RAF pilot: 'utterly horrific' drone warfare gave me PTSD

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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Care homes during Covid-19: Your experiences

Care homes during Covid-19: Your experiences

Nicky Campbell speaks to 5 Live listeners about their experiences of care homes during lockdown. The phone-in was inspired by a call from Lynn in Trafford - because of local lockdowns in her area she cannot visit her husband who has dementia and lives in a care home. She told us honestly and eloquently how she feels she is letting her husband down - unable to be there for him. She described the situation as 'inhuman'.

3 Syys 202048min

Back to School: Your Questions Answered

Back to School: Your Questions Answered

As pupils start to return to school in England, Nicky Campbell puts your questions to BBC Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys and specialist in outbreak disease control, Nathalie MacDermott.

2 Syys 202047min

How is the pandemic affecting cancer care?

How is the pandemic affecting cancer care?

How might the pandemic affect the numbers of those seeking treatment or being diagnosed for cancer in the future?Stephen Nolan talks to people who have been undergoing cancer treatment during the Covid-19 lockdown.

22 Elo 202029min

Schools Minister on exam algorithm problems

Schools Minister on exam algorithm problems

Schools Minister Nick Gibb MP speaks to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell about the government’s exam algorithm, which downgraded around 40% of last week's A level results, leading to a public outcry and concerns about GCSEs.This was originally broadcast on 5 Live Breakfast on Thursday, 20 August 2020.

20 Elo 202016min

What does the grades U-turn mean for universities?

What does the grades U-turn mean for universities?

Tens of thousands of students may now have the grades to trade up to their first-choice university offers, following the government's grading U-turn. But will there be enough university places for everyone? And what is the situation for BTEC students?5 Live's Nicky Campbell talks to university staff, students and teachers.

18 Elo 202046min

Exam results: have we passed the test?

Exam results: have we passed the test?

With so much anger around about the A-levels situation, on today's Your Call Nicky Campbell focuses on the solutions. What could have been done better?

14 Elo 202048min

Andy Burnham: Fix test and trace in August, or close pubs

Andy Burnham: Fix test and trace in August, or close pubs

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham tells Stephen Nolan that we have the month of August to get track and trace sorted out or we should be closing pubs when schools go back.

8 Elo 202025min

Hiroshima bomb remembered 75 years on

Hiroshima bomb remembered 75 years on

The Hiroshima bomb, known as "Little Boy" devastated an area of five square miles. The initial blast killed nearly 120,000 people - with the after-effects of radiation killing many thousands more. Around 60% of the buildings in the city were destroyed. One of which, just 1.1 kilometres from the epicentre of the blast, housed little 8-month-old Koko Kondo who amazingly survived. Speaking to 5 Live’s Emma Barnett, Koko, who now works as a peace activist, explained how it was decades later before her parents told her the full story of that day and how she felt when she met the co-pilot of the plane which dropped the bomb.

6 Elo 202021min

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