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[Rods2]

I have mentioned it before on here about how some of our soldiers are being made redundant just before they have done 25 years service and qualify for a pension. Which I personally think is a cynical breach of the forces covenant by the UK Government. They can lose up to 25 years of forces pension as a result of this.

Phillip Hammond the Defense minister has had to apologize to the House of Commons where he lied to them over this.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100020427/why-its-time-to-protect-armed-forces-pensions-and-how/

Now you can help fight this injustice by signing the epetition:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35949

They put their lives on the line for us and I hope others on here, are like me, and will do all we can to support them.

[TheBoy]

I have a great deal of respect for the services.  However, I also understand that all areas of the civil service need to drastically cut costs.

My own pension got screwed when I got outsourced.  Its the way it is for most people now.

[cem_devecioglu]

I have seen worker abuse in many ways , but never on soldiers    
 
I guess someone, soon to be shot from arse

[Nickbat]

Signed, Rods, but I sincerely think these epetitions are just a sop to make us think we have some degree of control. In reality, even if a petition with 60m signatures were to be presented to this shower, they'd ignore it. 

[SteveAvfc.]

I am fortunate to be sat now with my best mate who is a serving member of our armed forces and has just returned from Afgan he is totally angered at this, needless to say the air is blue.   

[Kevin Wood]

There are pensions and there are pensions, though, IMHO.

I don't regard military pensions in quite the same light as private / public sector pensions for "ordinary" jobs. Yes, everybody has to face cuts there. The private sector have done so thanks to the one eyed scots idiot. Public sector will go the same way when Dave grows a backbone.

A military career does leave you retiring relatively early in life and, from my experience of those close to me who have done so after doing some of the most harrowing jobs the army can throw at them through Northern Ireland, the first and second gulf wars, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. you don't leave that lot behind in a state where you can walk straight into another job in the private sector. A decent pension is necessary for survival.

But yes, e-petitions are pointless.

.. but signed just in case.

[tigers_gonads]

I have a great deal of respect for the services.  However, I also understand that all areas of the civil service need to drastically cut costs.

My own pension got screwed when I got outsourced.  Its the way it is for most people now.

There is a BIG difference between our lads on the ground who are doing 80+ hour weeks on (what works out at less then minimum wage) while sat in a muddy hole somewhere and getting shot at and blown up too some shiney arse who spends his life sat behind a desk in the tax office waiting for his next teabreak and who gets 3 / 6 months paid holiday  sick leave a year.

The armed forces ranks of this country should be and deserve to be protected from this.


Signed (for what use it is) 

[Varche]

This is disgusting.

It is like the populace has dozed off.

[Rods2]

There is a lot of justified cynicism on here with the answers, but if we don't try to correct the wrong by any legal means possible, then it will just get swept under the carpet. I think the troops deserve better than this and all we can do is give our support in trying to right this wrong.

Even if the epetition does not succeed, but it has a large number of signatures, it will show the public's support on this issue and our support for our brave troops and our disgust on how they are being treated.

The original forces pension age was set at 38 a very long time a go. It was normal for a powder monkey, midshipman or drummer boy to join the navy or army at 13 in those days. Most people in the forces did not reach 38 due to naturally shorter life spans, but also due to wars and especially disease.

To me this is part of the forces covenant that you risk your life for 25 years for Queen and country and in return, you get a pension. To be denied this when a few days short due to redundancy I personally think is an absolute disgrace by our faceless, spineless and mindless Government and MOD. The Government say it is coincidental that they have been selected, but having seen first hand some of previous Government's tactics to their employees, I personally don't believe them. 

[Kevin Wood]

It's to think that this is happening at the same time as we are promising the earth on foreign aid payments, a certain amount of which probably fuels the mess that our forces have to sort out, that makes my blood boil. That's what happens when you have a fourty-something prime minister. He's already more concerned about making himself look like a hero on the world stage to pave the way for his excession to that gravy train than looking after folk at home.

[ozzycat]

  sighnd its disgusting

[bootie]

Being a former member of the armed forces I am appalled at this, yes I have signed the petition for what it's worth.

With regard to the pensions, it is known that forces pay is supressed to pay for the pension anyway, it has been said the 'supression' can be as much as 30%, I don't know how true that is. Nevertheless, to have this happen after so much service is beyond belief.

After reading as much as I can on the subject I see that my own pension is safe (I only accrued 14 years service time) and I will not get it until I draw the state pension, which, in my opinion, gives the government plenty of time to mess around with that as well. Luckily I am not banking on that rather small pension, although every little helps, so I am in a position not to miss it if it does get taken away.

Knowing quite a few guys still serving I can imagine how they feel, totally betrayed by the very people that employ them.

Let's see where this takes us, if there were to be a (peaceful) demo in the country, I, work permitting, would do my level best to join and support.

Lets hope this can be resolved to the betterment of those brave lads and lassies concerned.

Jon

[Kevin Wood]

Yeah, I reckon the armed forces could to a pretty good job of organising a coup d'état demo.

[bertie1.8vectra]

Should of imho when the olympics where on.... most of them where in london anyways!!!  Signed it just in case anyways!!!!