Soldiers banned from battle by hearing problems 'heighten Army manning crisis'

sara1981 · 06-11-2008, 10:36 PM

Soldiers banned from battle by hearing problems 'heighten Army manning crisis'
Soldiers banned from battle by hearing problems 'heighten Army manning crisis' - Telegraph

Quote:

Dozens of soldiers who took part in heavy firefights in Afghanistan have suffered hearing problems and may never be able to return to the frontline.

Around 240 troops from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment - known as the Vikings - underwent hearing tests and 35 have been referred to specialists.

The problems were caused by the soldiers' close proximity to high-velocity machine-guns, mortars and anti-tank weapons during a series of intense battles with the Taliban last summer.

Defence experts said loss of the experienced soldiers at a time when there is a chronic shortage of combat troops would exacerbate what is already a "crisis" in troop numbers.

Earlier this month, defence figures disclosed that almost one thousand servicemen have left the Armed Forces since the start of the year.

The figures followed a report by the Commons Defence Committee which said it was "deeply concerned" that the forces had been operating above their resources for seven of the past eight years.

Patrick Mercer, former shadow minister for security and an infantry commanding officer, said the Vikings were a "precious resource" that the Army could not afford to lose.

"This may only be 35 men but that's a platoon and a half and you have to look at whether this situation could be replicated when the Sherwood Foresters and the Grenadier Guards - who were in theatre at around the same time - undergo similar tests," he said.

The manning figures do not include the number of service personnel that are sick and injured, he said, and claimed the Ministry of Defence was "in denial" about the problem.

"The single most important piece of kit that we have got is the man that carries the pike, the man that pushes the bayonet, the man that throws the hand grenade," he said.

"The Armed Forces are in a parlous state in terms of those who do the fighting, the killing and the dying".

An MoD spokesmen said service personnel are issued with two forms of protective hearing equipment - ear plugs and ear defenders.

Many chose not to wear the equipment as they reduce awareness and the ability to hear commands, he added.

He said: "We are actively looking to acquire more advanced hearing protection equipment that is based on active noise reduction technology, can be worn with standard helmets and is compatible with personal role radio but minimises the blocking out of other noise such as voices."

shel90 · 06-11-2008, 10:51 PM

I know what can solve this problem of soldiers of not wanting to wear the hearing protection...learn sign language and use it with each other while wearing the hearing protection devices. Seems simple, doesnt it?

***VamPyroX*** · 06-12-2008, 12:23 AM

Or... that's part of their secret plan to get themselves out of the war.

Texan Guy · 06-12-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Or... that's part of their secret plan to get themselves out of the war.

Really, dude, that wasn't funny at all.....

Well, I know a lot of soldiers and Marines lost their hearing in the battle. It has been happens all the time, unfortunately.

sara1981 · 06-12-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Or... that's part of their secret plan to get themselves out of the war.

i would agree with texan guy

dead money · 06-16-2008, 05:23 PM

yeah i heard that happens but they cant keep sacrificing good soldiers because of that. In the end they'll come to a compromise.

Reba · 06-16-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

I know what can solve this problem of soldiers of not wanting to wear the hearing protection...learn sign language and use it with each other while wearing the hearing protection devices. Seems simple, doesnt it?

Verbal communication isn't the only problem; they need to be able to hear environmental sounds. Also, some of their communication isn't face-to-face but long distance, by radio. Sign language can't substitute for radio communications.

Since this article is about the Brits, I assume they would use BSL, not ASL.

Actually, Hubby and I do use sign language when we go to the shooting range. We always wear hearing protection (usually Micky Mouse ears) while shooting, so it's easy to communicate using signs.

Celticty · 06-16-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan Guy

Really, dude, that wasn't funny at all.....

Well, I know a lot of soldiers and Marines lost their hearing in the battle. It has been happens all the time, unfortunately.

It happend to me, part of the problem is when I first went to war they didn't give us ear protection, then the second time around we couldn't hear each other or the radios and we needed to hear those. so thus hearing protection came out. So because of that some of my hearing is gone.

Tousi · 06-16-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celticty

It happend to me, part of the problem is when I first went to war they didn't give us ear protection, then the second time around we couldn't hear each other or the radios and we needed to hear those. so thus hearing protection came out. So because of that some of my hearing is gone.

Sorry to hear this, Celticy; when did you serve and in what branch? Do they give you hearing aids every so often?

Thank you for your service to our country!

Reba · 06-16-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celticty

It happend to me, part of the problem is when I first went to war they didn't give us ear protection, then the second time around we couldn't hear each other or the radios and we needed to hear those. so thus hearing protection came out. So because of that some of my hearing is gone.

I'm sorry to hear that. They really should have provided you with proper hearing protection from the get go. They've know about combat hearing damage for a looooong time.

Tousi · 06-16-2008, 06:31 PM

Oh, and thank you, too, Miz Reba for your service!

Reba · 06-16-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

Oh, and thank you, too, Miz Reba for your service!

I appreciate that but my service was no where near what Celticty and other combatants experienced.

Tousi · 06-16-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

I appreciate that but my service was no where near what Celticty and other combatants experienced.

And mine was nowhere near what you experienced!

Reba · 06-16-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

And mine was nowhere near what you experienced!

Since I was pregnant during part of my active duty, I guess not.

Tousi · 06-16-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Since I was pregnant during part of my active duty, I guess not.

Hahahaha, I guess not!

jenni-m · 06-16-2008, 06:58 PM

Yeah... unfortunately, they can't protect their ears well -AND- fight together as a cohesive team, without hearing well... This has been a pretty common problem in combat, I think.

A combat soldier who can't hear well is facing more risk. While one could manage to fight without hearing well, it isn't like a person managing in normal life where things can be repeated or done in alternate ways. A lot of times there is only one chance, if you don't catch relayed info the first time, it could mean you DIE, and not only you die but other people can die also.

Edit:
And this goes both for hearing muffled by protection, and damaged hearing.

Liebling:-))) · 06-17-2008, 07:28 AM

Very sad thread

I'm very sorry what and how you had been through, Celticty. They should do something to protect your ears.

06-11-2008, 10:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
shel90 Sun Whorshipper Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A Desert Rat that has found herself in Maryland Posts: 14,935 Blog Entries: 1	I know what can solve this problem of soldiers of not wanting to wear the hearing protection...learn sign language and use it with each other while wearing the hearing protection devices. Seems simple, doesnt it? __________________ ~Shel~

06-12-2008, 12:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hell Posts: 27,025	Or... that's part of their secret plan to get themselves out of the war. __________________ Check out my city... CLICK HERE! (If you already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

06-17-2008, 07:28 AM	#17 (permalink)
Liebling:-))) Hiiiiiii it's meeeeee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 25,671	Very sad thread I'm very sorry what and how you had been through, Celticty. They should do something to protect your ears. __________________ sniffing you

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06-16-2008, 05:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
dead money Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 869	yeah i heard that happens but they cant keep sacrificing good soldiers because of that. In the end they'll come to a compromise.

06-16-2008, 06:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 7,534	Oh, and thank you, too, Miz Reba for your service!

06-16-2008, 06:58 PM	#16 (permalink)
jenni-m Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 598	Yeah... unfortunately, they can't protect their ears well -AND- fight together as a cohesive team, without hearing well... This has been a pretty common problem in combat, I think. A combat soldier who can't hear well is facing more risk. While one could manage to fight without hearing well, it isn't like a person managing in normal life where things can be repeated or done in alternate ways. A lot of times there is only one chance, if you don't catch relayed info the first time, it could mean you DIE, and not only you die but other people can die also. Edit: And this goes both for hearing muffled by protection, and damaged hearing.