Defence News

Defence News: 28 September 2012

Service personnel awarded for outstanding gallantry
Operational Honours and Awards List: 28 September 2012
Army signallers assist the flood relief effort in North Yorkshire
HMS Blyth takes command of NATO task group
Headley Court MediCinema officially opens
Sponsored reservists honoured for work with RAF

Defence in the Media: 28 September 2012

Summary
Various media report that a hundred soldiers joined firefighters, police and Environment Agency and council workers to safeguard York and the village of Cawood from flooding yesterday morning. | There is also significant coverage of the latest Operational Honours and Awards List in both the broadcast and print media. | The Guardian carries a feature on how women are joining the police and security forces in Afghanistan as part of the struggle to improve rights. | The Daily Star reports that Inkerman Company of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards has returned home from Afghanistan. | The Sun reports on the official opening of the MediCinema at Headley Court yesterday. Actor Simon Pegg said the scheme was great and would help injured Service personnel who can't get into multiplexes to see the new releases.

Image of the Day: 28 September 2012

The National Army Museum in Chelsea was host to the latest Operational Honours and Awards ceremony (List Number 39) yesterday, where 21 of the 107 servicemen and women being honoured were praised by the Adjutant General, Lieutenant General Gerald Berragan. General Berragan said that it was an honour to recognise those receiving the awards and paid tribute to the servicemen and women in Afghanistan who faced mortal danger every day. Click here to read more. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 28 September 2012

Today, Friday 28 September
Latest Operational Honours and Awards List published.
16 Air Assault Brigade Afghan Memorial Challenge - one mile (1.6km) for every life lost during Op HERRICK - leaves the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire (until 8 October).
8 Armoured Engineer Squadron homecoming, Swinton Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire.
Nimrod R1 XV249 unveiling ceremony at RAF Museum Cosford.
Veterans Mental Health Conference, York University.
Launch of Defence Archaelology Group on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth.
Royal United Services Institute event - The Private Military and Security Conference: Security in an Uncertain World.
Chatham House event: The Use of Military Commissions for Trials of Al-Qaeda and Associated Forces.

Monday 1 October
HMS Illustrious deploys on Cougar 12.
Exercise Uncertain Lens (until 5 October).
1st Battalion The Rifles on Exercise Askari Thunder in Kenya (until 5 October).
Stand up of 611 and 622 Squadrons, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards speaking on Afghanistan at fundraising dinner.

Tuesday 2 October
Inquest in North Yorkshire into the death of Private Matthew Haseldin, from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on 3 November 2011.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton speaking at Royal Aeronautical Society reception, Washington DC.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope speaking at biennial Maritime Security Challenges Conference, British Columbia.
Royal United Services Institute event: Space and UK National Security Conference.
King's College London lecture: Lessons of the 9/11 decade and the next phase of transatlantic relations.

Wednesday 3 October
Reinterment at the Arnhem Oosterbeek Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the Netherlands of Private Lewis James Curtis of B Company, 5th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment, who died on 2 October 1944.
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh homecoming parade, Bridgend, Wales.
4 Logistic Support Regiment homecoming parade, Abingdon.

Thursday 4 October
Irish Guards/38 Engineer Regiment medal parade, Aldergrove, Northern Ireland.
Army Conference, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Royal United Services Institute event - Outsourcing War: Private Contractors and the War in Afghanistan.

Friday 5 October
26 Engineer Regiment medal parade, Swinton Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire.
Chatham House event - Kidnapping for Ransom: The Growing Terrorist Financing Challenge.

Defence News: 27 September 2012

Naval force gears up for Cougar 12
Army Education Officer talks about teaching in Afghanistan
Scientist supports military colleagues in Helmand
Paras outbox Marines for charity

Defence in the Media: 27 September 2012

Summary
The Scotsman online reports that Major General Andrew Mackay, who was General Officer Commanding Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England before retiring, has been appointed to lead a politically impartial study of security and defence in an independent Scotland. | Various papers continue to cover the proposed merger between BAE Systems and EADS. | The Daily Mail has published an opinion piece by Ian Birrell questioning the Government's 'warped priorities' for upping overseas aid spending whilst making swinging cuts to spending in the UK, including the Defence Budget. | The same newspaper also reports that former Defence Minister Gerald Howarth has claimed he doesn't know of a single Conservative backbencher who supports the Prime Minister's stance on overseas aid spending and has called for a 'reordering of priorities' to divert some money back into Defence. | The Guardian reports that the UK has spent more than £2bn on buying and developing military drones over the last five years and is poised to commit an additional £2bn for another new unmanned aircraft, according to a report published today by the campaign group Drone Wars UK. | The Sun reports that a colony of lethal Black Widow spiders has been discovered at an Army base in Wattisham in Suffolk, having been transported to the UK from California in a crate of equipment. | The Daily Telegraph reports that former Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey is claiming that a government review is likely to propose a major downgrade of Britain's nuclear deterrent. | The Daily Mirror reports that the former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mike Jackson has commented on the Prince Harry 'naked photographs' issue, stating that the Prince's mistake was to get caught. | Various papers report that Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a powerful attack on the UN over its inaction on Syria, declaring that the blood of children killed in the conflict is a 'terrible stain' on its reputation. | The Guardian reports that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has told the UN he believes the Syrian regime can be replaced without war, with a new diplomatic initiative involving Egypt, Turkey and Iran. | Various papers report that former Royal Marine Aaron Moon has been stripped of his £100-a-week Disability Living Allowance by the Department for Work and Pensions on the basis that his prosthetic leg allows him to walk without pain.

Image of the Day: 27 September 2012

Lieutenant Andrew Young, currently serving in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 16, is the Education Officer for 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh. His job involves travelling to various locations around Helmand province to teach English and Maths to soldiers who need to gain qualifications in order to be promoted, or as preparation for a life outside the forces. Pictured here, soldiers take part in an al fresco maths lesson. Click here to read more. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 27 September 2012

Today, Thursday 27 September
Repatriation to RAF Brize Norton of Captain James Anthony Townley, from the Corps of Royal Engineers, and Sergeant Jonathan Eric Kups, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who both died in Afghanistan on Friday 21 September 2012.
Official opening of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre MediCinema at Headley Court.
His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex to open the 214 (Worcestershire) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers) Territorial Army Centre, Dancox House in Worcester.
HMS York decommissioning ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base.
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh homecoming parade, Ceredigion, Wales.
16 Air Assault Brigade Afghan Memorial Challenge - one mile (1.6km) for every life lost during Op HERRICK - leaves the National Memorial  Arboretum in Staffordshire (until 8 October).
Royal United Services Institute event - The Private Military and Security Conference: Security in an Uncertain World (and 28 September).
IQPC Amphibious Operations Conference 2012, London.
TV programme of interest: 'Boxing Ringside', Sky Sports 1, 1900hrs, will feature the Parachute Regiment versus Royal Marines Commandos charity boxing event that took place at The Brewery in London on Tuesday 18 September 2012 to raise funds for both the Afghanistan Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Tomorrow, Friday 28 September
Latest Operational Honours and Awards List to be published.
8 Armoured Engineer Squadron homecoming, Swinton Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire.
Nimrod R1 XV249 unveiling ceremony at RAF Museum Cosford.
Veterans Mental Health Conference, York University.
Launch of Defence Archaelology Group on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth.
Chatham House event: The Use of Military Commissions for Trials of Al-Qaeda and Associated Forces.

Monday 1 October
Exercise Uncertain Lens (until 5 October).
1st Battalion The Rifles on Exercise Askari Thunder in Kenya (until 5 October).
Stand up of 611 and 622 Squadrons, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards speaking on Afghanistan at fundraising dinner.

Tuesday 2 October
Inquest in North Yorkshire into the death of Private Matthew Haseldin, from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on 3 November 2011.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton speaking at Royal Aeronautical Society reception, Washington DC.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope speaking at biennial Maritime Security Challenges Conference, British Columbia.
Royal United Services Institute event: Space and UK National Security Conference.
King's College London lecture: Lessons of the 9/11 decade and the next phase of transatlantic relations.

Wednesday 3 October
Reinterment at the Arnhem Oosterbeek Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the Netherlands of Private Lewis James Curtis of B Company, 5th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment, who died on 2 October 1944.
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh homecoming parade, Bridgend, Wales.

Thursday 4 October
Irish Guards/38 Engineer Regiment medal parade, Aldergrove, Northern Ireland.
Royal United Services Institute event - Outsourcing War: Private Contractors and the War in Afghanistan.

Defence News: 26 September 2012

Captain Carl Manley dies in Afghanistan
Freedom of the Borough of Tewkesbury presented to ARRC
MOD searches for innovation to give the edge in cyberspace

Defence in the Media: 26 September 2012

Summary
The BBC Radio 4 'File on 4' programme has this week been looking at the issue of 'green on blue' attacks in Afghanistan, the rise in the number of incidents, and the lessons that have been learned since the first attack in 2007. | Various newspapers report that a Royal Marines Commando has died in Afghanistan following a sudden illness (see below). He is believed to have been part of the Special Boat Service. | The Daily Telegraph reports that the Army's plan to enlarge the Territorial Army in the face of cuts and make it an 'integral part of Britain's defence capability' is 'fraught with peril'. | The Guardian reports that, according to figures released by the MOD under the Freedom of Information Act, the British Government has spent millions of pounds on training military, police and security personnel from oppressive regimes that have arms embargoes in place. | The Times reports that Somalia has asked the head of the British Army for more help to train its fledgling forces as they battle Islamist militants affiliated to Al-Qaeda.

Captain Carl Manley dies in Afghanistan
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Captain Carl Manley of the Royal Marines died in Afghanistan on Monday 24 September 2012.