Thread by @PerreiraJulian, THREAD: The difficulties of leaving the British military and transitioning back to [...]

THREAD: The difficulties of leaving the British military and transitioning back to ‘civvy street’
I wouldn't normally do this, but I'm desperate to find employment and I want to highlight the difficulties some of those who leave the Armed Forced may face.
#miltwitter

I left the British Army in 2018 after struggling with my mental health, back injury and suffering with tinnitus/hearing loss, all of which ended my career.
Since the injury in 2014 military doctors would tell me, ‘you just need some rest, take these ibuprofen’ you’ll be fine.

It was only after leaving the military and receiving a copy of all my medical documents held by the MoD, that I see that one Army doctor decided to write in my med records ‘He’s just trying to get out of the upcoming overseas exercise’.

I knew something wasn’t right, but with this type of shit attitude to soldiers’ medical care and rehabilitation, it made me feel that I was somehow crazy and that the pain was all in my head.

It wasn’t until this month that the true extend of what was wrong with my back was found out. I was sent for an MRI by my GP and the scan showed that I had two slipped disks and damaged vertebrae.
I’d served with the Grenadier Guards for 12 yrs and 18 months as JTAC full-time.

Prior to sustaining these injuries, I was a very fit and abled guy, loved running and daily fitness. When I was forced to leave, I received no help during my transition.
I felt a deep betrayal, after showing nothing but complete loyalty since I’d joined at the age of 15!

For years I’d been suffering panic attacks and ending up in hospital or paramedics being called out to give me the all clear, this even happened on a family holiday last year.

Every time this happened, and I’d be given a clean bill of health, it made me feel even worse, I thought I was ‘wasting resources’. However, at the time of these panic attacks I had an overwhelming feeling that I was somehow about to die.

I find it hard to explain, but it was like a crushing feeling in my chest, I couldn’t breathe, the room was spinning and I had sense of needing to be curled up on the floor in a ball, begging that all of the symptoms would just go away.

I knew I had to get things sorted, but I didn’t have the courage or the nerve to seek help, ‘why should they help me? There are plenty of ex-forces in a worse position than me’.

I’m currently due a tribunal against the MoD they have made the process as difficult as possible, fighting the MoD has been more daunting than any of the armed insurgents I’d been fighting in Afghanistan during past decade.

When I first left the army, I studied journalism at @NewsAssociates and managed to pass and get through all of my exams, with the amazing help and guidance of their amazing tutors including @AndrewGreaves84

After graduating I quickly found a job at BFBS, joining an amazing team who were very supportive, and it was a brilliant place to work.

However, the stress of the job, back pain, tinnitus, and dealing with transitioning from the forces and the daily 4 hours commuting took its toll and regrettably I eventually had to leave.

Until I found myself at the lowest of the low, I could never understand why a veteran could be driven to want to end their life. After going through what I have done during the past 5 years, I now know why some do.

I’m fortunate enough to have family members who have looked after me and a wonderful partner Sam, who has supported me at every turn. Without these, I would most definitely be in a very different set of circumstances.

After encouragement from my partner Sam and a former BFBS colleague @waters_adam I finally found the courage to get myself sorted, and for the past ten months the @PoppyLegion and @NHSuk has gotten me back on my feet.

They have helped me with receiving mental health support, fitted me with hearing aids to help with the tinnitus and I couldn’t be in a better place.
The only thing I’m missing now is job and reason to get up each morning.

I’m now settled into my new home with my partner Sam in Norfolk,
I still can’t do physically I used to. I live with daily back pain that I try to manage with over the counter pain killers, but now I have an orthopaedic surgeon looking into the correct pain relief and treatment.

Due to my partner working full time earning 24k a year, the only help I can receive is job seekers allowance.
I’ve been in work since the age of 14 – cash in hand, washing up at my local restaurant, then at the COOP, before joining the Army in 2004 at the age of 15.9 months.

Ideally, I’m looking for journalism work, but I’m happy to turn my hand to anything, right now. However, due to back pain, highly physical or hard manual labour is out of the question.
I have applied for countless jobs, but not having any joy.

I understand there are many people struggling to find work during these difficult times, due to #Covid19
If you know of anything going, or willing to give me a chance, please do get in touch and I will gladly send a copy of my current CV.
#miltwitter do your thing!

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