A BBC Radio 4 investigation asks why the Ministry of Defence continues to use a drug that has been shown to cause psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia and confusion. It is alleged that, unlike other travellers who are able to make an informed choice and change their medication if they experience problems, some British service personnel in malarial regions have been given no choice and, in some cases, have been ignored when they reported side effects.

Veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress report a 26% increase in the number of ex-Service personnel seeking help for mental ill-health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) over the last year. They say that the increase is mainly accounted for by a marked rise in those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan seeking help.

As predicted, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) has recommended a general increase of 1% in base pay, increases of up to 2.8% in rental charges for service accommodation, and of 1.5% in the daily food charge.

BAFF has also just learned that Australian Defence Force personnel, after a hard-fought but respectful campaign by representative organisations with influential MP support, have finally won an increase to their Government's original pay offer.

The Times is reporting that a member of 1 PARA who ran a gauntlet of gunfire three times as he rescued a US marine has become the first living British soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for the war in Afghanistan: