Defence News

Defence News: 21 May 2012

New national Falklands memorial unveiled
French naval cadets visit HMS Raleigh
Troops muster for Queen's Diamond Jubilee Parade
Adaptive skiing exercise helps rehabilitation of injured troops

Defence in the Media: 21 May 2012

Summary
On Saturday, various media had coverage of the start of the Olympic Torch Relay in Land's End. The Olympic Flame arrived at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose on Friday. | Various papers also reported that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh watched a parade of thousands of troops at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. | The Times reported that NATO nations hoping to make defence cuts when they withdraw from Afghanistan will come under pressure at the Chicago Summit to safeguard their military budgets for future shared operations. | Various media reported on the appointment of a senior British Army officer to support Major General Robert Mood in Syria. | The Daily Telegraph reported that the Army will need to rely on civilian drivers, reserves and foreign armies to fight future wars as the MOD plans to cut support units. | The Daily Mirror and Daily Mail reported that, according to a House of Commons note, the war in Afghanistan is set to cost British taxpayers £20bn. | The Daily Express reported that Sir Jimmy Savile's Highlands hideaway is being transformed into a holiday retreat for disabled war veterans. | The Times reported that the MOD is about to appoint the property agent CBRE to market Hyde Park Barracks. | The Daily Telegraph reported that the MOD has paid out more than £1m in compensation in the past two years to people who have complained of damage and distress caused by low-flying aircraft. | On Sunday, various media reported that RAF Kinloss may be a risk to the public as it has been revealed that chemical weapons have been buried near the base, according to documents obtained by BBC Scotland. | Various papers reported that up to 200 British Special Forces personnel will stay in Afghanistan even after the NATO mission is wound down in 2014. | The Independent on Sunday reported that British soldiers in Afghanistan face a surge in attacks by Taliban fighters seeking to exploit an imminent withdrawal of US Marines in the regions they are based. | The Sunday Mirror reported that amputee war hero Ben McBean saved a dying woman in the street by pumping her heart back to life with his one remaining arm. | The People reported that Patrick Mercer MP is warning that Gurkhas cost UK taxpayers more than any of our other soldiers. He claims the bill for the troops has soared thanks to Joanna Lumley. | Today, various papers report that NATO countries are discussing post-withdrawal relations with Afghanistan at the Chicago Summit. Prime Minister David Cameron is to meet with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. | Various papers also report that the Government will this week signal its intention to press ahead with a replacement for the Trident missile system, with the announcement of £350m of contracts to start the initial design for the next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines.

Managing Change in the Defence Workforce
The Sunday Telegraph claimed to have seen a report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee into Managing Change in the Defence Workforce. The report is not due to be published until Friday and the MOD has not yet seen it.

As part of the tough decisions needed to get the MOD's finances back into balance we are reducing the Civil Service by 32,000 to ensure we can deliver more resources to the front line. As we transform Defence we are creating a smaller, more efficient, professional MOD. A National Audit Office report published earlier this year recognised that our redundancy programme was working well and that reductions to the civilian workforce provide good value for money for the taxpayer.

Army Recovery Capability
The Sunday Mirror has alleged that 180 injured soldiers were thrown out of the Army after passing through the Army Recovery Capability.

This completely misrepresents the purpose of the Army Recovery Capability, which helps individuals explore their options inside and outside the Army so they can make an informed choice about their own future.

The care of all those wounded, injured or sick remains one of the Army's top priorities, and the Army Recovery Capability ensures that individuals are focused on achieving the best possible outcome that is right for both them and the Army. No individual would be discharged until they have reached the right point in their recovery.

Thefts from the MOD estate
The Sunday Express has alleged that military personnel are responsible for metal thefts from the MOD estate.

This is nonsense and an insult to the men and women of our Armed Forces who are among Britain's bravest, most upstanding citizens. Metal theft is a nationwide problem and many of these thefts occurred from sites that are open to the public.

The MOD is working alongside the Association of Chief Police Officers on a number of initiatives to tackle this. The estimated value of total thefts from the MOD for 2010/11 represented 0.0015 per cent of total MOD assets.

Image of the Day: 21 May 2012

The Red Arrows perform a flypast during the Diamond Jubilee Parade and Muster held in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor on Saturday 19 May. More than 2,500 Service personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force proudly paraded to mark the unique relationship between the Armed Forces and Her Majesty, who is their Commander-in-Chief, in what was the first major national event held to honour the Queen's 60-year reign. [Picture: Trooper Mark Larner, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 21 May 2012

Today, Monday 21 May
Mental Health Awareness Week begins.
Chicago NATO Summit.
Headley Court garden display at the Chelsea Flower Show, London.
Bomber Command Memorial exhibition, House of Commons.
Soldier Technology: Soldier Systems and Equipment Exhibition, Earls Court, London (until 24 May).
15th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference, Glasgow (until 25 May).

Tomorrow, Tuesday 22 May
House of Commons sub-committee on the Armed Forces Covenant.
Commander Sarah West, the first female to command a warship, takes command of HMS Portland.
TV programme of interest: 'War Hero in My Family', Channel 5, 2000hrs. Celebrities uncover the heroic stories of their ancestors (Episode 4 of 6).

Wednesday 23 May
Afghanistan quarterly statement to the House of Commons.
Royal United Services Institute/Cranfield Defence Acquisition Reform Conference 2012, Defence Capability Centre, Shrivenham.
House of Commons Defence Committee Future Maritime Surveillance evidence session.
Queen's Dragoon Guards medal parade, Sennelager, Germany.

Thursday 24 May
Funeral in Bradford of Private Christopher Kershaw, from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 6 March 2012.
House of Commons rises.
Royal Navy ceremonial Jubilee media facility, HMS Collingwood.
Queen's Royal Hussars medal parade, Sennelager, Germany.
4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Colour Party attending an event marking the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino in Warsaw.
Isle of Anglesey County Council Armed Forces Community Covenant signing at RAF Valley.

Friday 25 May
Lower Block 'LB02' of one of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers moves from Portsmouth to Rosyth (until 30 May).
Unveilling of Chinook Gate Guardian at RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
Publication of the Public Accounts Committee Report: 'Managing Change in the Defence Workforce'.
International Institute for Strategic Studies Discussion Meeting: International Cyber Norms and their Role in Cyber Security and Defence.
TV programme of interest: 'The One Show', BBC1, 1900hrs - features HMS Coventry remembrance piece with Falklands veterans filmed on board HMS York.

Saturday 26 May
20th anniversary of the formation of the Adjutant General's Corps, public open day at Winchester.

Defence News: 18 May 2012

Navy Search and Rescue squadron to begin Olympic Flame's UK relay
Off-duty RAF survival specialist saves boys from sea tragedy
Gem of a Jubilee day for Chief Petty Officer Diamond
HMS Westminster delivers blow to Indian Ocean piracy
Military chefs put the icing on the cake for Diamond Jubilee

Defence in the Media: 18 May 2012

Summary
Various media report that a Royal Navy ship has joined in the search for a fishing vessel that went missing off the coast of Dorset. | Various media report that the Olympic Flame is due to arrive at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose this evening, from where it will begin an 8,000-mile (12,875km), 70-day relay around the UK. | The Guardian reports that the new French President is expected to adopt a conciliatory tone with fellow NATO leaders, who are concerned about his pre-election pledge to withdraw all French forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. | The Independent has published a special report on the impact of 'green on blue' killings following the repatriation of two UK servicemen killed by an Afghan policeman. | The Daily Mail has published a feature on Bentley Priory in Middlesex, which was once the base for Fighter Command during the Second World War. | The Daily Mail reports that documents containing personal details of up to 30 people selected to become snipers were found in the boot of a second-hand car. | The Telegraph reports that the US has acknowledged the existence of a fully-fledged military plan to attack Iran. | The Financial Times has published a feature on the work that's ongoing, led by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, to examine alternatives to the nuclear deterrent.

Image of the Day: 18 May 2012

Sergeant Bitu Williams, from the Joint Support Unit at Northwood, Corporals Lindsay Wellings and Paul Gudger, from RAF Waddington, and Tom von Harrison, ex-Royal Signals, formed 'Team Massive Geniuses' and took part in the 'Tough Mudder' challenge at Boughton House, Kettering, recently, for charity. It is the first time the event - a 12-mile (19km), mud-suffused obstacle course - has been hosted in the UK and was attended by around 6,000 competitors on both days of the event. Tough Mudder is a team challenge and the obstacles included swimming through a trough of fresh ice cubes and then running up a hill to climb over two 12-foot (3.7m) walls, 'leopard crawling' 30 metres through a sea of dangling electrical contacts (which caused body muscles to spasm and contract when touched), and the 'mile of mud', which incorporated energy sapping mud mounds and ditches. Click here to see a YouTube video of the team in action. [Picture: via MOD]

Defence Diary: 18 May 2012

Today, Friday 18 May
Funeral in Nottingham of Guardsman Michael Roland, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan on Friday 27 April 2012.
Kineton Station Freedom of Warwick parade.
H Squadron, 1st Royal Tank Regiment, media facility, RAF Honington.
London 2012 Olympic Flame arrival ceremony, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.
38th G8 Summit, Camp David, Maryland, United States (and 19 May).
TV programme of interest: 'The One Show', BBC1, 1900hrs - features the Olympic Flame being delivered to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall.

Tomorrow, Saturday 19 May
Armed Forces parade and muster for Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Windsor.
London 2012 Olympic Flame departs Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose for Land's End.

Sunday 20 May
Unveilling of the Falklands Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police mount the Queen's Life Guard.
88th Combined Cavalry memorial service and parade, The Bandstand, Hyde Park, London.
Chicago NATO Summit (and 21 May).

Monday 21 May
Mental Health Awareness Week begins.
Headley Court garden display at the Chelsea Flower Show, London.
Bomber Command Memorial exhibition, House of Commons.
Soldier Technology: Soldier Systems and Equipment Exhibition, Earls Court, London (until 24 May).
15th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference, Glasgow (until 25 May).

Tuesday 22 May
Afghanistan quarterly statement to the House of Commons.
House of Commons sub-committee on the Armed Forces Covenant.
Commander Sarah West, the first female to command a warship, takes command of HMS Portland.
TV programme of interest: 'War Hero in My Family', Channel 5, 2000hrs. Celebrities uncover the heroic stories of their ancestors (Episode 4 of 6).

Wednesday 23 May
Royal United Services Institute/Cranfield Defence Acquisition Reform Conference 2012, Defence Capability Centre, Shrivenham.
House of Commons Defence Committee Future Maritime Surveillance evidence session.
Queen's Dragoon Guards medal parade, Sennelager, Germany.

Thursday 24 May
Funeral in Bradford of Private Christopher Kershaw, from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 6 March 2012.
House of Commons rises.
Royal Navy ceremonial Jubilee media facility, HMS Collingwood.
Queen's Royal Hussars medal parade, Sennelager, Germany.
4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Colour Party attending an event marking the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino in Warsaw.
Isle of Anglesey County Council Armed Forces Community Covenant signing at RAF Valley.

Friday 25 May
Lower Block 'LB02' of one of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers moves from Portsmouth to Rosyth (until 30 May).
Unveilling of Chinook Gate Guardian at RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
Publication of the Public Accounts Committee Report: 'Managing Change in the Defence Workforce'.
International Institute for Strategic Studies Discussion Meeting: International Cyber Norms and their Role in Cyber Security and Defence.
TV programme of interest: 'The One Show', BBC1, 1900hrs - features HMS Coventry remembrance piece with Falklands veterans filmed on board HMS York.

Defence News: 17 May 2012

New MediCinema to help rehabilitation at Headley Court
HMS Daring makes first port visit to Saudi Arabia
New incinerator reduces ammo disposal costs in Afghanistan
RNAS Culdrose gives 'The One Show' an Olympic challenge
Royal Navy medic receives Military Cross at Buckingham Palace
ISAF Deputy Commander reflects on progress in Helmand

Defence in the Media: 17 May 2012

Summary
Various papers report that an inquest into the death of Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard has heard that soldiers directing an Army sniper were not aware of the existence of the observation post where Lance Corporal Pritchard was fatally shot. | The Wall Street Journal reports that Taliban attacks are jumping in the southern Afghan areas which were the focus of the 2010 US troop surge, posing a new challenge to ISAF as it prepares to draw down forces. | The Times reports that Pakistan's military has blocked a decision to reopen the country's border, leaving the question of how the West will withdraw from Afghanistan hanging over next week's NATO Summit in Chicago. | The Guardian has published an opinion piece by former Afghan MP Malalai Joya calling for NATO to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and predicting a very large protest at next week's Chicago conference. | The Daily Express reports that one of the last survivors of the Dambusters Raid marked its anniversary yesterday by reliving the mission. | The Times has published a feature on the reinvention of the Snatch Land Rover, which has now been redeveloped as an unmanned counter-IED tool. | The Daily Telegraph reports that the Defence Secretary has promised to protect the historic names of Scottish Army units after facing a furious reaction to proposed restructuring. | The Guardian reports that, in an independent survey, 73 per cent of MOD civil servants have admitted that recruitment and retention is a problem in their areas.

Benefits for wounded veterans
Today the Sun claims that the MOD was not trying to protect our Armed Forces personnel from the Department for Work and Pensions welfare reforms.

We have been clear all along, and in this blog yesterday, that those that have been injured serving their country will receive special treatment as set out in the Armed Forces Covenant. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure this.

Sourcing MOD's cyber security software
The Daily Telegraph carries a story based on a House of Commons Defence Committee evidence session which suggests that the Ministry of Defence could have compromised Britain's cyber security by buying off-the-shelf software and hardware that may have been constructed in the Far East, in particular in China.

This is not the case as was stated by Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey during the evidence session in question.

The Ministry of Defence works with a number of global business partners in purchasing IT components. The MOD is well aware of the threats from cyberspace and takes necessary measures to ensure that its information and systems are appropriately protected. It was also clearly stated at the committee meeting that the MOD does not buy 'end product' IT systems from the Far East.

HMS Victory (1744)
The Times reports that the HMS Victory (1744) shipwreck is at the centre of a row between the MOD, a salvage company and archaeologists after it emerged that its treasures could be sold off.

In response to the article an MOD spokesperson said: "Contrary to reports, no decision has been made about recovering any part of the ship. The remains of Victory (1744) were gifted to the Maritime Heritage Foundation by the British Government with conditions; the Secretary of State for Defence has to agree before the site can be disturbed or anything recovered.

"Both the Secretary of State and the Foundation are guided by an Advisory Group, consisting of representatives of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and English Heritage, which provides specialist advice on maritime archaeology; the Group is supported by a panel of archaeological and legal experts.

"The Foundation has now produced a project plan which the Advisory Group is presently considering and will provide advice on to both the Foundation and the Government."