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Defence in the media

https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2016/04/05/defence-in-the-media-5-april-2016/

Defence in the media: 5 April 2016

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Today’s defence news includes an interview with the highest ranking reservist in the forces and reports that a US military working dog has received a medal for heroism.

ARMY RESERVES

The Financial Times reports that the Army is working with large companies as it steps up plans to draft thousands more reservists into its ranks by 2020.

In an interview, Major General John Crackett spoke to the paper as he became the Armed Forces' highest ranking reservist and the first reservist to take a place on the Army board. The Major General highlighted the benefits to employers of working with reservists and the Army’s desire to access some of the specialist skills, like cyber, already found amongst the employees of Britain’s businesses. He told the FT:

Reservists, if you think about them, are fit, they’re more self-confident, they’re more self-disciplined, they tend to be more loyal – they just make better employees.


We’re now trying to manage our relationships with the top 200 employers [in the UK] like any business would, in a businesslike, coherent and consistent way. Employers and the extent to which they support the reservist service are very, very important to us.

DICKIN AWARD

Sky News reports that a US military dog who lost her leg on duty in Afghanistan is to receive the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Lucca lost one of her front legs during a search for improvised explosive devices in 2012, according to Sky. It is reported that the 12-year-old German Shepherd completed more than 400 missions with the US Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan - helping protect thousands of troops. Now retired, she has been flown from California to be presented with the Dickin medal at Wellington Barracks in London. 

SYRIA

The Times reports that Syrian regime forces have recaptured a strategic supply town from Daesh, dealing another blow to the terrorist group a week after the Army retook the historic city of Palmyra. According to the paper, their advance came as leaders of another jihadist group, the al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front, were killed in a US airstrike in northwest Syria. 

IMAGE OF THE DAY 

Pictured: Lighting up the sky like giant light sabres, soldiers on Ex Shamal Storm 2016 are taught to use the L12A2 para-flare by 66 GS Sqn Ammo Troop. British troops have travelled to Jordan to test their ability to move personnel, vehicles and equipment to any area of the world at very short notice. Troops from the Vanguard Enabling Group (VE Gp) are currently in the Kingdom of Jordan conducting Exercise Shamal Storm 2016. An annual exercise which has developed from previous years and this year it is 60% bigger than previous exercises. Lieutenant Colonel Jo Chestnutt from the Royal Logistic Corps is the Commanding Officer of the VE Gp. He explained the premise of the Exercise: "It's is all about testing and validating our ability to get troops and equipment anywhere in the world, quickly and safely. Our aim is to set the conditions for the main force, and provide logistic support to them at a moment's notice." Shamal Storm is an overseas training exercise in Jordan by elements of Force Troops Command (FTC) from 25 January to 18 April 2016. The exercise will assure the readiness of military capabilities held within Force Troops Command for current and future operations. Photographer - Cpl Daniel Wiepen RLC (Army Photographer) - Army Headquarters NOTE TO DESKS: MoD release authorised handout images. All images remain Crown Copyright. Photo credit to read - Cpl Daniel Wiepen RLC (Phot) richardwatt@mediaops.army.mod.uk shanewilkinson@mediaops.army.mod.uk Richard Watt - 07836 515306 Shane Wilkinson - 07901 590723
Lighting up the sky like giant light sabres, soldiers on Exercise Shamal Storm 2016 are taught to use the L12A2 para-flare by 66 GS Sqn Ammo Troop in Jordan.

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