A soldier from the Parachute Regiment, Corporal Paul Biddiss, was told in November 1999 by his Company Commander, Major Mike Nott that he would be manning controlled. Its alleged in court papers the soldiers application to see his Commanding Officer Lt Col Kennett to seek redress was blocked. He refused to sign off his old contract as it was alleged he should never have been subject to the policy; it is believed he was the first soldier to refuse. He won his fight against the system and is still a serving soldier. This was the turning point for Manning Control due mainly to the treatment Cpl Biddiss and his family were alleged to have endured during the Manning Control process. This generated media attention to what was until then an unknown system of mass discharging of soldiers, allegedly for their pension rights.
