Media: AFP
Byline: n/a
Date: 25 August 2006

LONDON - British Private Jason Chelsea committed suicide after he was
allegedly told by his commanders that he could be ordered to fire on child
suicide bombers in an upcoming tour of duty in Iraq, newspapers reported on
Friday.

His mother said Thursday that before dying, the 19-year-old told her: "I
can't go out there and shoot at young children. I just can't go to Iraq. I
don't care what side they are on. I can't do it," The Independent reported.

The Times quoted army sources as saying, however, that there was no evidence
that Iraqi insurgents used young children as suicide bombers and that
pre-deployment training did not include any such warnings.

At home on leave, Chelsea, who had previously served in Germany and Cyprus,
took 60 painkillers and then slashed his wrists on the night of August 10.
He died on August 14 from irreparable damage done to his liver, and would
not have survived a transplant, doctors told his parents.

Chelsea had previously attempted to commit suicide in 2004, when he cut his
wrists in his barracks.

"The army is greatly saddened by the death of Kingsman (Private) Chelsea," a
spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence told AFP.

"The thoughts and sympathies of all its soldiers are with his family and
friends at this very difficult time."

"There are going to be investigations into this incident ... and until they
are complete, we can't comment any further."

It is a shame he took that course of action, which leads up to the question of why did he join the army, if killing was abhorrent to him

Odd that he wasn't discharged after the first attempt.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot over?!

Originally Posted by bulldogg

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot over?!

Make that double!

Surely there must of being warning signs this kid was about to crack?

Damn lucky he only killed himself and no others around him.

The news here (bbc) at the moment doesnt help I guess. Its seems to be making the us and the iraq war in general bigger and badder, its very biased I personally think.
Tony Blair is going to be in serious trouble next election.
Its sad story, but he obviously wasnt suppose to be in the army. Its a pity. A lot of people are joining nowerdays as they dont have great results in gsce etc and its the only option for them (besides working in tescos for the rest of your life), or else if a parent has served. Who knows.

Suicide attempt should equal disharge and help.
It's a shame it came to this though.

This kid slipped through the holes in the safety net and my heart goes out to his family. He was not cut out for military service and iI agreee with Nick that its a shame it came to this.

Originally Posted by bulldogg

This kid slipped through the holes in the safety net and my heart goes out to his family. He was not cut out for military service and iI agreee with Nick that its a shame it came to this.

The problem is what you do with somebody who attempts suicide.
Obviously they aren't suitable for military service, but you pretty much line them up to follow through with it if you discharge them. It is the last thing they need - another failure.

So it's catch 22. Keep them in, try and counsel them and fix the problem.... but risk having them top themselves. Or kick them out, and wash your hands of the problem... and then have him most likely kill himself still.

Its the lesser of two evils the way I see it. If they kill themselves after you discharge them at least then it only takes one life but if they stay in most go out "with a bang" and don't go alone. But I completely understand your point. I would think it appropriate to have them spend some time in a psych unit before they are discharged and perhaps if deemed a serious threat to themselves they are discharged directly into another hospital, civilian type to minimise the chances of a tragic outcome.