Defence News

Image of the Day: 28 September 2010

Strengthening the UK-Saudi relationship and improving Gulf security were top of the agenda during Dr Liam Fox's visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the weekend. The Secretary of State for Defence is the first Cabinet Minister of the new Coalition Government to visit the Kingdom and his programme included an insight into the training given to Saudi pilots by the RAF. Click here to read more. [Picture: Nick Heath, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 28 September 2010

Today, Tuesday 28 September 2010
Combined Services Culinary Challenge begins at Sandown Park.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 29 September 2010
Army Families Day.
HMS Dauntless Sea Viper test firing.

Thursday 30 September 2010
Inquest in Newport into the death of Private James Prosser, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who was killed in Afghanistan on 27 September 2009.
'Twenty Years in Iraq: RAF Operations in the Gulf since 1990' conference at Shrivenham.

Friday 1 October 2010
Inquest in Trowbridge into the deaths of Corporal Kevin Mulligan, Lance Corporal Dale Thomas Hopkins and Private Kyle Adams who were killed in Afghanistan on 6 August 2009.

Wednesday 6 October 2010
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Trooper Brett Hall, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, who died on 16 September 2009 at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak, following injuries sustained in Afghanistan.
Inquests in Newbury into the deaths of Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 2 June 2009, and Rifleman Daniel Hume, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 9 July 2009.

Defence News: 27 September 2010

RAF pilot honoured for saving colleagues after shot to the face
Pride of the Armed Forces recognised for outstanding gallantry
Army dominates Inter Services Rugby League

Defence in the Media: 27 September 2010

Summary
The BBC reports that the parents of six Royal Military Police soldiers killed in Iraq say they are being 'excluded' from the trial of the men accused of their murder. | The Guardian claims that putting off plans to replace the Trident weapons system until after the next General Election, and scaling down plans to build two new aircraft carriers, are expected to be among key decisions agreed at a meeting of the National Security Council next week. | The Times features a comment piece looking ahead to the Strategic Defence and Security Review which argues that the cuts may not be as dramatic as has been speculated for the Armed Forces, but they will still have a significant impact on industry. | The Daily Express features a comment piece by David Robson on British withdrawal from Sangin which says that the Americans have always been critical of the British strategy in the province. | The Sun reports that British Army dog handlers have appealed to the public to send toys for the working dogs in Afghanistan. | Various media outlets have reported that a British national has gone missing in Afghanistan and it's reported that the female aid worker was kidnapped along with three locals in Kunar province on Sunday morning when their two-car convoy was ambushed by armed men. | The Mail on Sunday claims that the MOD may need to find further cuts following the release of 'defence inflation' figures later this week. | The News of the World claims top military officers are leading pampered lives according to figures detailing the amount spent on official Service residencies and subsidised boarding school fees. | The Sunday Times reports on speculation that President Karzai is suffering manic depression and is trying to compensate by smoking hashish. | The People claims that more than 300 sailors in the Royal Navy have been accused of sexual misconduct in the past five years. | The Times reports that Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has told the MOD to look again at the feasibility of using the Territorial Army as 'stand alone deployable units' in Afghanistan. | The Financial Times reports that thousands of US and Afghan troops have launched combat missions near Kandahar in what is being seen as a pivotal phase in the campaign against the insurgents. | The Sun reports that Britain's top General in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Nick Parker, says Britain must hold its nerve over the war. | The Daily Telegraph claims that Special Forces soldiers are calling for parachute training to be taken out of the hands of the RAF.

Royal Navy training
The Mail on Sunday reports that 'Navy chiefs have been ordered to freeze the training of new recruits for six months'. The Armed Forces constantly keep manpower under review to ensure we have the right number of people with the right skills to do the job. There has recently been an increase in the number of people wanting a career in the Services and we are currently at the highest level of manning we have been at for many years.

Because of this, we have reduced the number of recruits who go into the training organisations and in some cases delayed the start of individuals' training. This is to make sure that the forces are balanced and that we don't have more people than we need. We have not frozen recruitment though and we are always looking for enthusiastic, determined and committed young people to fulfil challenging roles.

HMS Raleigh will continue to be the Royal Navy's largest training establishment in the South West. Recruit training is just one element of the training provided at HMS Raleigh; we also conduct specialist training in areas such as submarine operations, seamanship and logistics.

At Britannia Royal Naval College, recruitment will continue with slightly reduced numbers. The standard entry of 144 cadets will be reduced to 96.

Allegations over statements made to judicial review
The Sunday Times claims that 'leaked emails show that Colonel Dudley Giles, Second-in-Command of the Royal Military Police (RMP), told senior investigators to change their witness statements made for a judicial review into one of the most controverial incidents of the British campaign in Iraq'. The newspaper claims that Colonel Giles 'has been accused of ordering his staff to lie to High Court judges about an investigation into allegations that British troops killed 20 unarmed Iraqis'. We are aware of new allegations about Colonel Giles. These are being considered carefully, as would any allegation about any member of the Armed Forces. But this must be done through due process. It would be inappropriate to comment further on the allegations against him at this time.

The High Court's criticism of the MOD and of Colonel Giles in the Al Sweady case is a matter of public record. Colonel Giles is a highly respected RMP officer with over 30 years' exemplary service. As a result of the court criticisms, he no longer serves in an investigative capacity.

Image of the Day: 27 September 2010

To prepare for operations in Afghanistan the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) have been conducting battlefield casualty drills using state-of-the-art special effects to make the training as realistic as possible. Based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, the CHF provides battlefield helicopter support as part of ongoing operations in the Helmand region of Afghanistan. In preparation for this, personnel attend a three-day course run by the CHF medical section which consists of time in the classroom and practical training, enabling them to use a variety of proven techniques, skills and equipment. Click here to read more. [Picture: LA(Phot) Vicki Benwell, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 27 September 2010

Today, Monday 27 September 2010
Inquest in the West Midlands into the death of Lance Corporal Richard James Brandon, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who was killed in Afghanistan on 2 September 2009.
Elizabeth Cross presentation at RAF Lossiemouth.
Radio programme of interest: 'Veterans', BBC Radio One, 2100hrs. Documentary featuring interviews with soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 28 September 2010
Combined Services Culinary Challenge begins at Sandown Park.

Wednesday 29 September 2010
Army Families Day.
HMS Dauntless Sea Viper test firing.

Thursday 30 September 2010
Inquest in Newport into the death of Private James Prosser, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who was killed in Afghanistan on 27 September 2009.
'Twenty Years in Iraq: RAF Operations in the Gulf since 1990' conference at Shrivenham.

Friday 1 October 2010
Inquest in Trowbridge into the deaths of Corporal Kevin Mulligan, Lance Corporal Dale Thomas Hopkins and Private Kyle Adams who were killed in Afghanistan on 6 August 2009.

Wednesday 6 October 2010
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Trooper Brett Hall, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, who died on 16 September 2009 at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak, following injuries sustained in Afghanistan.
Inquests in Newbury into the deaths of Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 2 June 2009, and Rifleman Daniel Hume, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 9 July 2009.

Defence News: 24 September 2010

Operational Honours and Awards List: 24 September 2010
Realistic casualty drills prepare helicopter force for Afghanistan
HMS Manchester crew assess hurricane damage in Bermuda
Army's spy museum revealed

Defence in the Media: 24 September 2010

Summary
Various media outlets have reported that the Scottish Government and opposition parties have published their case to UK ministers to maintain defence spending. | Several publications have reported how the US delegation walked out of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech to the United Nations after he said some in the world have speculated that Americans were actually behind the September 11 terror attacks, staged in an attempt to assure Israel's survival. | The Times reports that Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox is meeting the King of Saudi Arabia to build relations and boost exports to the country. | The Daily Telegraph and The Times both report that Dr Fox has told his counterparts in the US that the UK's Armed Forces will not be able to fight another war like Afghanistan but will keep enough manpower for medium-scale conflicts. | The Sun claims that the Royal Navy task force sent to Europe during the ash cloud crisis did not rescue a single stranded Briton. | The Daily Express reports that Special Forces units are capturing or killing up to six Taliban leaders a day. | The Guardian reports that ISAF has conceded that the Afghanistan elections last week were more violent than first believed and there were more attacks than in the elections last year. | Various publications report that six men have been arrested on suspicion of burning copies of the Koran in 'support of British soldiers'.

Operational Honours and Awards List published
A total of 130 members of the Armed Forces have received honours and awards in the Operational Honours and Awards List dated today, 24 September 2010. Click here to view the full list which recognises service on operations in Afghanistan and national operations for the period 1 October 2009 to 31 March 2010.

Image of the Day: 24 September 2010

One hundred and thirty servicemen and women, together with one civilian, have been named in the latest Operational Honours and Awards List, which has been released today, Friday 24 September 2010. Pictured are 21 of the Defence personnel who are receiving honours. Click here to read more. [Picture: Sergeant Ian Forsyth RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 24 September 2010

Today, Friday 24 September 2010
Funeral of Lance Corporal Joseph McFarlane Pool, from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 5 September 2010.
Op HERRICK Operational Honours published.
United Nations conference on disarmament.

Tomorrow, Saturday 25 September 2010
Rifles freedom parade in Plymouth.
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh freedom parade in Caerphilly and Blackwood.
Amiens Company, The London Regiment, medal parade at the Guildhall.

Sunday 26 September 2010
Fallen of India memorial unveiled in Brighton.

Monday 27 September 2010
Inquest in the West Midlands into the death of Lance Corporal Richard James Brandon, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who was killed in Afghanistan on 2 September 2009.
Elizabeth Cross presentation at RAF Lossiemouth.
Radio programme of interest: 'Veterans', BBC Radio One, 2100hrs. Documentary featuring interviews with soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

Tuesday 28 September 2010
Combined Services Culinary Challenge begins at Sandown Park.

Wednesday 29 September 2010
Army Families Day.
HMS Dauntless Sea Viper test firing.

Thursday 30 September 2010
Inquest in Newport into the death of Private James Prosser, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who was killed in Afghanistan on 27 September 2009.
'Twenty Years in Iraq: RAF Operations in the Gulf since 1990' conference at Shrivenham.

Friday 1 October 2010
Inquest in Trowbridge into the deaths of Corporal Kevin Mulligan, Lance Corporal Dale Thomas Hopkins and Private Kyle Adams who were killed in Afghanistan on 6 August 2009.
Korean Armed Forces Day.