Defence News

Defence News: 14 May 2010

Dragoon Guards provide security for Afghan villagers
Nick Harvey confirmed as Armed Forces Minister
HMS Scott returns home
Success in Nad 'Ali is benchmark for expected progress in Marjah
Peaceful election held in Nad 'Ali district
RAF wins award for inspiring women in the workforce

Defence in the Media: 14 May 2010

Summary
Foreign Secretary William Hague is making his first foreign trip to Washington, saying that Afghanistan and Iran are at the top of the agenda. General Sir Richard Dannatt has been interviewed by the BBC about the strategy in Afghanistan. Various media have reported that planning permission has been granted to erect an official public memorial in central London commemorating thousands of bomber aircrew who lost their lives during the Second World War. There has been widespread coverage of Dutch woman, Tiny Claessen, who has tended the grave of RAF rear gunner Flight Sergeant Henry Hiscox for almost half-a-century, and has received formal thanks for her dedication in the form of a letter from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.

Nick Harvey confirmed as Armed Forces Minister
Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey has been confirmed as the new Minister of State for the Armed Forces. He has been the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Defence Secretary since 2006.

King's College mental health study
Several newspapers have written again today about a study released by King's College London into the effects of deployment on Armed Forces' mental health. The report found that incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder were low, occurring in only four per cent of the survey group. In addition, the study shows that servicemen and women who deploy on more than one occasion are no more likely to develop mental health problems than those who have only deployed once. Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "Delivering a range of mental health services to help members of the Armed Forces and veterans is a top priority. While the number of incidents of mental health problems may be low, the human cost is high for those that are suffering. The new Government has committed to creating an effective, through-life, mental health scheme for our Service and ex-Service personnel."

Image of the Day: 14 May 2010

British cavalry soldiers from C Squadron of the Royal Dragoon Guards are starting to protect and rebuild the village of Gorup-e Shesh Kalay near Nad 'Ali, following Operation MOSHTARAK. The village sits on the Green Zone's front line. Since MOSHTARAK the Taliban has been pushed further to the south and the locals have seen an impovement in security, and now development work has started in the village with ISAF working alongside the Afghan National Police and the village elder. Pictured, Lance Corporal 'Doc' McLoughlin cleans a cut on a local child's hand. [Picture: Corporal Barry Lloyd RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 14 May 2010

Friday 14 May 2010
Type 45 destroyer Diamond industrial sea trials.
Annual British Armed Forces Sikh Conference at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, Amport House, Andover.
'A' Squadron, Household Cavalry Regiment, medal parade at Combermere Barracks, Windsor.

Tomorrow, Saturday 15 May 2010
3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment parade through Erquinghem-Lys, France.

Sunday 16 May 2010
Grenadier Guards Remembrance Day, Wellington Barracks, London.   
RAF Halton personnel granted freedom of Hemel Hempstead.

Tuesday 18 May 2010
ITEC Conference London - Senior Officers Day.   
Parliament returns.

Wednesday 19 May 2010
Funeral in Watford of Corporal Christopher Harrison of Bravo Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 9 May 2010.

Thursday 20 May 2010
Cadet 150 City Hall beat retreat ceremony, Southwark.

Friday 21 May 2010
261 Signal Squadron (11 Light Brigade) return and medal parade, Tower of London.
104 Force Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, medal parade in Bordon.
The RAF Association Annual Conference, Blackpool.

Defence News: 13 May 2010

Defence Secretary and CDS attend first National Security Council meeting
Royal Gibraltar Regiment trains in the UK
New Secretary of State sends message to Defence staff
Dr Liam Fox appointed Secretary of State for Defence
New National Security Council established
'Wallace and Gromit' patrol the streets of Kabul
50th anniversary of Army-led Ten Tors Challenge

Defence in the Media: 13 May 2010

Summary
Various news sources report on the first meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron. The Guardian reports that new Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox faces one of the most difficult briefs of the new Government. There is widespread media coverage of a report published in the medical journal The Lancet by King's College which says mental disorders among UK military personnel were stable betwen 2003 and 2009 but deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan increases troops' risk of alcohol misuse. The BBC reports that US President Barack Obama has backed Afghan efforts to 'open the door' to Taliban militants who renounce violence and cut ties with Al-Qaeda. The Times features an article from an embed with US 82nd Airborne paratroopers destroying IEDs in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan.

Dr Liam Fox appointed Secretary of State for Defence
Dr Liam Fox was appointed as the new Secretary of State for Defence yesterday, Wednesday 12 May 2010. In a statement to Defence staff he said: "The first duty of Government is to protect our way of life and provide security for our citizens. That is why I am proud and honoured to have been appointed as Defence Secretary by the Prime Minister David Cameron. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Bob Ainsworth, who always had the best interests of the Armed Forces at heart." Read more of Dr Liam Fox's statement to Defence staff on the MOD website.

Mental health problems in Armed Forces
The Daily Telegraph has today published an article claiming that medical journal The Lancet warns of a 'tidal wave' of mental trauma among servicemen. The independent report by King's College London  published in The Lancet actually shows that incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the Armed Forces remain low, and Professor Simon Wessely from the research team this morning clearly stated that there will be no 'tidal wave' of trauma.

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said: "While the number of incidents of mental health problems may be low, the human cost is high for those that are suffering. These people must be our priority. The new Government has committed to creating an effective, through-life, mental health scheme for our Service and ex-Service personnel. A dedicated programme for those leaving the Armed Forces will be established to tackle post-combat mental health issues: a new mental health screening service within the Armed Forces will work to identify problems early on, and for those who need specialist help, we will establish Britain's first dedicated PTSD treatment programme within the NHS."

Image of the Day: 13 May 2010

The 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards being presented with their new colours by their Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty The Queen, this week. [Picture: Sergeant Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 13 May 2010

Today, Thursday 13 May 2010
Repatriation to RAF Lyneham of Corporal Christopher Harrison of Bravo Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 9 May 2010.

Tomorrow, Friday 14 May 2010
Type 45 destroyer Diamond industrial sea trials.
Annual British Armed Forces Sikh Conference at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, Amport House, Andover.
'A' Squadron, Household Cavalry Regiment, medal parade at Combermere Barracks, Windsor.