The right of service personnel to petition the Commissioner

The Commissioner has another important function, in addition to assisting Parliament in the scrutiny of the armed forces. He is the ombudsman of the armed forces and can thus be contacted directly and without going through official channels by every member of the armed forces, from private to general. Service personnel can bring to the attention of the Commissioner all matters which they feel reflect wrong or unfair treatment. Petitions can therefore cover the entire spectrum of everyday military routines, including official, social and personal problems.

Petitions need not be submitted by service personnel themselves. Comrades, elected spokespersons and family members can also contact the Commissioner on behalf of a member of the armed forces. The soldier concerned is then asked to give consent before the Commissioner takes action.