Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!

[punky]

Between a soldier who has put his life on his line, gets sent to ever hellhole in the world without a word of descent, and endures the horrors of war so that the vast majority of us don't have to, and a (hypothetical, of course) 20 year old slapper with 3 kids from 3 different dads, I know who I think deserves the support.

You're right though OB, its not just servicemen and women, the whole system needs overhauling, but servicemen & women are one group that does get shafted.

And if anyone thinks free housing on barracks is any good, see the news a few weeks ago, with the conditions they have to endure at UK barracks? On top of that we send them in with insufficient equipment to the degree that families have to fundraise to buy essential bits of kit. And that's on top of the equipment that the army should be providing that families can't do anything about, such as sufficiently armoured tanks. Keep treating servicemen and women like this, and we'll probably need a draft in 10-15 years if we there's a war.

[spike7451]

Originally Posted by Gavin

Between a soldier who has put his life on his line, gets sent to ever hellhole in the world without a word of descent, and endures the horrors of war so that the vast majority of us don't have to, and a (hypothetical, of course) 20 year old slapper with 3 kids from 3 different dads, I know who I think deserves the support.

You're right though OB, its not just servicemen and women, the whole system needs overhauling, but servicemen & women are one group that does get shafted.

And if anyone thinks free housing on barracks is any good, see the news a few weeks ago, with the conditions they have to endure at UK barracks? On top of that we send them in with insufficient equipment to the degree that families have to fundraise to buy essential bits of kit. And that's on top of the equipment that the army should be providing that families can't do anything about, such as sufficiently armoured tanks. Keep treating servicemen and women like this, and we'll probably need a draft in 10-15 years if we there's a war.

I was in Palace Barracks a few weeks ago,one lad (KOSB) had just been attatched to the Black Watch who are the RIC(Resident Infantry Coy) & had just got his room on the upper floor of one of the older blocks by the Chopper pad.His ceiling leaked & eventually fell in!Yet the Gov are spending millions building a nice shiny new headquarters for MI5 there!!

I believe the point of the petition is for equity, not to introduce inequity - as the ARRSE link states
"Under legislation at present it states: 15.10 Under s.199(2) and (3), serving members of the armed forces, and other persons who normally live with them as part of their household, do not establish a local connection with a district by virtue of serving, or having served, there while in the forces.

I would like to say this about local connection points, if you do not have a local connection to the area that you are asking to live in, then you have no chance at all. However a civilian only has to live in an area for six months to get a local connection??."

[spike7451]

Seven years where I live!

[handyman]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

An Army private earns (on average) £13866 pa, which if they worked a 40 hour week would be £6.66 per hour. But, since the average is 46 hours per week (see survey), this brings it down to £5.80. The national minimum wage is £5.35 - so you are right, they do earn more than the national minimum wage - 45p per hour more (with no overtime, and being exempted from the Working Time Regulations). And when you are in a combat zone, it is often 12 hours on, 12 hours off (if you are lucky) - all for £5.80 per hour

You may have a point if people where forced to sign up. However it is voluntary and as such I have no sympathy. If they wanted higher paid jobs they should have done better in school and earned them like the rest of us.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by handyman

You may have a point if people where forced to sign up. However it is voluntary and as such I have no sympathy. If they wanted higher paid jobs they should have done better in school and earned them like the rest of us.

I doubt anyone signs up for the cash and even if they were economically forced into it you should still be grateful, if they weren't doing it some one would have to, maybe you or I for instance

[punky]

Originally Posted by handyman

You may have a point if people where forced to sign up. However it is voluntary and as such I have no sympathy. If they wanted higher paid jobs they should have done better in school and earned them like the rest of us.

You better not be suggest that people in the armed forces are retards that can't cope with any other job They aren't quibbling over more money, they are asking to be treated on the same level as civillians. Not unreasonable.

Army service is voluntary however, we need people signing up for our protection, otherwise hello national service, drafts, and substandard armies. They should be encouraged.

[spike7451]

Originally Posted by handyman

You may have a point if people where forced to sign up. However it is voluntary and as such I have no sympathy. If they wanted higher paid jobs they should have done better in school and earned them like the rest of us.

Mod edit (Gavin): Please refrain from using that language. The swear filter is there for a reason. Going on your statement,my 5 O-Levels in Physics,Engineering design,Maths,English & Metalwork as well as the qualifications I gained in the RAF for Aeronautical Engineering,Weaponry & EOD as well as the courses I have done since leaving the RAF mean I'm stupid then.
You must be a professor !!
If that is the level of your intelligent reply,take a look in the mirror!

[Jules]

I have signed it, thank you for bringing it to our attention

[Hitback]

The criteria for gaining a local connection is, 6 months in 1 year or 3 years in 5. However Councils seem to be able to change that when ever they wish.

If this issue has got you thinking about giving greater support, then please email your MP asking them to Sign EDM 288. The link below will show you an updated list of MPs http://www.dorries.org.uk/Story.aspx?ID=322 .

Once again thank you for your support.

Hitback

Originally Posted by handyman

You may have a point if people where forced to sign up. However it is voluntary and as such I have no sympathy. If they wanted higher paid jobs they should have done better in school and earned them like the rest of us.

I spent six years in the RAF, because I wanted to serve my country, and had to leave the RAF because of circumstances beyond my control.

When I left, I was fortunate enough to get on a course which got me into IT, which I have done for the last 25 years, and until recently I earned a six-figure package, ran a department of over 100 people, with an annual Capital Budget of £12.5 million and an annual Operational budget of £8.5 million - perhaps I could have achieved more if I had "done better at school"?

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

I spent six years in the RAF, because I wanted to serve my country, and had to leave the RAF because of circumstances beyond my control.

When I left, I was fortunate enough to get on a course which got me into IT, which I have done for the last 25 years, and until recently I earned a six-figure package, ran a department of over 100 people, with an annual Capital Budget of £12.5 million and an annual Operational budget of £8.5 million - perhaps I could have achieved more if I had "done better at school"?

You must be kicking yourself, such wasted opportunities

[Taf]

13 years RAF myself... our local Council gave me points towards a council house... but still had to wait a year for a pokey little hi-rise flat... and a further 14 years to get a house....

[spike7451]

Bump

[AdamD]

Seven years!? Good lord
Signed it.