.Army's Top Bomb Disposal Officer Quits
The Army's top bomb disposal officer has resigned after expressing concerns about the pressures on his team operating in Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Colonel Bob Seddon quit as principal ammunition technical officer of the Royal Logistics Corps.
An Army spokesman said in a brief statement that he would be leaving the service in January.
"He remains a serving officer and will not be commenting," the spokesman said.
"The Army remains committed to the counter IED (improvised explosive device) effort which is the number one priority in Afghanistan."
In a BBC Panorama documentary, Col Seddon suggested he needed more men on the ground and raised fears about the psychological impact of the job.
Col Seddon said the Army was seeking to boost IED disposal teams but added it would take "some time".
He said: "I am very concerned as their head of trade at the pressures that they are facing in Afghanistan.
"We are seeking now to bring people back into high threat IED operations that have been out for some time.
"We are looking at more senior officers becoming involved in this. We've broadened our training and selection but it will take some time before these measures can come into play."
Col Seddon added that he thought the British Army "could do with more high threat teams and IED operators in Afghanistan".
He also expressed his fears over the effect of the job on his men's mental health, saying they "may pay a deeper psychological price for the work that they've conducted".
Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall, in Helmand Province, said: "The top brass, I think, do realise and do accept that the number one problem is actually IEDs.
"It seems he (Col Sneddon) is trying to make a splash, trying to make this the biggest issue of this conflict.
"But, if you look at what the defence people say, for example, Major General Chris Deverell, 'We continue to meet the operational requirement' - in other words, they've got enough out there, he says.
"So, on the one hand, you've got what the colonel has said and the fact he's resigning and, on the other hand, you have the MoD's version of events… that there is enough and they're putting more in."
In a statement, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said countering the IED threat to British forces in Afghanistan was a "top priority" for the new coalition Government.
"I will make sure that everything possible is done to ensure that our forces have all they need to deal with this indiscriminate threat. They deserve nothing less," he said.
The programme was authored by the widow of Staff Sergeant Olaf "Oz" Schmid, who died in October last year while attempting to defuse an IED.
Christina Schmid aired her belief during the programme that fatigue may have played a part in her husband's death.
She says: "He was flaking at that point, saying 'I do need a break from this. I need to step back because I need to recharge' and I don't feel that he necessarily had that time."
Sky
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Colonel Bob Seddon quit as principal ammunition technical officer of the Royal Logistics Corps.
An Army spokesman said in a brief statement that he would be leaving the service in January.
"He remains a serving officer and will not be commenting," the spokesman said.
"The Army remains committed to the counter IED (improvised explosive device) effort which is the number one priority in Afghanistan."
In a BBC Panorama documentary, Col Seddon suggested he needed more men on the ground and raised fears about the psychological impact of the job.
Col Seddon said the Army was seeking to boost IED disposal teams but added it would take "some time".
He said: "I am very concerned as their head of trade at the pressures that they are facing in Afghanistan.
"We are seeking now to bring people back into high threat IED operations that have been out for some time.
"We are looking at more senior officers becoming involved in this. We've broadened our training and selection but it will take some time before these measures can come into play."
Col Seddon added that he thought the British Army "could do with more high threat teams and IED operators in Afghanistan".
He also expressed his fears over the effect of the job on his men's mental health, saying they "may pay a deeper psychological price for the work that they've conducted".
Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall, in Helmand Province, said: "The top brass, I think, do realise and do accept that the number one problem is actually IEDs.
"It seems he (Col Sneddon) is trying to make a splash, trying to make this the biggest issue of this conflict.
"But, if you look at what the defence people say, for example, Major General Chris Deverell, 'We continue to meet the operational requirement' - in other words, they've got enough out there, he says.
"So, on the one hand, you've got what the colonel has said and the fact he's resigning and, on the other hand, you have the MoD's version of events… that there is enough and they're putting more in."
In a statement, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said countering the IED threat to British forces in Afghanistan was a "top priority" for the new coalition Government.
"I will make sure that everything possible is done to ensure that our forces have all they need to deal with this indiscriminate threat. They deserve nothing less," he said.
The programme was authored by the widow of Staff Sergeant Olaf "Oz" Schmid, who died in October last year while attempting to defuse an IED.
Christina Schmid aired her belief during the programme that fatigue may have played a part in her husband's death.
She says: "He was flaking at that point, saying 'I do need a break from this. I need to step back because I need to recharge' and I don't feel that he necessarily had that time."
Sky
posted by madtom at 10:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home