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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Donal's Story

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Donal Walsh died of cancer when he was just 16. But his campaign against suicide struck a chord, and since his death in 2013, suicide rates in some parts of Ireland have dropped considerably. His father Fionnbar Walsh told Adrian Goldberg about Donal's inspirational life.

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5 live In Short

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Rani Abraham on Scudamore email leak

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What did your family do during WW1?

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Special educational needs

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5 live Breakfast asked 'Do children with special educational needs get a fair deal?' In September, the system for helping children with special needs in England will change. The government says it's the biggest change in thirty years and will give more power to parents. A special programme was broadcast from Bromstone Primary School in Broadstairs, Kent.

29 Huhti 201438min

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