Allow wounded to continue to serve, ex-soldiers, opposition tell defence chief
OTTAWA – An Afghan war veteran and opposition parties say the country’s top military commander has the authority to retain wounded soldiers who want to continue to serve and he should exercise it.
Former corporal David Hawkins says there are positions within the military that disabled soldiers can fill without compromising the need to have a fit fighting force.
The former combat engineer is among the roughly 200 military personnel who are discharged every year for medical reasons and before reaching pensionable age.
He pleaded to stay in the military in order to retrain as a firefighter, but was let go at the end of October.
NDP defence critic Jack Harris says the chief of defence staff must approve each release and Gen. Tom Lawson should take the wishes of individual soldiers into consideration.
Defence Minister Rob Nicholson insists that the department makes every accommodation to keep soldiers and provides them with the best possible care before they are discharged.
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