Hundreds of paratroopers have been reported banned from an annual NATO deployment in the Balkans after videos of an orgy at a military barracks emerged.
In a letter to generals and commanding officers, the new head of the army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, said he was unwilling to “risk the mission or reputation of the British army” by sending them to the foreigner.
Eight paratroopers from the 16th Air Assault Brigade had been subjected to a police investigation this month after being filmed in a consensual orgy with a civilian woman at Merville Barracks in Colchester, Essex, while dozens of others watched.
Although military police determined that no crime had been committed, Sanders said the activity could have been interpreted as “denigrating women” and violating military values and standards, the report said. Times, who has seen the letter.
The newspaper reports that the woman was believed to have been smuggled into the barracks up to 31 times in five months. He said the incident followed a number of other cases of misconduct during an exercise in Northern Macedonia in May, when it was learned that members of 3 Para were charged with “unprofessional conduct” during the exercise. , along with soldiers from other battalions.
Sanders wrote: “My message to the military is clear: our license to operate is based on trust, and we must meet the highest standards,” the Times quoted him as saying.
He added that “this behavior is unacceptable, corrosive and detrimental to the reputation of the military.”
In another quoted excerpt, Sanders added: “Recent events have indicated that 3 Para is not demonstrating the levels of discipline and respect for others expected of one of our battalions.
“I am not prepared to risk the NATO mission or the reputation of the British Army deploying 3 Para at this time.”
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The annual deployment in the Balkans is for a 10-day exercise with NATO allies, although troops typically remain for more than a month. More than 400 paratroopers travel to both Bosnia and Kosovo, and will lose a medal and an extra salary they normally receive for deployment abroad.
Instead, they are asked to take advantage of the month to “reflect on where they have fallen below what we all expect from our army.” Options for replacing the battalion with one for the exercise are said to be being discussed.
Soldiers directly involved in the sex tape will also be eliminated from the next battalion as Air Maneuver Battlegroup, which remains prepared to deploy in response to global crises.
The Ministry of Defense has been contacted for comment.