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Defence in the media

https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2015/05/11/defence-in-the-media-11-may-2015/

Defence in the media: 11 May 2015

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Today’s broadcast news continues to be dominated by the analysis of the General Election result. In an interview with Sky News Prince Harry discusses his future after deciding to leave the Army, suggesting that his ceremonial duties would be hard to combine with the responsibilities of a military career.

VE Day

There has been widespread coverage of the VE Day celebrations over the weekend, with Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family joining about 1,000 veterans and their families to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day. The veterans marched past Parliament, down Whitehall, and on to Horseguards parade, where they were met by the Prince of Wales. Coverage reflects the importance of remembering great sacrifices made by so many people during the Second World War.

Attending the service was Charles Clarke OBE, 91, who served as a Flight Lieutenant in 619 Squadron during the Second World War. Speaking of his memories of VE Day, he said:

On VE Day I can remember listening to Churchill on a portable radio in Brussels, I felt a sense of excitement and relief as I’d been freed form the PoW camp just 10 days earlier.

 

Life on the camp was tolerable. Fortunately we were young and fit but food was in short supply. The uncertainty was the worst thing about it all. After the murder on camp of 50 people, anything was possible. We were just so relieved to be free at last on what became known as ‘VE Day’.

Further coverage included the peal of bells across the nation at 1100 on Saturday, street parties that took place over the weekend and a special concert performed at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday night for 12,000 people.

General Sir Mike Jackson, a former Chief of the General Staff, was interviewed by the BBC in which he stressed the importance of remembering those who lost their lives during the World Wars – both military and civilians – due to the huge sacrifice they made in order to help bring about the closure of the War.

Airbus

A number of broadcasters and all print outlets have highlighted the A400M crash in Seville over the weekend. All outlets report thatBritain has paused the use of its two A400M aircraft following the crash, as a precaution.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson, said:

The UK's A400M aircraft operations have been paused while an investigation into the crash in Seville is carried out. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved in the incident.

Steroids

The Sunday Times and The Sun refer to a recent FOI which shows that from 2012 to 2014, 260 members of the Armed Forces tested positive for Class C steroids and that of those individuals, 10 were retained in service. The Sun breaks the figures down to suggest that seven servicemen a month are leaving the Armed Forces as a result of taking steroids. The Sunday Times article speculates that service personnel have too many temptations when based at home in the UK, following the draw down fromAfghanistan.

Responding to the story, we have been clear that the Armed Forces do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour including substance misuse. Where an individual is found, through compulsory drug testing or other investigation, to have fallen short of the services’ high standards, they will be dealt with through the military discipline process.

Nepal

The majority of Sunday’s newspapers highlight the tragic death of an architecture student from Kent following the earthquake inNepal last month. Articles report that Matthew Carapiet’s death was confirmed as it was reported that 92 Gurkhas from 36 Engineer Regiment have arrived in Nepal to assist with the relief effort, taking the number of military personnel aiding relief efforts in country to around 300.

Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, said:

This further deployment of British Army Gurkhas to Nepal will provide welfare assistance for Gurkha families, soldiers and veterans who have been affected by last month’s earthquake.

 

The British Army Gurkhas deploying have a unique set of local knowledge, language skills and engineering experience, making them a vital element of the international response.

 

We recognise that this terrible disaster will have directly affected our own Gurkha community and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

On Saturday, the Independent reported that Gurkhas have been praised for their commitment to helping their countrymen in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal. The article quotes Capt Buddhi Bhandari who was injured in the disaster but refused to return to Britain in favour of assisting those affected.

F-35

The Independent reports concerns from former defence minister Sir Nick Harvey over the procurement of F-35s. The article reports that the aircraft were designed to replace the Harrier jump-jet but due to technical difficulties, are still “far from ready to fly in combat”.

We have been clear that the UK programme remains on track to meet its Initial Operating Capability milestone in Dec 2018 and the risks of undertaking concurrent design and development are fully understood. The aircraft is being flown by the UK at Edwards AFB and is performing and progressing well.

Accommodation shortage

The Sunday Times highlights a recent FOI, suggesting that senior Defence personnel have spent more than £100m in two years on privately rented flats and hotels because of a lack of suitable accommodation for troops.

We place great importance on offering Service personnel and their families suitable living accommodation that meets their needs, as well as those of the Service. Meeting these requirements mean on a small proportion of occasions Service accommodation is not available and substitute accommodation is provided.

HMS Bulwark

The Daily Mirror and Daily Star report that the Royal Navy has rescued 110 refugees who were drifting helplessly in theMediterranean in a rubber dinghy. The migrants were then passed to the Italian coastguard and taken ashore to safety.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:

HMS Bulwark, working with the Italian Coast Guard, investigated a large rubber boat with approximately 110 individuals on board. The individuals were rescued using Bulwark’s landing craft before being transferred onto an Italian Coastguard vessel and taken to land. Everyone was transferred safely and HMS Bulwark remains on task.

Image of the day

The Red Arrows pay tribute to the VE70 veterans by flying over Horse Guards Parade Ground. HM The Queen led the nation in a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, attended by veterans and their families, representatives of Allied nations and commonwealth countries that fought alongside the UK in the conflict, along with government and military representatives. The service was followed by a parade of around 1000 veterans, organisations and associations representing those who fought in the Second World War in Europe, led by 200 members of the Armed Forces. The parade crossed Parliament Square, before heading up Parliament Street and Whitehall where it passed the famous balcony where Winston Churchill appeared before the crowds on VE Day after his famous speech to mark Victory in Europe. The Prince of Wales took the salute as they entered Horse Guards Parade where members of the public watched the from special seated stands. There a flypast of current and historic aircraft from the Royal Air Force made up of the famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows payed tribute to the veterans as they march, flying directly over Whitehall and St James’s Park, to conclude the celebrations. Veterans and members of the public will then enjoy an afternoon of Second World War era entertainment in St James’s Park and a concert in Trafalgar Square.
The Red Arrows pay tribute to the VE70 veterans by flying over Horse Guards Parade Ground. A flypast of current and historic aircraft from the Royal Air Force made up of the famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows payed tribute to the veterans as they march, flying directly over Whitehall and St James’s Park, to conclude the celebrations. Veterans and members of the public will then enjoy an afternoon of Second World War era entertainment in St James’s Park and a concert in Trafalgar Square.

 

 

 

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