DISGRACEFUL

[Daan Kemp]

I don't have a dog in this fight but having been a soldier for 30 years allow me comment.

Being a soldier you accept what soldiering entails including death and disablement, irrespective if you are a citizen or not of that country. However, being a soldier your are naïve in trusting those in authority with matters not to do with soldiering, as you trust your comrades. Believe me, nothing prepares and ex-soldier for the lack of trust soon apparent outside the military. That is where the problem lies.

Every country has its citizenship requirements you must meet to be a citizen. The responsibility for a soldier to meet these requirements doesn't really fit in anywhere, except in the individual himself. On the one hand you have the trust in the organisation [military] to ensure you meet the requirements, on the other hand the individual's responsibility to comply. They should meet in the middle, but if the individual doesn't comply the organisation can't really force him to. This should be an administrative matter included in the induction of all non-citizens into the military, to be finalised when his service terminates.

So without knowing the facts of the matter it might be easy to judge. Probably the truth lies inbetween somewhere.

[Gil Boyd]

Filing for Citizenship is done by MOD as you reach the end of your tenure in the UK it is usually successful but for these eight time out and not being around to properly assist with a signature due to operations in Afghanistan caused a hole to appear in the "filing" system. Most of the paperwork ironically is done when you join up from these countries , otherwise you wouldn't get in to UK Armed Forces.
It is the MOD then with those papers complete or not in their hands who make the decision as the soldier reaches the end of his service. The soldier has to go along with the judgement.

Identical to the Gurkhas, who were also made to look as if they to wanted to change the rules....NOT so!
They were treated like an empty carton being put in the rubbish............"you have served your purpose now go back to your own country".

[mrclark303]

Disgraceful indeed....

As said, especially when you consider the economic migration to the UK and the way most of these 'individuals' are welcomed in.

Outrageous and nationally shameful Gil.

[fjruple]

Outrageous and Disgraceful. Is there any British veteran groups helping these poor lads?

[capt14k]

Filing for Citizenship is done by MOD as you reach the end of your tenure in the UK it is usually successful but for these eight time out and not being around to properly assist with a signature due to operations in Afghanistan caused a hole to appear in the "filing" system. Most of the paperwork ironically is done when you join up from these countries , otherwise you wouldn't get in to UK Armed Forces.
It is the MOD then with those papers complete or not in their hands who make the decision as the soldier reaches the end of his service. The soldier has to go along with the judgement.

Identical to the Gurkhas, who were also made to look as if they to wanted to change the rules....NOT so!
They were treated like an empty carton being put in the rubbish............"you have served your purpose now go back to your own country".

Didn't the one fellow not return within the required 2 years? It also sounds like they didn't have the monies required. Is that not the case?

[Gil Boyd]

He wasn't on UK soil he was in Afghanistan where comms at the best of times to do with welfare and immigration are the last things they hear about

[Flying10uk]

The problem at the moment seems to be that no one seems too sure what the rules actually are or how they are applied.

[fjruple]

Common sense to do what is right?

[Flying10uk]

Does a non British subject who is/has served in the Uk armed forces have to pay £2,389 just to apply for British citizenship then?

[Surpmil]

What exactly are the rules on foreign enlistments in U.K. armed forces these days?