Brother continues fight for veteran suicide victim as royal commission wraps up | A Current Affair

Published: Sep 10, 2024 Duration: 00:06:39 Category: News & Politics

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nothing made John prouder than serving his country alongside his little brother Andrew but Andrew's military career tragically took its toll one of far too many soldiers lost in the aftermath of War they deserved better let down by the very system meant to protect [Music] them I've served my country and I enjoyed serving my country former petty officer John Armfield signed up to fight for his country mate it it was my life it was it was only just below having a family um it was something I did with pride now he's fighting for truth and Justice I've done nothing wrong except for ask questions about my brother John armfield's brother Andrew in listed in the Australian Army in 2001 it was on my advice that he joined the army I advised him to join John himself enlisted in the Navy 2 years later becoming a clearance diver this one sort of sums up my career after a deployment to East t-m more Andrew transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force Andrew was living with PTSD in 2011 Andrew attempted suicide and suffered a stroke my brother told me he was going to attempt a second time John warned doctors but was told he was overplaying it soon after the Armfield family was contacted by police informing them Andrew had again tried to take his own life so I sat with my brother for a couple of hours until life support was turned off the following day John was approached by a nurse she bursts into tears and she goes they're not telling you everything I said what are you talking about she handed him a hospital report which revealed six 1 lit bottles of whiskey had been found in Andrew's room the 34-year-old had been prescribed metazine a medication that could trigger suicidal ideations and shouldn't be taken when consuming alcohol at that stage I identified there was there was a mass failing there in 2021 he was moved to Defense Force Recruiting and then I found myself sitting at Defense Force Recruiting trying to tell other people is safe from the join that year 10 years after his brother had died he received a report into Andrew's death it it brought me to tears years it broke me um he reached out to the ADF for help the Defense Force told me to go to the raw commission I found myself in a situation where the organization I loved was not helping me but he kept asking questions this was a legal mindfield that I'd stepped into John Armfield lodged a complaint of maladministration but says he was told the AL ation could not be substantiated because he had admitted to seeing a psychologist I found it disgusting um it was abhorrent that they could use me seeing a Navy psychologist John later met with the chief of Navy I said I'm a petty officer in the Royal Australian Navy I said I've served you for 20 years sir fight for me do something at one stage John discovered his sensitive information was available on a Defense Force website breaching his privacy he reported the data breach but remarkably he was placed under investigation by military police the system had beat me down for one and a half years at this point John was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing the organization was closing ranks around this fight for truth accountability and Justice I found myself on the married father of two was even offered a promotion and posting to San Diego he claims that that was an attempted payoff and maintains he couldn't live with himself if he sold out I've sold my brother my fellow colleagues who committed suicide my own Integrity but I'm also culpable and responsible for the next suicide and there will be more unfortunately do you swear by almighty God that the evidence in March John Armfield entered the Royal commission into defense and Veteran suicide witness box the 6th of March was my chance to tell my story I'd loyally serve my nation John presented a mountain of evidence evidence that was not challenged by ADF lawyers the entire time they've been gaslighting me and telling me there was nothing to see and yet they still didn't want to cross-examine the evidence John AR showed significant courage bravery in putting his hand up and coming forward Royal commissioner Nick CIS says the inquiry has uncovered Decades of welfare issues involving the ADF they are now undeniable and they must be dealt with John armfield's anger is aimed at three senior officers who can't be named for legal reasons the organization still fights tooth and nail to protect them even though the chief of Navy clearly says they've done wrong but he's vowed never to give up the fight it's my little brother I'm not I'm not going away you're a good man John and it's a fight worth having and if you're someone Close to You needs help support is available you can contact Lifeline the number is 13114

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