How do they become a "man"... heh heh heh.

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yomamalikesme

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Posted: Nov 28, 2005 - 10:00 AM
Post subject: How do they become a "man"... heh heh heh.

Published: 28 November 2005
A criminal investigation is being carried out into bullying in the Royal Navy after new recruits were filmed apparently being subjected to violent bullying as part of an initiation ceremony.
A video has emerged seemingly showing a newly qualified member of the navy's Royal Marines beaten unconscious by someone who is said to be one of the man's senior officers.

The alleged assault was filmed by a fellow marine of 42 Commando unit, who claimed in an interview with the News of the World that initiation rituals involving the sadistic use of violence were commonplace. He said that in this case the wounds inflicted were so severe as to be life-threatening.

The Ministry of Defence announced that the Military Police's Special Investigations Board would be carrying out the investigation into the alleged abuse, said to have taken place at a barracks at Bickleigh, near Plymouth, in May this year.

It is thought at this stage that investigators, who have known of the video's existence for more than a week, are treating it as genuine. An MOD spokeswoman was unable to confirm yesterday whether the alleged perpetrator had been suspended, or whether he was continuing to work with newly qualified marines at the barracks.

The MOD denies that bullying and harassment are widespread in the armed forces. However, the investigation will bring the spotlight once more onto the effectiveness of their supposedly zero-tolerance policies, and the extent to which incidences of violence continue to be permitted within the forces.

Concerns over the treatment of young service personnel were sparked by the Army's handling of the deaths of three men and a woman at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002. An exhaustive campaign by the soldiers' families has brought about a number of inquiries into the deaths and the use of bullying at Deepcut and elsewhere in the forces.

One police inquiry recommended "root and branch reform", while another found that, even according to the forces' own records, one in 10 military personnel has complained of being bullied or harassed.

An independent review into the deaths has been ordered by a Defence minister, Adam Ingram, which is expected to be published before the end of the year.

Col Tim Collins, who fought with the Royal Irish Regiment in Iraq before resigning last year, told Sky News the Deepcut review will "hang like a spectre" over the latest investigation.

Calling for an inquiry into use of initiation ceremonies, he said the assaults seemed to be a "serious abuse of power". He added that he had "no doubt the Queen's uniform had been disgraced by this behaviour".

The News of the World reported that the video shows 12 new marines, who had recently finished a 32-week training course, being brought to a field. Around 40 other marines, most of whom appear to be naked, encircle the men.

The officer at the centre of the investigation issues instructions for the young men to eat raw eggs and chunks of lard. Then he orders them to strip naked, and to give each other piggy backs around the field, the newspaper claims.

Briefly he disappears from the field of view before returning, dressed in a surgeon's uniform, mask and cap and orders two of the men to wrestle each other. A third man, dressed in a schoolgirl's uniform, oversees the fight.

At first, the two men are provided with rubber padding for their arms, but they are then told to remove it. When one of the alleged victims asks his superior why this is happening, the superior attacks him brutally, rendering the young man unconscious, according to the newspaper. When the man regains consciousness, he vomits.

Initiation ceremonies involving violence are commonplace within the marines, the newspaper reports, with newly qualified marines breaking their legs after being made to jump out of windows, and electronic pads, taken from massage machines, attached to their testicles and heads. The commander of the unit under investigation, Lieut-Col Ged Salzano, is understood to have recently reminded his subordinates that initiation ceremonies, or "joining runs", are effectively banned.

The MOD would not give details on how wide-ranging the investigation is likely to be, or whether it will extend beyond alleged incidences at Bickleigh.

The Military Police carried out a 16-month investigation into the training centre at Lympstone which supplies personnel for 42 Commando. This culminated in December last year with six members of the training team being charged. However, the charges against the six were dropped in January after the Army Prosecuting Authority decided to discontinue the investigation when new, undisclosed evidence came to light. None of the six is still working at the Lympstone centre.

Cases the Army must answer

* DEEPCUT

The families of four young soldiers claimed by the Army to have committed suicide began their call for a public inquiry in 2002, alleging that the soldiers were the victims of relentless bullying campaigns that culminated in their deaths. The findings of an independent review will be published shortly, but the families' request for a public inquiry, now taken up by MPs, has not been granted.

* LEAH MATES

Corporal Leah Mates, a special forces spy, claims she endured 10 years of sexual harassment from comrades. She alleges a fellow soldier masturbated in front of her, while another dragged her 25 yards by her hair. She is claiming £686,000. The Ministry of Defence denies the allegations and the case continues.

* NINA MIDDLEMASS

In 2000, L/Cpl Nina Middlemass received a £21,500 settlement after claiming senior officers victimised her. They told her she must have an abortion or face being asked to leave the Army. Her lawyers said her experience was evidence of a culture of victimisation and discrimination endemic in the Army.

* LESLIE HUGHES

The former private in the Royal Pioneer Corps was awarded £745,000 in an agreed settlement in 2000 after he developed paranoid schizophrenia following an incident in which he was pushed through a window and seriously injured his arm. The MoD denied that his experience amounted to bullying.

A criminal investigation is being carried out into bullying in the Royal Navy after new recruits were filmed apparently being subjected to violent bullying as part of an initiation ceremony.

A video has emerged seemingly showing a newly qualified member of the navy's Royal Marines beaten unconscious by someone who is said to be one of the man's senior officers.

The alleged assault was filmed by a fellow marine of 42 Commando unit, who claimed in an interview with the News of the World that initiation rituals involving the sadistic use of violence were commonplace. He said that in this case the wounds inflicted were so severe as to be life-threatening.

The Ministry of Defence announced that the Military Police's Special Investigations Board would be carrying out the investigation into the alleged abuse, said to have taken place at a barracks at Bickleigh, near Plymouth, in May this year.

It is thought at this stage that investigators, who have known of the video's existence for more than a week, are treating it as genuine. An MOD spokeswoman was unable to confirm yesterday whether the alleged perpetrator had been suspended, or whether he was continuing to work with newly qualified marines at the barracks.

The MOD denies that bullying and harassment are widespread in the armed forces. However, the investigation will bring the spotlight once more onto the effectiveness of their supposedly zero-tolerance policies, and the extent to which incidences of violence continue to be permitted within the forces.

Concerns over the treatment of young service personnel were sparked by the Army's handling of the deaths of three men and a woman at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002. An exhaustive campaign by the soldiers' families has brought about a number of inquiries into the deaths and the use of bullying at Deepcut and elsewhere in the forces.

One police inquiry recommended "root and branch reform", while another found that, even according to the forces' own records, one in 10 military personnel has complained of being bullied or harassed.

An independent review into the deaths has been ordered by a Defence minister, Adam Ingram, which is expected to be published before the end of the year.

Col Tim Collins, who fought with the Royal Irish Regiment in Iraq before resigning last year, told Sky News the Deepcut review will "hang like a spectre" over the latest investigation.

Calling for an inquiry into use of initiation ceremonies, he said the assaults seemed to be a "serious abuse of power". He added that he had "no doubt the Queen's uniform had been disgraced by this behaviour".

The News of the World reported that the video shows 12 new marines, who had recently finished a 32-week training course, being brought to a field. Around 40 other marines, most of whom appear to be naked, encircle the men.

The officer at the centre of the investigation issues instructions for the young men to eat raw eggs and chunks of lard. Then he orders them to strip naked, and to give each other piggy backs around the field, the newspaper claims.
Briefly he disappears from the field of view before returning, dressed in a surgeon's uniform, mask and cap and orders two of the men to wrestle each other. A third man, dressed in a schoolgirl's uniform, oversees the fight.

At first, the two men are provided with rubber padding for their arms, but they are then told to remove it. When one of the alleged victims asks his superior why this is happening, the superior attacks him brutally, rendering the young man unconscious, according to the newspaper. When the man regains consciousness, he vomits.

Initiation ceremonies involving violence are commonplace within the marines, the newspaper reports, with newly qualified marines breaking their legs after being made to jump out of windows, and electronic pads, taken from massage machines, attached to their testicles and heads. The commander of the unit under investigation, Lieut-Col Ged Salzano, is understood to have recently reminded his subordinates that initiation ceremonies, or "joining runs", are effectively banned.

The MOD would not give details on how wide-ranging the investigation is likely to be, or whether it will extend beyond alleged incidences at Bickleigh.

The Military Police carried out a 16-month investigation into the training centre at Lympstone which supplies personnel for 42 Commando. This culminated in December last year with six members of the training team being charged. However, the charges against the six were dropped in January after the Army Prosecuting Authority decided to discontinue the investigation when new, undisclosed evidence came to light. None of the six is still working at the Lympstone centre.

Cases the Army must answer

* DEEPCUT

The families of four young soldiers claimed by the Army to have committed suicide began their call for a public inquiry in 2002, alleging that the soldiers were the victims of relentless bullying campaigns that culminated in their deaths. The findings of an independent review will be published shortly, but the families' request for a public inquiry, now taken up by MPs, has not been granted.

* LEAH MATES

Corporal Leah Mates, a special forces spy, claims she endured 10 years of sexual harassment from comrades. She alleges a fellow soldier masturbated in front of her, while another dragged her 25 yards by her hair. She is claiming £686,000. The Ministry of Defence denies the allegations and the case continues.

* NINA MIDDLEMASS

In 2000, L/Cpl Nina Middlemass received a £21,500 settlement after claiming senior officers victimised her. They told her she must have an abortion or face being asked to leave the Army. Her lawyers said her experience was evidence of a culture of victimisation and discrimination endemic in the Army.

* LESLIE HUGHES

The former private in the Royal Pioneer Corps was awarded £745,000 in an agreed settlement in 2000 after he developed paranoid schizophrenia following an incident in which he was pushed through a window and seriously injured his arm. The MoD denied that his experience amounted to bullying.