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| No wonder our ex-soldiers are looking for a fight | No wonder our ex-soldiers are looking for a fight |
| (6 months later) | |
| A report in the Lancet has put together the experiences of almost 14,000 serving and former military personnel with information from the police national computer for the first time. | A report in the Lancet has put together the experiences of almost 14,000 serving and former military personnel with information from the police national computer for the first time. |
| Links were found between active combat and post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse and depression. While overall the armed forces are less likely than civilians to offend, they are three times more likely to be convicted of violent offences; 20% of younger males (under 30) have been convicted of violence compared with 6.7% of civilians. Those who served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan were 53% more likely to offend violently than those not on the frontline. Those with multiple experiences of combat had a 70%-80% greater risk of being convicted for acts of violence. | Links were found between active combat and post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse and depression. While overall the armed forces are less likely than civilians to offend, they are three times more likely to be convicted of violent offences; 20% of younger males (under 30) have been convicted of violence compared with 6.7% of civilians. Those who served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan were 53% more likely to offend violently than those not on the frontline. Those with multiple experiences of combat had a 70%-80% greater risk of being convicted for acts of violence. |
| They were also more likely to offend before they joined up, which again made it more likely for them to be selected for combat. The report says: "Infantry units have traditionally promoted aggression as a desirable trait and such units frequently recruit individuals who are socially disadvantaged and are likely to have low educational attainment." So, let's get this straight: disadvantaged, poorly educated, young guys, who got into fights or, worse, before joining up are more likely to be sent into combat and are then more likely to be both traumatised and criminalised by their experiences. Isn't this just a modern take on "cannon fodder"? | They were also more likely to offend before they joined up, which again made it more likely for them to be selected for combat. The report says: "Infantry units have traditionally promoted aggression as a desirable trait and such units frequently recruit individuals who are socially disadvantaged and are likely to have low educational attainment." So, let's get this straight: disadvantaged, poorly educated, young guys, who got into fights or, worse, before joining up are more likely to be sent into combat and are then more likely to be both traumatised and criminalised by their experiences. Isn't this just a modern take on "cannon fodder"? |
| In fairness, the military part-funded this research and says it wants to improve their care. With such statistics, there's definitely room for improvement. The report doesn't even allow for domestic violence; if it did, the figures would be even worse [see footnote]. One former soldier, Lewis McKay, has bravely spoken of how he felt so profoundly disturbed he found himself biting his hands to stop himself from hitting his wife. I say "bravely", because all seem agreed that one of the biggest problems is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. | In fairness, the military part-funded this research and says it wants to improve their care. With such statistics, there's definitely room for improvement. The report doesn't even allow for domestic violence; if it did, the figures would be even worse [see footnote]. One former soldier, Lewis McKay, has bravely spoken of how he felt so profoundly disturbed he found himself biting his hands to stop himself from hitting his wife. I say "bravely", because all seem agreed that one of the biggest problems is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. |
| Some of you might be thinking, well, it's obvious that naturally aggressive people are good choices for combat. Some might even think that maybe it's the best place for these "meat-heads". After all, if they were offending prior to joining up, then the violence would be happening anyway, just out on the streets instead of in combat. It makes sense to put these violent sorts in the military and make use of it. | Some of you might be thinking, well, it's obvious that naturally aggressive people are good choices for combat. Some might even think that maybe it's the best place for these "meat-heads". After all, if they were offending prior to joining up, then the violence would be happening anyway, just out on the streets instead of in combat. It makes sense to put these violent sorts in the military and make use of it. |
| What rot. Just as boy racers tend to grow out of speeding, there's more than a chance that other young men would grow out of violence. Just because someone commits violence when they are very young, it doesn't mean that they're going to be violent for ever. The goal for most young men enlisting in the forces would be learning a trade, not learning how to be better at violence. | What rot. Just as boy racers tend to grow out of speeding, there's more than a chance that other young men would grow out of violence. Just because someone commits violence when they are very young, it doesn't mean that they're going to be violent for ever. The goal for most young men enlisting in the forces would be learning a trade, not learning how to be better at violence. |
| For some, being flung into combat, sometimes repeatedly, might prolong and enhance violent tendencies they might otherwise have grown out of. The irony is that when they leave active duty, the same single-minded aggression is swiftly denounced as "wrong again" by wider society. Is it any wonder they are so messed up? | For some, being flung into combat, sometimes repeatedly, might prolong and enhance violent tendencies they might otherwise have grown out of. The irony is that when they leave active duty, the same single-minded aggression is swiftly denounced as "wrong again" by wider society. Is it any wonder they are so messed up? |
| And then probably abandoned. While it's encouraging to hear that the military wants to do more, you only have to see how physically disabled soldiers are treated in this country (many forced to rely on charities) to imagine how all these good intentions are going to pan out in this era of swingeing cuts. | And then probably abandoned. While it's encouraging to hear that the military wants to do more, you only have to see how physically disabled soldiers are treated in this country (many forced to rely on charities) to imagine how all these good intentions are going to pan out in this era of swingeing cuts. |
| There is also a disquieting ethical element to the way certain types of (troubled, disadvantaged) young males have an increased chance of ending up in direct combat – not just risking physical death and injury, but also long-term psychological damage. | There is also a disquieting ethical element to the way certain types of (troubled, disadvantaged) young males have an increased chance of ending up in direct combat – not just risking physical death and injury, but also long-term psychological damage. |
| This is what I mean by "cannon fodder". The dictionary definition is "soldiers regarded merely as material to be expended in war". It's supposed to be an archaic term, but, for too many, it probably doesn't seem that way. | This is what I mean by "cannon fodder". The dictionary definition is "soldiers regarded merely as material to be expended in war". It's supposed to be an archaic term, but, for too many, it probably doesn't seem that way. |
| What a rubbish way to treat your fans | What a rubbish way to treat your fans |
| Fan mail addressed to Taylor Swift has been found unopened in a skip. Shameful. Does Swift realise what an honour it is to get actual post (that you can touch) in this era of Twitter? Nor is global stardom any excuse. The Beatles never threw fan mail into skips. You didn't catch them doing it anyway. | Fan mail addressed to Taylor Swift has been found unopened in a skip. Shameful. Does Swift realise what an honour it is to get actual post (that you can touch) in this era of Twitter? Nor is global stardom any excuse. The Beatles never threw fan mail into skips. You didn't catch them doing it anyway. |
| Fan mail is often mocked, but it's a sweet rite of passage. When I was young, I post-stalked John McEnroe, sending him droning letters about my life as a Rutland schoolgirl, addressed somewhat optimistically to "John McEnroe, New York". Did my letters end up in a skip? Probably. But I did get a signed postcard back ("Best wishes, John McEnroe"). | Fan mail is often mocked, but it's a sweet rite of passage. When I was young, I post-stalked John McEnroe, sending him droning letters about my life as a Rutland schoolgirl, addressed somewhat optimistically to "John McEnroe, New York". Did my letters end up in a skip? Probably. But I did get a signed postcard back ("Best wishes, John McEnroe"). |
| Someone on McEnroe's team must have realised that, even though I was probably unbalanced, I was also far enough away not to be considered a threat, so a "signed" postcard wouldn't hurt. | Someone on McEnroe's team must have realised that, even though I was probably unbalanced, I was also far enough away not to be considered a threat, so a "signed" postcard wouldn't hurt. |
| Now history is repeating itself. My daughter did a school presentation about her hero, cyclist Bradley Wiggins, and is now convinced that his life wouldn't be complete without seeing her gigantic mood board, complete with stuck-on furry "Wiggo" sideburns. | Now history is repeating itself. My daughter did a school presentation about her hero, cyclist Bradley Wiggins, and is now convinced that his life wouldn't be complete without seeing her gigantic mood board, complete with stuck-on furry "Wiggo" sideburns. |
| To think that my daughter wants to pester a major sportsman with unsolicited mail – it's enough to make a parent proud. | To think that my daughter wants to pester a major sportsman with unsolicited mail – it's enough to make a parent proud. |
| Fans put great value on these communications and it thrills them to get any kind of reply (however curt and hurtful, Mr McEnroe). While, of course, Swift couldn't reply personally to all her fans, it's her duty as a celebrity at least to fake a delighted response to 3,000 letters a day about how 13-year-old girls have named their pyjama cases after her. | Fans put great value on these communications and it thrills them to get any kind of reply (however curt and hurtful, Mr McEnroe). While, of course, Swift couldn't reply personally to all her fans, it's her duty as a celebrity at least to fake a delighted response to 3,000 letters a day about how 13-year-old girls have named their pyjama cases after her. |
| Call me old-fashioned, but chucking them straight into a skip sends out quite a different message. | Call me old-fashioned, but chucking them straight into a skip sends out quite a different message. |
| Put a sock in it, Michelle. You can be yourself now | Put a sock in it, Michelle. You can be yourself now |
| Why is Michelle Obama still going along with the first wife/first nag baloney? Michelle appears on her second Vogue cover and, inside, there's a lot of puff about how she's "trained" the president to remember family meals and pick up his clothes. It makes him sound like some gormless 14-year-old. It also makes Michelle look as though she's morphed from Obama's wife to his mother, without pausing to remember her own intelligence. | Why is Michelle Obama still going along with the first wife/first nag baloney? Michelle appears on her second Vogue cover and, inside, there's a lot of puff about how she's "trained" the president to remember family meals and pick up his clothes. It makes him sound like some gormless 14-year-old. It also makes Michelle look as though she's morphed from Obama's wife to his mother, without pausing to remember her own intelligence. |
| Obviously this is part of the ongoing attempt to soften and domesticise Michelle, wipe the memory of that first inauguration fist bump from middle American memory. However, while first-term Michelle had to play along with all the cookie baking and anecdotes about hubby snoring, second-term Michelle does not. | Obviously this is part of the ongoing attempt to soften and domesticise Michelle, wipe the memory of that first inauguration fist bump from middle American memory. However, while first-term Michelle had to play along with all the cookie baking and anecdotes about hubby snoring, second-term Michelle does not. |
| Whatever happens, Obama steps down next time, so nothing is stopping Michelle revealing her true self, which may even include the sensational revelation that she couldn't care less if the presidential socks are left on the floor. It's easy to understand where safe, unthreatening Michelle came from, but now it would be good to see her toddle off in her Michael Kors dress and make space for the real deal. | Whatever happens, Obama steps down next time, so nothing is stopping Michelle revealing her true self, which may even include the sensational revelation that she couldn't care less if the presidential socks are left on the floor. It's easy to understand where safe, unthreatening Michelle came from, but now it would be good to see her toddle off in her Michael Kors dress and make space for the real deal. |
| • This article was amended on 22 March 2013. The original said that the military had commissioned the report on violent offending by UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, they part-funded the research, and that sentence has been corrected. In addition, the authors of the report at King's College London have asked us to make clear that offences of domestic violence were not "excluded". They are included in the violent offences category as offences such as assault. They were not identified as offences of domestic violence because domestic violence is not a separate offence category on the Police National Computer Database. | • This article was amended on 22 March 2013. The original said that the military had commissioned the report on violent offending by UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, they part-funded the research, and that sentence has been corrected. In addition, the authors of the report at King's College London have asked us to make clear that offences of domestic violence were not "excluded". They are included in the violent offences category as offences such as assault. They were not identified as offences of domestic violence because domestic violence is not a separate offence category on the Police National Computer Database. |
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