You see the recruitment videos: glossy, exciting, full of smiling young people travelling the world. Adventure. Friendship. Purpose. A chance to be part of something bigger.
Then comes the war. Politicians make the decisions. You follow the orders. Whether you agreed with the war was never really part of the recruitment pitch.
And when you come home injured, perhaps carrying wounds nobody can see, there is another television advert.
This time, it’s a charity asking for £5 a month to help support people like you.
Somewhere between those two adverts lies a question the country should have to answer: if we can afford to send people to war, why should any of them have to depend on charitable donations to deal with the consequences?
The charities deserve our gratitude. But their work should add to a secure foundation of care, rather than fill gaps where people have been left struggling.
The promise to look after those who serve should be every bit as convincing as the advert asking them to join.
“You’ll see the world,” they said.
They should also promise that, whatever you bring home from it, you won’t have to face it alone.
Leave a Reply