Defence News

Defence News: 31 July 2012

Prince Charles visits Olympics air security force at RAF Boulmer
RAF Kinloss becomes Kinloss Barracks
Army signaller wins Churchill Medal 2012
HMS Tyne nets record-breaking catch
Royal Marines centre stage in Weymouth Olympics celebrations

Defence in the Media: 31 July 2012

Summary
The BBC Radio 4 Today programme reported that the White House has been warned that many reconstruction projects being funded by the US in Afghanistan are over budget and behind schedule and may not be completed before the country's troops pull out. | The Wall Street Journal reports that inspectors from a US government watchdog agency have discovered that several American-funded border police bases in Afghanistan have been largely abandoned or left unoccupied, raising questions about the coming handover of security duties to local forces. | The Sun reports that the Home Office has granted Fiji-born Lance Corporal Bale Baleiwai discretionary leave to remain in the UK whilst he appeals against a disciplinary decision he received some years ago while still in the Army. | The Daily Mirror reports that a new '30-minute rule' may be introduced to fill empty Olympic seats. About 50 seats classed as restricted-view and unoccupied for badminton at Wembley Arena were filled yesterday by members of the RAF and Army security teams. | The Daily Telegraph carries an obituary for Captain Bob McQueen who ran the supply base on Ascension Island during the Falklands conflict. | In The Times the Chief of Defence Materiel Bernard Gray has written that the MOD's Defence Equipment and Support organisation needs to embrace more private sector expertise.

Image of the Day: 31 July 2012

Members of the Armed Forces have not only been providing security at the Olympic Park but have also been helping visitors to the park. One member of the public commented that: "We feel a lot safer now the soldiers are looking after the park. It's great to see them here. We feel very proud of them." Pictured left to right: Captain Sarah Bennett and Captain Steven Trichen with some young Japanese children outside the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park. [Picture: Sergeant Alison Baskerville RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 31 July 2012

Today, Tuesday 31 July
Surrey Coroner's verdict on the death of Lance Corporal James Hill, from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan on 8 October 2009.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 1 August
HMS Daring homecoming.

Thursday 2 August
Armed Forces Community Covenant signing, Powys.

Friday 3 August
The 2012 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (until 25 August).

Tuesday 7 August
Bravo 22 Company's 'The Two Worlds of Charlie F' plays at The Pleasance Grand, Edinburgh (until 11 August).

Defence News: 30 July 2012

HMS Triumph returns from marathon deployment
British Army Olympic judoka on his finest sporting moments
MOD signs Trident support contract

Defence in the Media: 30 July 2012

Summary
On Saturday, The Times reported that NATO figures show attacks by insurgents in Afghanistan are at their highest level since 2010. | The Times published a feature on the Afghan Local Police, which it dubs 'Neighbourhood Watch with guns'. | The Telegraph published a piece from an 'undercover insider' at the Olympic Park, who praises the role of the military involved in venue security duties, and compares them positively with G4S personnel. | The Times reported that the Government is under pressure to reveal whether it allows British-based companies to export components used in the CIA drones which hunt for al-Qaeda suspects in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. | The Sun reports on a survey by the RAF Families Federation, which has suggested that more than half of RAF personnel are considering quitting over Defence spending cuts. | On Sunday, various papers reported that whistleblowers in the armed forces should be given the same protection as civilian employees, according to a senior SNP MP. | The Daily Star Sunday reported that a former soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan is auctioning off his Olympic torch to raise money to help other wounded soldiers. | The Daily Star Sunday reported that the crew of a Ridgback armoured vehicle has told how the truck was hurled six metres into the air by a massive roadside bomb blast, but protected them all from serious injury. | The Sunday Mirror reported that Defence bosses have cancelled plans to acquire the 'revolutionary' Fire Shadow missile, which would have offered unprecedented protection to personnel in Afghanistan. | The Mail on Sunday reported that the father of fallen soldier Lance Corporal Jack Sadler has challenged the MOD's decision to award compensation to his son's partner, to whom he was unmarried. | The Sunday Times reports that British Special Forces and US Navy Seals have trained Kenyan commandos who are preparing to free the Somali port of Kismayo from the grip of a militant Islamic group. | The Sunday People reported that Defence minister Peter Luff has said that much of the military material to be withdrawn from Afghanistan will be withdrawn by air rather than by sea, despite costing more than twice as much. | The Sunday Express reports it has been claimed that Britain's special military pact with France is over. | Today, various papers report that G4S has launched an investigation after one of its guards allegedly spat at a soldier and called him a 'baby killer'. | BBC Radio 4's Today Programme reported that the Royal Navy's hunter killer submarine, HMS Triumph, has returned home after 10 months away on operations. | The Telegraph reports that Afghan security forces are dying at five times the rate of NATO soldiers as Taliban insurgents step up attacks ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2014. | The Guardian reports that off-duty Troops are being brought in to fill empty seats at Olympic venues in response to widespread public anger at television pictures of prime spots left unoccupied at 'sell out' events. | The Daily Mail reports that the Bell from HMS Hood - sunk by the Bismarck in WWII - is to be salvaged from the sea. If found it will take pride of place in the Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth.

Image of the Day: 30 July 2012

A view from onboard one of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team's Hawk aircraft as the Red Arrows flew in formation over the Olympic Stadium in London as part of the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Games. Click here to see cockpit video footage from the flypast. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 30 July 2012

Today, Monday 30 July
International Security Assistance Force update on NATO activities in Afghanistan.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 31 July
Surrey coroner's verdict on the death of Lance Corporal James Hill, from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan on 8 October 2009.

Wednesday 1 August
HMS Daring homecoming.

Friday 3 August
The 2012 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (until 25 August).

Defence News: 27 July 2012

PM thanks military personnel for Olympics role
TA trains in Italy
Royal Navy's Pete Reed going for Olympic gold

Defence in the Media: 27 July 2012

Summary
Various papers report that Leading Medical Assistant Kate Nesbitt MC carried the Torch Flame to Downing Street after she was personally shown chosen by the Prime Minister. The Guardian online reports that RAF pilots flew armed US drones as part of NATO's military effort in last year's Libyan conflict, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.  The Guardian online reports that three of the four main dissident republican terror groups in Northern Ireland are to merge and reclaim the banner of the IRA, in a major escalation of attempts to destabilise power sharing. The Wall Street Journal reports that the number of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan in the three months through June was 11 per cent higher than last year which comes after almost a year of declines, providing fuel that the Taliban are gaining momentum as ISAF withdraws. The Guardian has published a feature on an Afghan ice-cream seller who set up a business eight years ago in Herat which is now worth $15m and employs more than 200 people churning out 30 tonnes a day. The Daily Mirror has published a feature on the oldest surviving British athlete of the 1948 London Olympic Games who flew for the RAF during the war winning a DFC. The Times reports that more than 70 years of military history ended yesterday, when the RAF ensign was lowered at RAF Kinloss to be replaced by an Army flag. Various papers report that the Defence Secretary raised the prospect bringing British troops back home early from Afghanistan as it emerged preparations were already underway for the withdrawal.