Of note for Defence news today is further coverage of the situation in Libya, and reporting on the Army's new reserve recruitment campaign.
Libya
Articles in The Sun and Mirror follow up reporting that the UK could send 1,000 soldiers to Tripoli to help train local forces against Daesh. According to the papers Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Crispin Blunt says MPs were briefed about the deployment on a visit to Egypt and Tunisia. The MOD's position can be seen in full below.
An MOD spokesperson said:
The UK, along with international partners, is supporting the process to form a recognised Libyan government and we are developing plans to support this. No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces to Libya as part of an international coalition force.
Army
The BBC reports on Army reserve research as the Army aims to reach a target of 30,000 trained reservists by 2019. It is reported that a survey for the Army reserve shows 18-35-year-olds spend three and a half hours a day on social media and gaming and that many young people think joining the reservists is too much of a time commitment - despite saying they would like to learn a new skill if they had more time.
Julian Brazier, Minister for Reserves, said:
Reservists are integral to our brave Armed Forces and have served on operations right around the world, from dealing with flooding in the UK to countering Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
We offer a challenging, exciting and rewarding experience, which is why there is a steady stream of enthusiastic and talented new recruits through the door. Indeed, reserve numbers across the three services have risen by more than 10 per cent in the last year alone.
We will continue to recruit the brightest and best people in order to best maintain the flexible and agile Armed Forces we need to meet all of our commitments both at home and abroad.
Deepcut
Short articles carried in The Guardian and The Sun report comments made by Brigadier John Donnelly as he gave evidence for the second time at the inquest into Private Cheryl James’s death at Deepcut Barracks.
An MOD spokesperson said:
Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Private Cheryl James. The inquest is now a matter for the Coroner; we have cooperated fully with his direction throughout this process and will continue to do so.
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