One of my soldiers is leaving #ATDU this week on promotion. We talked a lot on mental health and #BlackLivesMatter
He is of a mixed race background and he made the following observations which are worth noting. (THREAD)
He is of a mixed race background and he made the following observations which are worth noting. (THREAD)
He grew up in an area of depravation in the 1980s. His mother and father suffered horrific racism from both black and white communities for the choice they made for love.
He attended school and “wasn’t black enough for those lads - and not white enough for the others”.
He attended school and “wasn’t black enough for those lads - and not white enough for the others”.
He lost his mother at a young age. Dad remarried to a South Asian family and the family now has proud religious and cultural heritage from that region.
An incredible journey.
He offered the following thoughts about Army life.
An incredible journey.
He offered the following thoughts about Army life.
When he joined the Army he finally ‘fitted in’ because people took hi. For who he was - not who he was ‘meant’ to be. His identity riddle was solved.
He has a nick name that makes reference to his heritage - but he celebrates that and enjoys it - but acknowledges others may not
He has a nick name that makes reference to his heritage - but he celebrates that and enjoys it - but acknowledges others may not
His words “the Army isn’t racist, but like anywhere we do have some people who are racist - but we need to be careful. Often this word is banded around and we need to be clear it’s wrong and tell people why - not just claim - well that’s racist. Otherwise people aren’t learning”.
The soldier is incredibly proud of all parts of his identity.
His one concern was that we’re careful not to divide ourselves as a community in the Army. He said the one thing I loved is I saw all of my heritage in the Army in one place (his Bn) not separate communities.
His one concern was that we’re careful not to divide ourselves as a community in the Army. He said the one thing I loved is I saw all of my heritage in the Army in one place (his Bn) not separate communities.
Let me be clear he wasn’t taking an “all lives matter approach” if anything what he was saying is let’s not divide through diversity but focus on the inclusion aspect. “We’re one family - like mine - that’s what makes us strong”.
On mental health he went to great lengths to impress on the need to unpack soldiers’ early lives (before the Army) as part of the resilience that’s required IN the Army.
A very shrewd observation - he having come through six operational tours and havin had to revisit that too.
A very shrewd observation - he having come through six operational tours and havin had to revisit that too.
