The only sure way the government/MoD can prevent combat related PTSD (CRPTSD) is by not committing its Armed Forces into any wars/conflicts.
However, given the facts that the only year in which a British soldier was not killed in any war/conflict (since the ending of the Second World War) was in 1968, then this was never going to happen. Nevertheless, and as a result of the MoD’s none existent treatment programmes for CRPTSD, over the past 60 years of continuous wars/conflicts (right up to the present day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan) then the very likely probability of CRPTSD being widespread among troops and veterans will be horrendous.
Therefore troops/veterans are paying an excessive high penalty for (unknowingly) suffering from this disorder, because CRPTSD destroys their whole moral psychological universe leaving them with all sorts of behavioural problems such as: anxiety/depression/suicidal feelings/thoughts of destruction and intense rage and anger/drugs and alcohol abuse – in short behaviours that often do run foul of the law.
Take for instance the present day military court martial being held in Germany in which 3 British soldiers are accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners. This court martial is attracting much news headlines, so much that politicians have also jumped on the bandwagon, even the Prime Minister Tony Blair has already made a statement to the House of Commons stating how he is shocked and appalled at this behaviour of British soldiers. Mr Blair is also a qualified lawyer so he knows exactly what he is doing by making such statements to the government. He is in fact disadvantaging those soldiers of having a fair trial by creating his own truce and the whole of the evidence not being taken into consideration.
Consequently, reference the whole of the evidence being taken into account, have these 3 soldiers been properly checked for CRPTSD? Especially now that we know that 2 of the soldiers have already proven their involvement in traumatic incidents, by being recommended for Distinguished Service Awards such as Mentioned in Despatches, (its known throughout the world that they do not give these high awards out for nothing).
What medical treatment for CRPTSD did these soldiers receive after their traumatic incidents? Were they properly debriefed by trained psychiatrists/psychologists after these traumatic incidents and experiences (like survivors/police and rescue teams are, after their involvement in traumatic incidents), or were they treated like the many thousands and thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) of 60 years of wars/conflicts and left to cope with this disorder alone’
Subsequently if any of the 3 soldiers are (unknowingly) suffering CRPTSD then their crime is being mischaracterised and is also a classic example of the high numbers of veteran/ex-soldiers inside the British Prison System, 1000’s of whom have also been mischaracterised by never being checked for CRPTSD and is therefore a National disgrace to the Government/Home Office and the Criminal Justice System.
Footnote: I believe copies of the Survival Guide should be given to the families of these British soldiers for their comments on their sons/husbands behaviour after Iraq.
