What's the difference between 27 inches and 30 inches

[Viking Warrior]

Saw this story yesterday on the BBC

 

The answer is 100k the us the cost of making RAF female recruits have a stride 3 inches longer than the regulation for females .

 

It will add to the. Debate re women in the front line .

Three female RAF recruits are to be paid compensation for injuries reportedly suffered while marching alongside male colleagues.

 

They claimed parading alongside taller male recruits caused them to over-stride and develop spinal and pelvic injuries, the Mail on Sunday reported.

 

It is understood they will receive £100,000 from the MoD.

 

The MoD said the RAF had now reviewed its recruit training practices to reduce the risk.

 

The women told the Mail on Sunday they had extended their strides to 30in (76cm) over several weeks while undergoing basic training.

 

RAF official policy now states female recruits should not be expected to extend the length of their strides beyond 27in (69cm).

 

The paper reported that lawyers for one of the recruits claimed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had accused the three of exaggerating their symptoms during the five-year legal battle.

 

As well as marching in step with male colleagues at RAF Halton, in Buckinghamshire, the recruits claimed that carrying the same heavy packs as males had also contributed to their injuries, the paper reported.

 

 

'Over 6ft tall'

Claimant Tracie Davies, from Odiham in Hampshire, started basic training with the RAF in January 2006 at the age of 22.

 

She told the Mail on Sunday: "The guys were over 6ft tall so I was over-striding to march in step with them.

 

Continue reading the main story

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Start Quote

 

Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so”

 

Ministry of Defence

"When I started getting pains in my groin I was told to march through it, even when I was carrying a heavy pack which was almost the size of me.

 

"I trusted the medics to know better than me so I carried on marching."

 

She said she had suffered four pelvic fractures and was medically discharged in 2008.

 

The MoD confirmed that a settlement was agreed with the former recruits on 7 August after they suffered stress fracture injuries.

[Batman]

It's a f - ING joke

[Viking Warrior]

It is a joke batman . So if all the men have to lessen their to stride to 27 inches would they then sue the mod for pelvic and leg injuries .

 

Have the lawyers not realised that not all men are 6ft and many are the same height as women

[Minty]

The joke is trying to make everyone do the same thing. It is entirely feasible that by forcing anyone (men or women) to do something which is not within their comfortable range of motion, can cause injury. Whether that's a reason for a compensation claim is another thing, but medically, there is an underlying point that needs addressing here.

[bridge too far]

It is a joke batman . So if all the men have to lessen their to stride to 27 inches would they then sue the mod for pelvic and leg injuries .

 

Have the lawyers not realised that not all men are 6ft and many are the same height as women

 

But of course the construction of male and female pelvises are very different

[Bearsy]

But of course the construction of male and female pelvises are very different

 

i love it when you talk dirty.

 

Just by the by, ain't it normal to get pay our when ur injury at work? Woman at my place got £12k for shutting her hand in door. I've been bit tempted to try it myself!

[littleoldladysaint]

As an ex-service woman, (many moons ago of course) I did come across this problem. At that time the men/women's services were not merged and the regulation pace for us was 27". However, I am only 5'2" tall and my normal pace is/was 25" and I found maintaining 27" very difficult. It felt as if I was goose-stepping! My legs ached for hours afterwards. I didn't suffer any permanent ill effects, I stopped marching and (eventually) stopped aching. But I wasn't carrying a backpack. If these women have suffered permanent damage then they do deserve compensation. It is only unfair when compared to the miserable compensation offered men who have suffered horrendous injuries, loss of limbs, sight etc. That is the real scandal that should be remedied immediately.

[Viking Warrior]

Minty . There are lots of aspects to be considered re the judgement . There are those that advocate equality in the forces . There are those groups that believe our female service personnel should be totally inclusive part of our front line forces such as the infantry. They would get upset if those standards were reduced . As for recruit training there are different levels of fitness tests for female and male . Perhaps some over zealous plt sgt got his drill stick measurements wrong ?

On parade all personnel should be marching at the same pace . Also there are different levels of fitness tests design to accommodate female personnel right through to the marines and paras

 

As old lady saint states more should be done for our injured personnel both male and female .

[Minty]

Minty . There are lots of aspects to be considered re the judgement . There are those that advocate equality in the forces . There are those groups that believe our female service personnel should be totally inclusive part of our front line forces such as the infantry. They would get upset if those standards were reduced . As for recruit training there are different levels of fitness tests for female and male . Perhaps some over zealous plt sgt got his drill stick measurements wrong ?

On parade all personnel should be marching at the same pace . Also there are different levels of fitness tests design to accommodate female personnel right through to the marines and paras

I accept all that. But humans are individual. I'm not even talking about men 'versus' women here, just that everyone is different, and so by making everyone do something the same way, when it could have clear medical implications for some of those who do it, is wrong, and actually potentially detrimental to the forces as they lose people to injury.

 

There are some standards, probably most, that would not have any impact. I agree that wherever possible, our forces should all meet the same high standards. But are we so regimented (pun intended) that parade stride distance is more important than the health of some of our forces? What is to gain?

 

As old lady saint states more should be done for our injured personnel both male and female .

Agreed, but a completely separate point.

[benjii]

What's stupid is volunteering to be institutionalised to the extent that someone gives a **** how long your stride is.

[Unbelievable Jeff]

i love it when you talk dirty.

 

Just by the by, ain't it normal to get pay our when ur injury at work? Woman at my place got £12k for shutting her hand in door. I've been bit tempted to try it myself!

 

What industry do you work in Bearsy? Obvs you are a comedian, but I assume you don't work in that arena. I am imagining you work in tax.

[The9]

What's stupid is volunteering to be institutionalised to the extent that someone gives a **** how long your stride is.

 

I'm more than happy for others to do this.