Today’s defence-related media carries several prominent broadcast reports of a summit between President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of France and Germany, which it’s claimed will cover the situation in Ukraine and Russian airstrikes in Syria. There is also broad coverage that the Pentagon has confirmed eleven people have been killed in a C-130 transport aircraft crash in Eastern Afghanistan. The reports state that the US military has said no firing was reported before the plane went down, but also say the Taliban has claimed responsibility.
Syria
In continued reporting on Syria, the main angles include reports on Russian motives for taking action and a debate around which terrorist organisations Russia are targeting. Articles also reference the challenges the coalition against ISIL faces and opinion pieces about the chances of defeating ISIL given recent developments.
The Independent reports that Russia unleashed bombing raids in Syria against at least one CIA-backed rebel group. The article adds that reports have also surfaced of Iranian troops pouring into the conflict. The Guardian too splashes with the story, focusing on the angle that Moscow has admitted that it had targeted groups other than ISIL in coordination with the government in Damascus.
The Daily Mail, writes that the West cannot beat ISIL without the help of President Putin and this was echoed in the Daily Mirror by a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who says that by working with the Russians, we may have a real chance of crippling ISIL. He also argues that Moscow’s deep diplomatic, political and military connections with the Damascus government stand a fair chance of ensuring political stability in Syria.
Officer Recruitment
The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail include articles about the launch of the Army’s first recruitment campaign to attract new officers in almost 10 years. While a piece in the Daily Telegraph says that the drop-off reflects a steady fall in graduate recruitment into the Armed Forces as a whole over the last decade, it also adds that the campaign ‘With Heart, With Mind’, is aimed at "overcoming misconceptions" and will point out that there is more to the job than combat, highlighting in particular humanitarian work. Comments from Major General Paul Nanson, the commandant of Sandhurst, are carried, in which he says that today's graduates are looking for challenge and genuine responsibility from day one in their career, adding that a career within the Army provides this, fulfilling the desire to work with both heart and mind. Comments from Verity Brown, a dental officer, are also carried, saying that the Army has offered her the opportunity to develop and gain further qualifications, allowed her to travel the world, and is very rewarding.
The General Officer Commanding Recruiting & Training Division, Major General Chris Tickell, said:
We know that today’s graduates are looking for challenge and genuine responsibility from day one in their career. This recruitment campaign aims to bring the Army to the forefront of university students’ hearts and minds by offering insight and experiences and raising awareness of the opportunities and competitive salary that Officers enjoy.
We also know that there are further misconceptions about the background of Army Officers being elitist. We are seeing around 50 per cent of Army Officers coming from a comprehensive school background and we now have more applicants joining from polytechnic universities and fewer from the more traditional sources, such as Oxbridge.
Kunduz, Afghanistan
Outlets including the Wall Street Journal, The Times and The Guardian all cover the Afghan Government’s claim that it has successfully retaken the city of Kunduz from Taliban militants who had controlled the city since Monday. The papers say that while President Ashraf Ghani has said this is “good news”, he has also warned against complacency, adding that the war is ongoing. BBC News this morning reports that despite government claims of regaining control, fierce fighting is continuing between Afghan forces and the Taliban in Kunduz.
Training Death
The Independent says that failings by an adventure training company contributed to the drowning of young British soldier when his whitewater raft capsized, a coroner has ruled. It is reported that Private John Lomas, 22, who was based in Germany with the Royal Logistics Corps, could not swim and should not have been allowed on the water under MOD rules, an inquest was told.
An MOD Spokesperson said:
Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Private Lomas’s friends and family. We continually strive to improve safety as far as possible and a number of improvements have been made to risk assessments in adventure training.
Libyan Asylum Claim
The Daily Express, Daily Mail, The Sun and The Times all feature a story about the three Libyan soldiers convicted of sexual assaults in Cambridge while based at Bassingbourn barracks, who have claimed legal asylum. The articles say that the victims of the men have described their bid for asylum in the UK as an 'insult'.
AC Sarah Holland, a Retail Manager for Sainsburys is pictured during her Royal Air Force basic training at Bramley Ranges.
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