Ensuring people are defence’s most important asset through representation
Contact Us to get Involved
When the Service Complaints Ombudsman (SCO) says 90% of those who should complain, don’t, and 70% of those whose complaints get to her office should have been resolved before hand. 100% of those in the complaints system suffer mentally. The SCO describes a broken system.
We do not have the ability to deal with individual grievances, but we listen to generate a collective understanding. There is more power in a story with substance and mass; so many experiences are shared. We provide a collective voice.
We are not endorsed by the MoD, we strive to do most of our work behind closed doors, talking influencing, developing and changing attitudes where necessary. We are a flag up a flag pole, but we have influence.
We are here to help defence as much as the people in Defence and those who have served. We strive to bring focus where there is myopic thinking and clarity where there is clouded thinking.
We aim to serve, to serve those in defence who are unrepresented by any independent body by lobbying those in power with the authority to implement change both in Parliament and in the MoD.
Listening
We are not part of the MoD nor linked to any Chain of Command. We are experienced, representative, knowledgeable, driven and connected. We provide a safe space for all personnel from defence, both serving and veterans.
Representing
As a listening team we understand. We know where things go right, we know where things go wrong, we know what should happen and we know what does happen. We strive to ensure the should and stop the shouldn’t.
Acting
Our primary role is to be your voice. We can say the things you can’t, we can contact the people who need to know and should act. We want to make People as the most important asset at the heart of defence
Independent Defence
Yes, we have no formal remit from any government organisation nor are we funded by the MoD or any related organisation.
Defence
Our focus in Defence people, serving and veterans. We want to enhance frontline capability and veterans support through independent representation.
Authority
We are not appointed by any formal body so don’t have authority by position.
We have authority of knowledge through over 100 years of collective knowledge in defence with command experience. We have authority of personality in that we have individuals wiling to stand up for what we believe is right.
However, our underpinning authority is the same moral authority Nelson Mandela invoked having shared the dangers and hardships of others, we too have seen at first hand the injustices that exist across defence.
What We Do
What we do is very simple. We listen, we advise, we represent we lobby. We talk to people you can’t, we highlight causes, issues, injustices, concerns. We aim to make defence work for its people thereby its people work better for defence.
Our Story
A group of like minded individuals from different areas of defence, with different backgrounds but one common story. We have been let down. We recognise that the cry “People are our most important asset,” is just that a cry. We recognise that the chain of command is about one thing when issues arise, that is protecting the chain of command and not the individual.
No other element of our society goes unrepresented. We are that independent representation for defence people.
News & Updates
IDA Feb – March 2023 Update
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces February/March 2023 New Chief of Defence People refuses to meet with IDA. In what can only be interpreted as a closed mentality in the face of tumbling recruiting/retention figures, dissatisfaction being expressed on...
IDA January 2023 Update
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces - update January 2023 Update State of Play As 2023 Begins As we enter a new year, we must not lose sight of the horrors of the Ukraine conflict and commend the support and contribution of the Secretary of State for...
IDA August September 2022 Monthly Update to Parliament
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces August/September 2022 Tribute to the Armed Forces: It is important to pay tribute to the 5,949 members of the UK's Armed Forces who were deployed on ceremonial duties since the death of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II....
IDA May June 22 Update
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces May/June 2022 IDA Update New CGS setting the tone and role modelling The condemnation by the newly appointed CGS of the conduct of3 PARAis encouraging, with Gen Sir Patrick Sanders writing that, “My message to the Army is...
Veterans UK Medical Advisors
It is often difficult for Veterans to find out the details of the Medial Advisors in Veterans UK who have been dealing with their case. This page will list those advisors known to the IDA for ease of reference, all details are a matter of public record published on...
CGS Letter to the Army regarding behaviour in 3 Para
IDA April / May 22 Update
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces - April/May 2022 Update Veterans snubbed yet again – this time by Government refusal to overhaul the system The Armed Forces Defence Minister, Leo Docherty, has refused to carry out an independent review of...
IDA February Update to Parliament
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces February 2022 Update 1. MoD support for Ukraine Top marks for Secretary-of-State, Ben Wallace, taking such an affirmative and leading international stance in supporting Ukraine. There remains hope that this same commitment...
Independent Defence Authority – January 2022 Update
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces Independent Defence Authority – January 2022 Update – 31 January 2022 Passage of the Armed Forces Bill, but major issues are still unresolved The Armed Forces Bill has now received its royal Assent, but many of the...
What the IDA is about
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces December 2021 – Independent Defence Authority Update
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces December 2021 – Independent Defence Authority Update Government Response to the Parliamentary Women in Defence Report In being over two months late in responding to the WID, the Government showed disrespect for the primacy...
Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life – IDA Comments
Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life – IDA Comments The Independent Defence Authority is saddened at the detail in the Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life report released today 25th July 2021. Saddened because it reflects...
