The British army’s top bomb disposal officer has stepped down, citing concerns about both manpower and the stress of the job in Afghanistan, according to news reports on Monday.
Colonel Bob Seddon has resigned as principal ammunition technical officer of the Royal Logistics Corps, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. The resignation would take effect on Tuesday.
“He remains a serving officer and will not be commenting. The army remains committed to the counter—IED (improvised explosive device) effort, which is the number—one priority in Afghanistan,” a spokesman said.
IEDs are a constant threat to foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Col. Seddon, in an interview to be published by broadcaster BBC today, has said that the military needs more manpower in Afghanistan and added that the stress of the job could have psychological impacts.
However, he said it would take “some time” to get that extra personnel.
“I’m very concerned that, in the longer term, some of my people who have done phenomenally difficult and dangerous work in Afghanistan may pay a deeper psychological price for the work that they’ve conducted,” he said in the interview, part of a documentary.
He added that the army is considering a study on the psychological impact of bomb disposal operations.
“I will make sure that everything possible is done to ensure that our forces have all they need to deal with this indiscriminate threat. They deserve nothing less.”
