

27 Mar 202448min

Tourette's: Care provision and tackling stigma

5 Live takes an in-depth look at the available care provision to diagnose and support people with Tourette’s, a neurological condition that causes a person to make involuntary movements and sounds. ...

27 Mar 20241h 18min

Autism: Girls and boys, why the big difference?

5 Live takes an in depth look at autism, specifically how it presents in girls and women. Three quarters of girls with autism may not have been diagnosed with the condition. The N-8 Group, which is a ...

21 Mar 202447min

Inside MI6

Nihal Arthanayake speaks to staff at the UK's Secret Intelligence Service.

3 Mar 20241h 26min

That Time of the Month: Fibroids

Naga Munchetty is joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on fibroids. Each month Naga and the team will take your questions on a key sexual or reproductive h...

29 Feb 202448min