Defence News

Defence News: 30 March 2012

IN PICTURES: Household Cavalry fit for 2012 ceremonial duties
Royal Marine trains for Olympic Rowing Team
Blue Peter takes to the skies with the Navy
Defence Secretary visits Afghanistan and agrees new officer academy
British and Afghan forces bring security to Nahr-e Saraj

Defence in the Media: 30 March 2012

Summary
The BBC has reported that Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has paid a visit to Lashkar Gah and gone on patrol with British forces in Helmand. | BBC Online reports that a German V-2 rocket has been found in mudflats (coastal wetlands) off the English coast and that Royal Navy bomb disposal experts are working to remove and/or diffuse the bomb. | Various papers state that an Afghan policeman has shot dead nine of his fellow officers in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan with reports he was a member of the Taliban who infiltrated the police. | BBC Online reports that the UK is to double the amount of non-military aid being given to the Syrian opposition. | The Telegraph reports that British troops are to train Afghan officers at a military academy. | The Telegraph also reports that US commanders in Afghanistan have assigned 'guardian angels' to watch over troops as they sleep, following attacks by Afghan soldiers on NATO personnel. | The Guardian reports that four UK soldiers have been accused of killing or wounding Afghan civilians.

Image of the Day: 30 March 2012

Major General George Norton, Officer Commanding The Household Division, performed the annual inspection of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London's Hyde Park yesterday, 29 March. The Major General's inspection ensures that the Regiment is ready for the upcoming events across London in 2012, including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Click here to read more. Pictured here is the Band of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment during the Major General's inspection [Picture: Sergeant Steven Hughes, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 30 March 2012

Today, Friday 30 March
HMS Liverpool decommissioning ceremony.
Medal parade for 102 Military Working Dog Unit in Paderborn, Germany.
Official opening of 'The Beacon' - a new facility in Catterick for homeless, single ex-Service personnel and those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Sunday 1 April
Homecoming parade for 1 Logistic Support Regiment in Gutersloh, Germany.
Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion are promoting the Gold Challenge Olympic Stadium event where members of the public take on Olympic and Paralympic-themed challenges to raise money for charity.
TV programme of interest: 'The Falklands Legacy with Max Hastings', BBC2, 2100hrs. Thirty years after the Falklands War, journalist and military historian Max Hastings explores the conflict's impact and its legacy.

Monday 2 April
30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.
Joint Forces Command inauguration ceremony, Northwood.
2 Division and 5 Division responsibilities transfer to HQ Support Command.
International Institute for Strategic Studies event: Key Address by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Ukraine's European integration and its security policy.
Radio programme of interest: 'Fathers and Sons - From the Falklands to Helmand', BBC Radio 4, 2000hrs. To mark the thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands conflict, two fathers who fought in the same battle in 1982 reflect on what it's like having sons in military service in more recent wars.
TV programme of interest: 'Castle Commando', BBC2, 1900hrs. Documentary looking at the paramilitary academy based at Achnacarry from 1942 to 1945.

Tuesday 3 April
Air Strike Capability Conference, London (until 4 April).
King's College London War Studies at 50 seminar: Insurgency, Political Violence & War Studies.

Thursday 5 April
Inquest in Gloucester into the death of Rifleman Martin Lamb, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 5 June 2011.
Inquest in County Durham into the death of Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 14 September 2011.
2 Signal Regiment Royal Maundy Thursday Service at York Minster.

Friday 6 April
Good Friday

Sunday 8 April
TV programme of interest: 'Countryfile', BBC1, 1900hrs. The programme will feature military training on the Brecon Beacons.

Defence News: 29 March 2012

HMS Vigilant sets sail after refuel and upgrade
Liverpool pledges support for the Armed Forces
Sergeant Luke Taylor and Lance Corporal Michael Foley killed in Afghanistan

Defence in the Media: 29 March 2012

Summary
Various media report that military personnel have begun training ahead of an expected strike by fuel tanker drivers, which may lead to them being drafted in to deliver essential supplies. | Various media report that Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is in Afghanistan, where he has spent time seeing the work of UK personnel and their Afghan counterparts. | The Times reports that British troops could remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to support the Afghan Army and Police, the Defence Secretary has said in an interview with the paper. | The Sun reports that seven Taliban militants wearing women's clothes have been arrested by Afghan intelligence officers. | Various papers report that NATO has been blamed for the deaths of 63 refugees from the Libyan conflict last year on a ship that drifted for two weeks. |The Sun reports that the Falklands are on red alert over concerns Argentine veterans will try to 'reclaim' the islands during next week's 30th anniversary of the 1982 conflict. | Various papers report that seven veterans of RAF Bomber Command have launched a new phase of an appeal for a memorial to their fallen comrades.

Sergeant Luke Taylor and Lance Corporal Michael Foley killed in Afghanistan
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Sergeant Luke Taylor, from the Royal Marines, and Lance Corporal Michael Foley, from the Adjutant General's Corps, were killed in Afghanistan on Monday, 26 March 2012. Click here to read more.

Image of the Day: 29 March 2012

A scheme to provide Service personnel who had recently returned from operational deployments with a restful day of fishing was launched on 16 June 2010. 'Fishing for Forces' was created after a soldier wrote a letter to angling magazine 'Trout and Salmon' enthusing about the therapeutic benefits of fishing. Pictured, Private James Crosfill, from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, and his instructor, Peter Yeoman, attending the latest 'Fishing for Forces' event at Chigboro Trout Fishery in Essex. [Picture: Graham Harrison, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 29 March 2012

Today, Thursday 29 March
Repatriation to RAF Brize Norton of Captain Rupert Bowers, from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on 21 March 2012, and Sergeant Luke Taylor, from the Royal Marines, and Lance Corporal Michael Foley, from the Adjutant General's Corps, who were killed in Afghanistan on 26 March 2012.
Royal Marines Reserve City of London hosts the Shoulder2Shoulder art exhibition in order to raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund and the Not Forgotten Association. The exhibition will showcase the work of contemporary war artists, journalists and Service photographers.
Chatham House event - The Challenge of Uncertainty: Iran's Ambitions and Choices.
Tickets for Troops: London 2012 Ticketshare ballot results.

Tomorrow, Friday 30 March
HMS Liverpool decommissioning ceremony.
Official opening of 'The Beacon' - a new facility in Catterick for homeless, single ex-Service personnel and those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Sunday 1 April
Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion are promoting the Gold Challenge Olympic Stadium event where members of the public take on Olympic and Paralympic-themed challenges to raise money for charity.
TV programme of interest: 'The Falklands Legacy with Max Hastings', BBC2, 2100hrs. Thirty years after the Falklands War, journalist and military historian Max Hastings explores the conflict's impact and its legacy.

Monday 2 April
30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.
Joint Forces Command inauguration ceremony, Northwood.
2 Division and 5 Division responsibilities transfer to HQ Support Command.
International Institute for Strategic Studies event: Key Address by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Ukraine's European integration and its security policy.
Radio programme of interest: 'Fathers and Sons - From the Falklands to Helmand', BBC Radio 4, 2000hrs. To mark the thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands conflict, two fathers who fought in the same battle in 1982 reflect on what it's like having sons in military service in more recent wars.
TV programme of interest: 'Castle Commando', BBC2, 1900hrs. Documentary looking at the paramilitary academy based at Achnacarry from 1942 to 1945.

Tuesday 3 April
Air Strike Capability Conference, London (until 4 April).
King's College London War Studies at 50 seminar: Insurgency, Political Violence & War Studies.

Thursday 5 April
Inquest in Gloucester into the death of Rifleman Martin Lamb, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 5 June 2011.
Inquest in County Durham into the death of Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 14 September 2011.
2 Signal Regiment Royal Maundy Thursday Service at York Minster.

Defence News: 28 March 2012

Innovation on show from the Centre for Defence Enterprise
Princess Anne visits Fareham for Freedom March by HMS Collingwood
UK 'driving efforts' on global nuclear security
UK commits more troops to Balkans peacekeeping mission
MOD scoops gold for social media awareness campaign

Defence in the Media: 28 March 2012

Summary
The BBC Radio 4 Today programme reports that most Syrian opposition groups have agreed to unite behind the Syrian National Council, as they do not believe President Assad when he says he accepts the UN-Arab League peace plan. | The Guardian reports on how 'dirty bombs' - improvised nuclear or radiological devices - could be traced back to their source through new forensic and DNA analysis developed by the Ministry of Defence. | Various papers report that there is speculation that the UK is preparing to pull 1,500 troops out of Afghanistan next year, with rapidly accelerated withdrawal starting in 2014. | The Independent focuses on concerns over the infiltration of Afghan forces by the Taliban following the discovery of a dozen suicide vests packed with explosives in the Defence Ministry in Kabul. | The Daily Telegraph has a feature on the latest methods designed to combat piracy on the high seas. | The Sun reports that members of the Armed Forces have begun training as part of the Government's contingency plans in case of a fuel tanker drivers strike.

Guarding and civil policing posts at Defence sites
The Times has reported that changes to the MOD Police and Guarding Agency will jeopardise security at military bases.

This is not true. The Department would never contemplate changes that would place Defence sites, people, assets and information in jeopardy.

As the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan, made clear in his Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament yesterday: "Safeguarding our sites, people and assets - in particular those associated with our nuclear programme - remains a central priority.

"We have, however, concluded that we can make sensible and prudent reductions in the number of guarding and civil policing posts at some of our sites, whilst continuing to maintain effective security. We can and will make savings in guarding and civil policing, but I can assure the House that effective security arrangements will be maintained at all Defence sites."