
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
Representing
Acting
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
Service police forces need to improve how they handle rape, serious sexual offences and domestic abuse
The British service police forces need to improve how they handle rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO), as well as domestic abuse, according to reports from the police inspectorate. Get the reports Royal Navy Police – Rape, serious sexual assault and domestic...
Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up (2023)
Inquiry In 2021, the Defence Sub-Committee, chaired by Sarah Atherton MP, conducted an inquiry into Women in the Armed Forces and female veterans. It published a detailed report in July 2021, which made a series of recommendations to improve the experiences...
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces July to November 2023
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces July-November 2023 This period has been dominated by the following- RAF complacency and obfuscation prevailing over the misogynist culture in its ranks. Amnesia seemingly struck the highest ranks...
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces
April-June 2023 Executive Summary The focus of the IDA focus remains the People strand of Defence and the need for objective advocacy and representation. The latest recruiting failures and attitude surveys continue to show that defence is incapable of maintaining even...
Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces
April-June 2023 - IDA Update Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces April-June 2023 The focus of the IDA remains the People strand of Defence and the need for objective advocacy and representation. The latest recruiting failures and attitude surveys continue to...
Chief of the Air Staff Statement on RAF Recruiting Inquiry
A statement from Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff. The full report can be read HERE The IDA continues to work to get the issues resolved and ensure accountability across all three Services. "Last September, my predecessor, Air Chief Marshal...
ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR VETERANS SURVEY FINDINGS
This is report is the published findings from what is apparently a much harder hitting report that the APPG Veterans Survey - link is here: ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR VETERANS SURVEY FINDINGS The IDA is trying to get the full report released. Background From...
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...
