EXCLUSIVE: Elgin man fights rare blood disorder to join RAF reserves
Ben Hoe was diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) when he was 12 years-old
An RAF reservist is revealing how he signed up for the military after battling a rare lifelong medical disorder.
Ben Hoe, from Elgin, was diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) when he was just 12 years old.
He says his dream armed forces role was at times "touch and go" as he had regular hospital visits and failed his air force medical the first time he applied.
However, the 21-year-old passed rigorous testing last year and is loving his role as a regiment gunner based at RAF Lossiemouth.
"We weren't sure if I would be able to join the military at all"
ITP is a blood disorder where there is bruising or bleeding because there are fewer platelets in the blood.
Around four out of every 100,000 people develop the condition every year and although it can managed, there is no cure.
Speaking from the North East base Ben, who is about to become a full-time police officer, detailed how his RAF journey has been an emotional rollercoaster.
He said: ""It was very touch and go at points, going through to hospital, blood tests and everything like that.
"We weren't sure if I would be able to join the military at all.
"After having my first rejection from the medical side of it and then trying again to join, after being found clear I was quite lucky to be able to do the job."
With three of his family members having an RAF background, including his Engineer dad, he was desperate to follow in their footsteps.
He added: "The RAF has always been part of my family. I've always looked at the military as a career opportunity, so when I was ready to it was one of the first places I looked.
"Going from not being able to join up at all to finally deploying and experiencing what it is like in the military like my family has, it was a big thing for me."
Soon after passing the necessary checks to join the RAF reserves as a regiment gunner in 2022, he was deployed to the front line on his first vital foreign mission in Cyprus helping protect personnel and equipment.
He said: "The heat was something to get used to, but all in all I learned a lot as a gunner.
"As it was my first time being away, being away for four months wasn't easy at times.
"Because it was over Christmas, you start missing your family more, you're missing out on family and social life.
"With everything going on with Ukraine and Russia we didn't know what we would see.
"We didn't know if we would see any espionage or anything happening.
"We were always on our feet and ready to do anything."
Purpose of documentary was "twofold"
Ben features on tonight's episode of the Channel 4 series, Top Guns: Inside the RAF.
The documentary follows the lives of those based at RAF Lossie and after the first episode aired two weeks ago, enquiries about RAF recruitment have increased by 70%.
RAF Lossiemouth Station Commander, Group Captain Jim Lee, says he wanted to showcase what working in the North East is like.
"The purpose of the documentary for me was twofold really.
"Increasing the amount of people interested in joining the RAF is definitely one of those.
"But what was really important to me was RAF Lossiemouth and increasing understanding of what it's like to be based up here in Moray.
"On this station particularly, but also in this region and what opportunities it offers you.
"People can often see this as a long way from home if they are from the south, so for me it was just about lifting the lid a bit on what there is to do up here and what a great place it is to be."