Richard ( UK army veteran) joined the Army when he was 19 years old. The experience of losing comrades in Afghanistan and Iraq led to very difficult times in the civilian world. But with support from The Poppy Factory, Richard is now helping to train the next generation of soldiers to be the best they can be, and he’s feeling positive about the future.
Young and on tour
Richard said: “In 2003 I was sent to Iraq on my first deployment. I was scared and anxious as I didn’t know what to expect. It wasn’t a bad tour and we didn’t lose anyone. Shortly after I came back, I was promoted. I was really proud of myself for moving up in the Army.
“Three years later, I went to Iraq again. This time there were bombs landing everywhere, and on the second day we lost one of our guys. That’s when I realised I was in a very dangerous place. My mind was telling me to leave. I felt confused, but I carried on.
“Later I received sad news that a close family member had died. I was devastated. I had some time off to go to his funeral overseas, then I slotted straight back into soldier life.
Serving in Afghanistan
“A few months after that I started training for Afghanistan. It was my first deployment there but I was one of the most experienced soldiers going. It was a hard tour and we lost quite a few guys. When I came back, I didn’t feel right. I was drinking heavily and wasn’t myself. I just couldn’t deal with the injuries I’d seen.
“In 2010 I was deployed back to Afghanistan. I felt obliged to go. When I got there, a close friend was killed, and I felt responsible. From then on, my mind wasn’t functioning any more.
“Back in the UK, I didn’t know how to feel, I couldn’t sleep, and I was having nightmares. I tried to end my own life more than once. When I was medically discharged, I felt lost and couldn’t adjust to normal life. Everything was turned upside down. (continue reading)
You must be logged in to post a comment.