Summary
Various media outlets and newspapers report that President Barack Obama has marked the end of the Iraq War with a speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. | Sky News, the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail report that Private Bryan Johnson proposed to his girlfriend at Buckingham Palace yesterday after being awarded the Military Cross. | BBC Online and the British Forces Broadcasting Service report that more than 7,000 members of the Armed Forces will provide security support for the Olympics next summer. | The Daily Telegraph reports that Defence Chiefs are drawing up plans to cope with the potential military fallout from the eurozone crisis, Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, told the Royal United Services Institute last night. | Various papers report that the Defence Committee report into medical care for the Armed Forces praised 'the first class medical treatment' available, but questioned whether it was sustainable in the years ahead. | The Independent reports that the Court of Appeal has urged British ministers to end Pakistani Yunus Rahmatullah's 'unlawful detention' after he was captured by British troops in Iraq and has been held by US forces in Afghanistan for more than seven years without trial. | The Daily Telegraph reports that an Afghan woman who was jailed for adultery after being raped has been freed after President Karzai issued a pardon. | The same paper features Britain's top archer, Larry Godfrey, who wants to promote the sport to troops in Afghanistan. | The Guardian covers yesterday's inquest into the death of Dr Karen Woo - a British aid worker fatally shot by insurgents in Afghanistan. | The Sun trails the nominees shortlisted to win at next week's Sun Military Awards. | The Daily Star highlights soldier-turned-MP Dan Jarvis who has become the first serving politician to be awarded a military honour. | The Times claims that soldiers returning from Afghanistan next summer will have their leave cancelled to help with Olympics security. | The Sun reports that former Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth claims the Prime Minister has breached the Armed Forces Covenant by freezing troops' pay. | The Daily Mirror reports that more than 300 weapons have been lost or stolen at UK Army bases in the past five years. | The Daily Express reports that the Prime Minister has met with BAE Systems and pledged to do what he can to support the defence industry. | The Guardian reports that Pakistan is to impose a NATO transit tax for using its borders to supply troops in Afghanistan. | The Daily Telegraph reports a warning from the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) that welfare reforms will hit wounded soldiers.
Weapons missing from Army bases
The Daily Mirror reports that more than 300 weapons have been lost or stolen at UK Army bases in the past five years.
A MOD spokesperson said: "We take our duty to safeguard ammunition and weapons extremely seriously and a vigorous control regime is in place. We conduct thorough investigations to learn lessons from any incident and action is taken where necessary."
Claim that the PM has breached the Armed Forces Covenant with military pay freeze
The Sun has reported that the MOD has broken the military covenant by freezing military pay without reference to the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body (AFPRB).
The Government continues to meet its obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant. The process of setting military pay has not changed and remains the same as it has done under previous governments. The AFPRB continues to provide independent recommendations to the Government on Armed Forces pay, taking into account funds available to the MOD and wider economic constraints. In reaching its recommendations the AFPRB works to its terms of reference which include the Government's pay policies and the funds available to the MOD.
As part of the Autumn Statement on 29 November 2011, the Chancellor announced that public sector pay awards, including those for members of the Armed Forces, will average at one per cent for the two years following the public sector pay freeze. Armed Forces personnel will continue to get pay increments (i.e. every year they will get more pay) in addition to the one per cent pay increase. Annual increments for Service personnel are not affected by this further period of pay restraint and where Service personnel are eligible to progression up the incremental scale they will continue to receive it. Also, if you get promotion you will still get that pay rise.
HCDC report on veterans' healthcare
Press reports today claim there are fears over the longer-term care for injured Service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The MOD is working with a number of charities, including Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion, to ensure the longer-term recovery needs of injured personnel are met. Already a number of Personnel Recovery Centres have been launched around the country, including centres in Colchester, Tidworth Garrison, Catterick Garrison, Edinburgh and Hasler Company in Plymouth. Further, the MOD is working with other government departments to ensure veterans' healthcare is given top priority.
Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan, said: "The medical care that is given to our injured personnel is among the best in the world and I am particularly pleased this has been recognised by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. The MOD has made significant investment in the healthcare, welfare and needs of Service personnel and their families.
"There is always more to do and we will carefully consider the Committee's specific recommendations as we strive to fully meet and sustain our commitment to wounded, injured and sick personnel under the Armed Forces Covenant."
