by Tom Cotterill, Telegraph
Suspension was a failure to encourage critical thinking, says retired admiral
An RAF cadet has been suspended from his officer training course after branding Islam the greatest threat to Britain.
The trainee officer, who was on a 24-week officer training programme at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, reportedly made the comment during a debate on national security involving around 50 fellow cadets shortly before Easter.
He was immediately removed from the course and is currently under investigation.
An RAF spokesman said: “We are aware of an alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour involving a cadet at RAF Cranwell. An investigation is ongoing. We are unable to comment further.”
The suspension drew sharp criticism from Chris Parry, a retired Rear Admiral, who described it as a failure to encourage proper debate among young members of the Armed Forces.
He added: “If I’d asked that question and got that answer I would have also asked the cadet to expand on his thinking and got some critical thinking going rather than suspend him.”
The veteran officer criticised those involved in suspending the officer cadet, saying a distinction should have been drawn between Islam and radical extremism, and questioning whether it was necessary to suspend the trainee.
Mr Parry added that he was “furious” about the handling of the incident, and argued that training systems should allow future officers to articulate and refine their views on sensitive topics rather than penalise them outright.
“Clearly Islamic extremism is the issue and not Islam, but how are young people expected to develop critical thinking around these complex issues if they are shut down in this way?” Mr Parry asked GB News.
“If this cadet had answered ‘the far-Right’ I doubt he would have been suspended.”