» Freedom isn’t free …

Losing both of your legs and one arm while serving in a war zone: £214,000
Spraining your thumb typing as a civilian Ministry of Defence (MoD) employee: £484,000

Value of veterans in the eyes of some: Worthless.

That’s the only conclusion I can draw in light of the recent atrocious decision by the MoD to grant such a small amount of compensation - less than the maximum possible amount of £285,000 to boot - to Royal Marine Mark Ormrod, for injuries he suffered in Afghanistan in 2007.

It’s hard for me to decide which is the bigger insult to those who wear the uniform of their country and put their lives on the line - that a bunch of faceless civil servants can put such a low value on the sacrifices those veterans make, or the civilian employee who was able to milk the system for so much more.

The UK government, and the MoD itself, are breaking the faith, the covenant between those who serve and those they serve. Decisions made solely on financial grounds, as compensation claims seem to be adjusted downwards accordingly by, makes service men and women nothing more than mercenaries. These decisions place a disgustingly low monetary cap on the value of the service of disabled veterans, decisions made by people who likely have never, and will never, willingly face the same risks. If a typist can settle for £484,000 but someone who loses both legs and an arm doesn’t even qualify for the most compensation available (which is still half what the typist made) then something is wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!

The Royal British Legion is currently running a campaign highlighting how badly veterans are being treated in the UK. I strongly urge those who read this site to go to the site, register, join up, and help press for needed changes in the MoD so that those who risk their lives for others are cared for properly when they return.

Freedom isn’t free.

But it’s not supposed to be bought this cheaply either.

Tags: Afghanistan, battlefield, civil servants, Marine, Mark Ormrod, Ministry of Defence, MoD, RAF, Royal Marines, RSI, UK, UK Government, united kingdom, Veterans