"Push Through": The Hidden Cost of Injury in the UK Armed Forces

BY Dean Phillips

Former Royal Air Force Medic

In the UK Armed Forces, resilience is not just encouraged – it is expected.

From day one, we are taught to push through discomfort, ignore pain, and complete the mission regardless of personal cost.

That mindset builds some of the toughest, most capable individuals in the world. But it also creates a dangerous culture when it comes to injury and recovery.

Because sometimes, “pushing through” doesn’t make you stronger – it leaves you broken.

The Culture of “Push Through”

Whether preparing for deployment, attempting to pass a promotion course, or simply trying not to let your team down, many service personnel feel an unspoken pressure: don’t be the one who falls out.

Injuries are often downplayed. A bad knee becomes “just a niggle.” Chronic foot pain becomes “part of the job.” Rest is seen as weakness, and medical downgrades can carry stigma – particularly when career progression is on the line.

For many, the fear isn’t the injury itself – it’s what reporting it might cost:

Missing a deployment
Failing a career course
Being seen as unreliable
Damaging promotion prospects

So instead, personnel carry on.

When Push Through Becomes Personal

I know this because I lived it.

I tore ankle ligaments playing unit-level rugby on a Wednesday afternoon. I was in A&E for six hours, eventually getting to bed around midnight.

It was a significant injury – my ankle was severely swollen and not allowed to touch the ground at any time. They fitted me with an Aircast.

The next morning, I messaged my boss expecting some support: an appointment with the medical officer, some medication, and time to recover.

The appointment was booked, but I was still expected in work at 0800, in uniform.

The walk was about three-quarters of a mile; I was on crutches and in agony.

My boss had already “briefed” the medical officer. They issued me a light duties chit – a document telling me what activities would worsen my condition – and told me to keep my foot elevated where possible.

So, I was placed on main reception at the medical centre and told to put my foot up on the desk.

Did I argue? Did I complain?

No. I did what most of us do.

I sucked it up.

Three weeks later, I was even carrying out my own ultrasound treatment on that same ankle – so I wouldn’t take valuable physiotherapy appointments from others.

And this wasn’t a one-off.

That ankle was injured four more times.

The Reality Behind the Record

“It was one of many instances where injury was managed around the needs of the job, not the needs of recovery.”

On paper, I was recovering.

In reality, I wasn’t.

This is the problem. The system records “fitness” based on what is seen and reported, but not always what is truly happening beneath the surface. When operational demand is high, recovery becomes secondary to capability.

People return to duty too early. They underreport symptoms. They convince themselves they are fine because that is what is expected.

The Long-Term Consequences

I left the Royal Air Force over 20 months ago, and I am now facing at least three surgeries linked to injuries sustained during service.

This not only affects my health and quality of life – it also has a direct impact on my ability to progress my Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claim.

Decisions rely heavily on medical evidence, ongoing treatment, and clearly documented injury progression.

And when your medical history is incomplete because you spent years “pushing through”, it creates even more challenges in proving your case.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Gap

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) requires clear medical evidence linking injury to service. But what happens when that evidence doesn’t exist in the way it should?

Years of:

Avoiding medical appointments
Downplaying symptoms
Declaring yourself fit when you’re not

Doing these things leaves gaps in the record.

The result is a system where:

Those who “pushed through” are disadvantaged
Those who reported early are better protected
And the culture that was instilled in us works against us later in life

A System at Odds with Itself

In the Armed Forces, we are trained to:

Put the mission first
Support the team at all costs
Push through the pain

Yet later, we are expected to provide detailed, consistent medical evidence of injuries we were conditioned to minimise.

Many veterans fight a second, quieter battle – for recognition of what they have been through, both legally and psychologically.

Moving Forward: Change Is Needed

This is not about criticising the Armed Forces: it is about recognising a systemic issue.

We need:

A culture where injury reporting is encouraged, not feared
Protection for career progression when seeking medical help
Better recording of ongoing conditions – not just “fitness for duty”
Greater awareness of long-term consequences of untreated injuries
A more flexible approach to evidence within compensation claims

Addressing the Push-Through Rule

“Push through” has its place. It builds resilience and saves lives when it matters most.

But when it comes to injury and recovery, it can also cause lasting harm.

No one should leave the Armed Forces facing multiple surgeries, delayed compensation decisions, and a lack of evidence – simply because they did what they were trained to do.

“Sometimes, the strongest thing a person can do isn’t to push through. It’s to speak up.”