Army 10 in drug swoop

**Bob Bacon** · 04-10-2008, 09:17

By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
Published: Today

TEN soldiers just back from the frontline face the boot for drug use.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle1767365.ece

**Rog Ball 01** · 04-10-2008, 09:39

Thats not good news for the Bn let alone the Army.

**ap1** · 04-10-2008, 16:13

Its a reflection on the world we live in, some of these guys will have real regrets of their actions in years to come. If some of them have used in order to get discharged, that would be a massve indictment of the govenments lack of meaningful support for the forces these last few years. However there should be no leniancy, they knew the armys attitude to drugs when they joined. If the media is correct and that 90% of them tested positive for a Class A drug, that is a massive worry and needs sorting rapidly ....so its bye-bye for these boys...Very sad and very stupid

**sixties** · 04-10-2008, 16:27

A total disgrace. anyone taking drugs will get a Dishonourable Discharge. There is no excuse for it.
I am in sympathy with them, but only the they are treated. The MOD Should do more to give them more Leave & more time to spend with their families. My friends son who is in the police gets £2000 take home pay a month well deserved,
so why do our service men & women get peanuts. In my day {TheSixties} if i remember you could buy oneself out for £250 in 3/4 months.
Please correct me if i am wrong.

**Keith Jones 989** · 05-10-2008, 00:02

Sixties is right, of course, but how 'important' or 'embarrassing' is a Dishonourable Discharge these days?. Our society has degraded so much over the last 11 years (nothing to do with Tony Bliar nor Gordon McBroon, of course) that, like an ASBO, a DD will be accepted as a 'badge of honour' for one who has rebelled against 'the establishment'.

**Gwyn Nicholas** · 05-10-2008, 11:10

Originally Posted by sixties

A total disgrace. anyone taking drugs will get a Dishonourable Discharge. There is no excuse for it.
I am in sympathy with them, but only the they are treated. The MOD Should do more to give them more Leave & more time to spend with their families. My friends son who is in the police gets £2000 take home pay a month well deserved,
so why do our service men & women get peanuts. In my day {TheSixties} if i remember you could buy oneself out for £250 in 3/4 months.Please correct me if i am wrong.

Hi Sixties. Unfortunatley discharge by purchase as you indicated has changed a great deal over the years. When I left in 1994 it was compicated enough, but I'm sure A recruiting specialist on the forum could explain the current criteria for leaving the service. Unfortunately, when the system becomes increasingly difficult, desperate people will resort to desperate measures to achieve their aim. For now the shame is with 1 Royal Welsh but I think over the coming year it will be another regiment.
When I served with the TA as a PSI, I was warned that TA soldiers " vote with their feet" when things do not go their way .( I never experienced that however) Well, these soldiers if you like, are "voting with their feet" With the ammount of deployments our forces have had to deal with along with the lack of support from the Government and not forgetting the lack of support from the public, what are they to do? I do not condone the use of drugs (for real or as a ploy to get ones way) having never served under the pressure that these young people are under now, I do not know how I would cope.
I would like to think that the majority of those caught, already regret the measures they have taken ( not just because they have been caught) and I hope that their drug problem is not a real one. Who knows, in the long term it may help to make this Government see that there is a serious problem within our armed forces that needs addressing. Nelson Mandela was once considered a Terrorist. He is now the father of South Africa.

**Rog Ball 01** · 05-10-2008, 12:16

Is being thrown out of the services a dishonarable or administrative discharge. In our days if your were thrown out of the services, your chances of getting a good job outside were nil. Under current rules, an employer cannot give a bad reference, so the servicesman leaving does not have to say why he was 'thrown out'.

**Bob Bacon** · 05-10-2008, 14:08

Originally Posted by Gwyn Nicholas

Hi Sixties. Unfortunatley discharge by purchase as you indicated has changed a great deal over the years. When I left in 1994 it was compicated enough, but I'm sure A recruiting specialist on the forum could explain the current criteria for leaving the service.

I believe those soldiers on an Open Engagement (introduced 1 Jan 91 for all new recruits) cannot apply to PVR:

Premature Voluntary Release on Payment
9.415. General instructions

After the period during which a soldier may claim his discharge as a recruit has expired, he may terminate his Colour service before it is due to end by applying for premature voluntary release on payment.

No soldier has a legal right to end his service in this way, as it is a privilege which may be withheld or deferred at any time by the Defence Council, as distinct from the normal restrictions that are imposed by para 9.416.

A soldier enlisted on the Open Engagement may not apply for premature voluntary release on repayment. A soldier serving on a S Type Engagement is eligible to apply for premature voluntary release on repayment under the same conditions as a soldier serving on the Notice Engagement.

**Dai72** · 05-10-2008, 15:29

After their intial 3 month period they are in. The next time they can consider release is to give 12 months notice anytime after their 3 year point. Though as in a lot of cases no one is kept in with problems. The majority who do get out are back knocking at the door to get back in, after they have tasted life out side.

stu reed · 05-10-2008, 16:15

These individuals should have no sympathy. How many times have lads been caught on the CDT who have taken drugs in the RWF only to have their hands slapped and then allowed to stay in.

Only a complete retard takes drugs in the Army. It doesnt matter how many tours or how difficult the situation was, taking illegal substances whilst serving makes them a risk to them selves and to others. My opinion is that If they have taken drugs to get out of the Army then they should get a dishonorable discharge and not recieve their Army pension.

Theres no excuse.