Thread: An Open Letter to LCpl Joe Glenton

To be honest with you, if it was so easy to walk out, I'd have done it 50 times over in the few years I have been in. But I can't, and I haven't. I'm still here and glad I am.

Didnt Joe get nine months handed down to him today ?

Originally Posted by Forks

To be honest with you, if it was so easy to walk out, I'd have done it 50 times over in the few years I have been in. But I can't, and I haven't. I'm still here and glad I am.

With respect mate, its a good job you are, as in civvy street, you walk, its endex.

What you are effectively saying is, its a good job you are controlled because otherwise you'd have little control over yourself?

Im hardly in a well paid civvy job, however, every job i have had i would have suffered some form of financial loss if i had broken contract and left but thats it. Maybe where looking at it the wrong way. Maybe if civvys could be jailed for breach of contract we would have a better country. For example the job seekers contracts...

Originally Posted by Porridge_gun

Originally Posted by JimPooley

PG, sorry, but I think you're utterly wrong.

I could be, but lets let PTSD experts diagnose, not anonymous blokes on the internet?

Agreed. Neither of us know Glenton, so lets leave it at that.

Originally Posted by Porridge_gun

Originally Posted by JimPooley

And - in your latest "Squaddies should be able to bin it whenever they want / civvie contract" thread, I think you're utterly wrong as well.

Each to their own, I'd sooner serve along side and depend on someone that wanted to be there.

This is where the problem lies, both with the current situation and your argument. I've visited the sandpit more than once, I've no desire to return. But if tasked, I'll go. I didn't agree with TELIC either, in agreement with you, but I went there. Twice. (and not as part of the invasion, for the spotters, my first tour was Telic 4)

I believe Glenton is guilty of simply not wanting to do the job he signed up for. I fully support the consequences of not doing so (ie jail time for AWOL) because he signed up to those terms, he signed up to a job that could potentially get him killed. But this twat has attempted to milk not only the military system but also the civvie "human rights" brigade as well.

He deserves his jail time - he signed up for his jail time.

Originally Posted by JimPooley

Originally Posted by Porridge_gun

Originally Posted by JimPooley

PG, sorry, but I think you're utterly wrong.

I could be, but lets let PTSD experts diagnose, not anonymous blokes on the internet?

Agreed. Neither of us know Glenton, so lets leave it at that.

Originally Posted by Porridge_gun

Originally Posted by JimPooley

And - in your latest "Squaddies should be able to bin it whenever they want / civvie contract" thread, I think you're utterly wrong as well.

Each to their own, I'd sooner serve along side and depend on someone that wanted to be there.

This is where the problem lies, both with the current situation and your argument. I've visited the sandpit more than once, I've no desire to return. But if tasked, I'll go. I didn't agree with TELIC either, in agreement with you, but I went there. Twice. (and not as part of the invasion, for the spotters, my first tour was Telic 4)

I believe Glenton is guilty of simply not wanting to do the job he signed up for. I fully support the consequences of not doing so (ie jail time for AWOL) because he signed up to those terms, he signed up to a job that could potentially get him killed. But this twat has attempted to milk not only the military system but also the civvie "human rights" brigade as well.

He deserves his jail time - he signed up for his jail time.

and now he has nine months to get the help he said he should have got in the first place

Originally Posted by sfub

Originally Posted by mercurydancer

Just to say that anyone who hasnt done a tour should not comment is avoiding what this man has done.

I agree with what you say there, but I think that someone who isn't even in yet calling someone a wardodging malingerer shouldn't throw stones yet; comment certainly, this is after all a democracy - however don't be an internet hardman. It's an easy stance to take, kneejerk reactions that are worthy of The Sun.

sfub

I'm a long way from being an internet hard man.

I've also done my service ( a long time ago) so saying that I'm not even in yet is somewhat puzzling. I just didnt see any active service because there werent that many wars going off when I served.


I mainy

Originally Posted by JimPooley

[b]Agreed. Neither of us know Glenton, so lets leave it at that.
[

Am pretty sure that's what I've been saying, its the people here who are scoffing at whether he has PTSD again.

Originally Posted by JimPooley

I believe Glenton is guilty of simply not wanting to do the job he signed up for.

Indeed, and my argument is that something as simple as that should never again end in a media frenzy that will make a cnut like that rich.

Why should not wanting to do your job end in jail time? We aren't living in the 18th century, do the British Army need threatening or the the threat of jail to get you to go to work?

As soon as he went AWOL he should have been cut free, billed and issued on in his absence for training and kit and the whole shitestorm put to bed.

To have an army, only effective and only deployable through fear of punishment isn't a good reflection on its members.

Originally Posted by JimPooley

I fully support the consequences of not doing so (ie jail time for AWOL)

Well that's your right, as I am equally entitled to oppose those views and find it slighlty laughable and a little embarrasing at some of the reactions here....... Pretty much a non event made huge, giving a wretch like this centre stage and a platform to become rich from........ And he will

Originally Posted by JimPooley

he signed up to a job that could potentially get him killed.

Even more reason for a bloke to hae the ability to change his mind. No regime or system should have the ability to send a man to his death involuntarily.

Originally Posted by JimPooley

this twat has attempted to milk not only the military system but also the civvie "human rights" brigade as well.

No he didn't he went AWOL, only when it was attempted to get him back into a system he no longer wanted to be part of did all that milking and civil rights cack come about....... and who can blame him. He'll end up getting all his wages back, he'll be entitled to all manor benefits and support when freed, all needless costs if he'd have been cut free once he no longer wanted to be bound by military law.

Originally Posted by JimPooley

He deserves his jail time - he signed up for his jail time.

Then maybe its time the system changed.

Originally Posted by mercurydancer

Originally Posted by sfub

Originally Posted by mercurydancer

Just to say that anyone who hasnt done a tour should not comment is avoiding what this man has done.

I agree with what you say there, but I think that someone who isn't even in yet calling someone a wardodging malingerer shouldn't throw stones yet; comment certainly, this is after all a democracy - however don't be an internet hardman. It's an easy stance to take, kneejerk reactions that are worthy of The Sun.

sfub

I'm a long way from being an internet hard man.

I've also done my service ( a long time ago) so saying that I'm not even in yet is somewhat puzzling. I just didnt see any active service because there werent that many wars going off when I served.


I mainy

Apologies, the comment about not being in yet wasn't directed at you, but at the idiot lad who made a remark earlier on in the discussion. I had a go at a lad who hasn't joined yet and was blithely calling Glenton a wardodging malingerer, and implying threats of violence. Sorry, I should have made it clearer when I answered your post.
I don't like the way Glenton has gone about things, and I can't say his argument for his behaviour is believable, but I don't know the man himself so I'll reserve judgement. As for the kneejerk reactions and internet harman comment, that was directed at those who type the first thing that comes into their heads, usually after reading a tabloid "report". This thread has been somewhat like reading a script for the Harry Enfield character who got outraged at celebrities and had hypothetical arguments with them... "If that Glenton was to come round my house, I'd have to say OI!! GLENTON!!! NO!"

Originally Posted by Porridge_gun

Originally Posted by whyohwhy

I've worked a little bit with stressed soldiers.

I've worked woth a former astronaut doesn't mean I know all about the moon.

I was using British understatement.

No I don't know Pte Glenton. But his lawyer threw this claim around. The psych quoted in his trial doesn't sound at all convinced. And the issue's central to most of the press articles attacking his treatment. I think it's fair game to attack the claim.

Identification and treatment in the army has transformed over the last few years. These claims undermine all of this work. No unit I've ever served in has treated the issue lightly after a tour - far from it. The treatment of mental health issues as described in the press (slightly better than WW1 if you believe the Guardian) is nothing like what I've experienced in the army. Maybe, just maybe, if his sergeant ripped into him, it was because he was being a tw*t.

There are genuine cases, there are people who say 'Wow, I've been on tour, I've got a get-out-of-jail-free card by claiming PTSD'. We absolutely should attack the latter.

And if we're to restrict comment to the experts - well, it sounds like the court martial was unconvinced.

Originally Posted by whyohwhy

I was using British understatement.

No I don't know Pte Glenton. But his lawyer threw this claim around. The psych quoted in his trial doesn't sound at all convinced. And the issue's central to most of the press articles attacking his treatment. I think it's fair game to attack the claim.

Identification and treatment in the army has transformed over the last few years. These claims undermine all of this work. No unit I've ever served in has treated the issue lightly after a tour - far from it. The treatment of mental health issues as described in the press (slightly better than WW1 if you believe the Guardian) is nothing like what I've experienced in the army. Maybe, just maybe, if his sergeant ripped into him, it was because he was being a tw*t.

There are genuine cases, there are people who say 'Wow, I've been on tour, I've got a get-out-of-jail-free card by claiming PTSD'. We absolutely should attack the latter.

And if we're to restrict comment to the experts - well, it sounds like the court martial was unconvinced.

You mis understand me mate, I'm not suggesting he be let off because he has done a tour, or there is a possiblity he has or hasn't got a mental health issue relating to that tour.

My point is that its a non crime, his lawyer would have thrown as much sh1t in the air as possible and earned a fair few quid, probably from legal aid to do it, all to give a scrote a jail term...... What.s the point, just fcuk him off and let him get on with being a stinking civvy at no cost to the forces.

A whole load of drama has been caused by a bloke leaving a job, being brought back to that job to be punished only to be kicked out again, probably with skills and trades all taught to him at the Motorcycle club..... Why why why????

He was a loggie and a fork lift driver, it would cost a fraction of what its costing to detain him, try him and carry on to retrain another and replace him......

Fuss about nowt. This tool showed his contempt by walking out the gate, the Army should show the same contempt and have done with him and get rid instead of making a martyr and probably a millionaire out of him.

A semi sensible L/cpl could be watching this after a Friday night millionaires session, looking at his bank balance and think....... Oooh theres an easy few quid, I'll follow Glentons example, a 9 month stretch for a book deal, media coverage and a healthy pay cheque.

Fab

I would have thought if you did have PTSD from a tour the best place to get treatment would have been back here
Not Austrailia

Take it now he's doing jail time he'll find it hareder to take his bride back home?

Aussies are a bit funny about Criminal records and trying to enter the country so I'm told kinda ironic really

If he is in a military prison will he have to declare it? He was tried by court martial not by a civilian court? Although I stand to be corrected if that's boll0cks.

Originally Posted by Porridge_gun

With respect mate, its a good job you are, as in civvy street, you walk, its endex.

What you are effectively saying is, its a good job you are controlled because otherwise you'd have little control over yourself?

I worked for quite a few years before I joined the Army, and I wasn't walking out of jobs every 5 minutes, so it's not a habit of mine. But instead of walking out and going AWOL at my last unit, I transferred and I am now much happier. I exaggerated with the 50 times I would have walked out, but there were a few times when I really would have liked to!

I am actually quite a sensible guy and know the ramifications should I have jacked it in. So that's why I am still here!

Originally Posted by Forks

I am actually quite a sensible guy and know the ramifications should I have jacked it in. So that's why I am still here!

As are most blokes, and those that aren't. Do we really want them?

For those of you big on enforcing military law..... Heres a scenario.

Operational environment (Bosnia) coming off a 72 hour duty as a door gunner, I went to the bar and got thoroughly mullered, then went to the cookhouse, fell down stairs whilst well and truly smashed and broke my back.

Should I have faced jail for breaching military law? Should I be entitled to the war pension I get? Have I cost the Army more money than the loggie? Why was I not sent to Colly?