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British Military Current Events

Oh how the mighty fall...


Head of Royal Navy suspended over ‘affair with subordinate’​

Admiral Sir Ben Key is the only first sea lord to have faced a misconduct inquiry in the navy’s 500-year history

The head of the Royal Navy has been suspended over claims that he had an affair with a subordinate, sources have disclosed.

Admiral Sir Ben Key, 59, a married father of three, was told to “step back from all duties” while an investigation was carried out, it is understood. It is the first time in the Royal Navy’s 500-year history that its first sea lord has faced a misconduct inquiry.

Vice-Admiral Sir Martin Connell, the second sea lord, has replaced him temporarily. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, a Royal Marine, is expected to be given the job imminently, becoming the first amphibious troop member rather than a sailor to take the position.

Key was to stand down in the summer. He was prevented from resigning early to allow the investigation to run its course, according to The Sun. Sources confirmed to The Times that he was under investigation over an affair.

Key, who has served more than four decades in the navy, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Ministry of Defence said: “An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.”

Key had previously told colleagues he would not put himself forward for the role as chief of the defence staff, saying he “can’t fix the navy”. One colleague said he had been “dealt a terrible hand and hasn’t got the resources and levers he needs to fix the mess”.

A friend of Key said: “I am completely surprised. In terms of integrity, operational record and the genuine affection and respect he has from the navy, he is the best first sea lord in years. If he has made a mistake then it’s tragic but he deserves to be remembered for his operational record and not for this.”

The navy has faced many scandals over the years. In 2014 Sarah West, the first female commander of a Royal Navy warship, was removed from her post because of claims she had an affair with a subordinate officer.

Three years later, nine servicemen were thrown off a nuclear submarine after testing positive for cocaine while on duty. The crew from HMS Vigilant, which carries the Trident nuclear deterrent, were kicked out of the service after the drug was found in their blood. They were alleged to have held parties while the submarine was docked in America to load nuclear warheads.

 
Battered Belgians bloodied but unbowed...


Three Belgian soldiers hospitalised and 12 others injured after shooting incident at Scots military base​

Belgium's Defence Minister, Theo Francken, said 'something went wrong' on the exercise

THREE Belgian soldiers have been rushed to hospital and 12 others were injured after a 'shooting incident' during a military exercise in Scotland.

Soldiers from the country's parachute regiments were taking part in the Red Condor exercise when the incident happened earlier today.

A total of 15 soldiers have been injured, and three were rushed to hospital in an ambulance after being wounded.

According to Belgian publication Sudinfo, two soldiers have suffered serious injuries while the third suffered minor injuries.

The other 12 soldiers all reportedly suffered hearing damage.

 
Sounds like someone either brought a live grenade or doing something stupid with pyrotechnics.
Was thinking same thing, or the grenade went somewhere unintended - seen that happen doing live fire house clearing in a tire house in Camp Pendleton, where a young guy tossed a grenade into a room instead of posting on the ground and it rebounded off the wall into the hallway out the opposite door...4 people got hurt on that.
 
They don't like it up 'em! ;)

UK to launch new 'Home Guard' to protect power plants and airports amid rising global threats​

The UK may see a return of the famous WW2 fighting force to combat attacks on important domestic facilities

A ‘Home Guard’ defence force could be established to protect key British infrastructure, it has been claimed.
Part of the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the new military branch would be made up of volunteers tasked to defend power plants, airports and telecommunications hubs.

The unit will reportedly be modelled on the well-known WW2 militia formed in the face of possible Nazi invasion in the 1940s, but may also take inspiration from similar Home Guard forces that currently exist in other European countries.
The Home Guard would be a new organisation separate to the army reserves while maintaining a similar structure, according to the Sunday Times.


 
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