British Military Current Events

[Good2Golf]

I remember this vividly... and being secretly glad that the Royal Highland Fusiliers were deployed to help with the aftermath and not us. Horrific duty...

Soldier's 'surreal' memories of Lockerbie bombing tragedy​

Thirty-three years on from Britain's deadliest terrorist attack, a retired soldier has described the "surreal" scenes he faced as the search for victims and wreckage unfolded in the hours following the Lockerbie bombing.

For decades, the focus has rightly been on the victims' families. Yet, a hidden story exists beyond them among those who responded on the ground, including the emergency services and soldiers who were sent to the crash site.

Here, with candid recollections and details some readers might find distressing, we explore the events of that fateful night in December 1988 and how those involved all these years later still feel its ramifications.

Soldier's 'surreal' memories of Lockerbie bombing tragedy

British Army troops were deployed to the crash within hours of the disaster.

www.forces.net

Key questions after US arrests man accused of Lockerbie bombing

The Americans have released no details on how or where Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir al Marimi was detained, says Sky's Mark Stone, making the latest developments somewhat murky.

news.sky.com

Source different, but CAF responding to Swissair 111 had similar experience…

 

[daftandbarmy]

 

[daftandbarmy]

British Army officer 'tired of living like this' as baby sleeps in mouldy military home

A senior British Army officer has hit out on social media following claims a private firm responsible for the upkeep of military homes failed to carry out necessary works.

In a post on Twitter, the Army officer shared a video which he said showed the poor condition of his service family accommodation, which includes severe mould and condensation throughout the property.

The video also shows his two-month-old baby sleeping in a cot in the bedroom that appears to be affected by black mould.

The officer also included pictures of his military mess dress, which appeared to be affected by mould and mildew. This type of uniform usually costs in the region of £1,200 to purchase privately.

The officer's claims over his damp and mouldy accommodation comes as other serving soldiers have hit out on social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook, with claims children were left in freezing homes after the firms responsible for maintaining UK military homes failed to fix broken heating systems.

British Army officer 'tired of living like this' as baby sleeps in mouldy military home

 

[dimsum]

British Army officer 'tired of living like this' as baby sleeps in mouldy military home

A senior British Army officer has hit out on social media following claims a private firm responsible for the upkeep of military homes failed to carry out necessary works.

In a post on Twitter, the Army officer shared a video which he said showed the poor condition of his service family accommodation, which includes severe mould and condensation throughout the property.

The video also shows his two-month-old baby sleeping in a cot in the bedroom that appears to be affected by black mould.

The officer also included pictures of his military mess dress, which appeared to be affected by mould and mildew. This type of uniform usually costs in the region of £1,200 to purchase privately.

The officer's claims over his damp and mouldy accommodation comes as other serving soldiers have hit out on social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook, with claims children were left in freezing homes after the firms responsible for maintaining UK military homes failed to fix broken heating systems.

British Army officer 'tired of living like this' as baby sleeps in mouldy military home

Holy crap.

If these are what the officers are in, imagine what their NCMs are in.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Holy crap.

If these are what the officers are in, imagine what their NCMs are in.

The third world is a few notches above what is considered 'adequate' in terms of British Military accommodations quality, as I recall. 'Squalor' is a good word to describe some of the stuff I've seen in even Lt Col's homes as recently as earlier this year.

It's OK though, the MoD has apologized

MoD apologises over ‘unacceptable’ standard of army homes​

Families sent letter admitting to failures amid claims of squalid and even dangerous accommodation

The Ministry of Defence has been forced to apologise after army families were left enduring the “unacceptable” standards of housing contractors who were given management deals worth £650m six months ago.

The contracts had been lauded by the defence minister Leo Docherty in April but a letter was sent to families last week admitting to multiple failures amid claims of squalid and even dangerous accommodation.

Complaints posted on public forums such as Facebook included holes in the exterior walls of the bedrooms of children, front doors without locks and unattended water leaks and cases of mould.

The contracts covering 49,000 homes were supposed to bring an end to decades of sub-standard living conditions said to be driving people out of the service.

MoD apologises over ‘unacceptable’ standard of army homes

Families sent letter admitting to failures amid claims of squalid and even dangerous accommodation

www.theguardian.com

 

[Kirkhill]

In fairness to the contractors - six months isn't long to stop damp that has been rising since the Stewarts ran off to France.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Hoofing!

Senior British General: Royal Marines Deployed in "Covert Operations" in Ukraine​

Deployment of British troops in Ukraine carries "high level of political and military risk," Senior General has admitted.


Britain’s renowned Royal Marines have taken part in covert operations in Ukraine, a senior general has admitted for the first time, adding that their missions carried " a high level of political and military risk".

Writing in the Globe and Laurel, the Royal Marines’ official publication, Lieutenant-General Robert Magowan said British commandos supported "discreet operations" in a "hugely sensitive environment," with one mission entailing 350 marines from 45 Commando Group being deployed at short notice to evacuate the British embassy in Kyiv at the beginning of Russia’s illegal invasion.

Prior to Feb. 24, the day that Russian boots marched onto Ukrainian soil, British Defence Minister Ben Wallace confirmed that a small number of military personnel had been deployed in Ukraine to provide weapons and training. However, this is the first time that a senior military official has made such a confirmation.

Magowan, a former commandant general of the Royal Marines, who joined the Royal Navy’s elite unite in 1989, wrote: "In January this year, 45 Commando Group deployed at short notice — from the depths of a dark, north Norwegian winter, to evacuate the British embassy in Kyiv to Poland. The go-to 999 international emergency force, if you will."

The 45 Commando Group specializes in Arctic warfare, with their troops returning to Norway in March to participate in the largest NATO military exercise since the 1980s, which saw around 30,000 military personnel from 28 nations take part in drills of Exercise Cold Response.

"Then in April, they returned into the country to re-establish the diplomatic mission, providing protection to critical personnel," Magowan continued. "During both phases, the commandos supported other discreet operations in a hugely sensitive environment and with a high level of political and military risk."

Speaking to MailOnline after Magowan’s comments were published yesterday, Tuesday, Dec. 14, a Royal Navy spokesperson was careful to insist that the British troops had not taken part in fighting.

"Royal Marines were deployed to Ukraine to support the UK’s diplomatic presence in the country," the spokesperson said. "They served no combat function."

Senior British General: Royal Marines Deployed in Covert Operations in Ukraine | KyivPost

Deployment of British troops in Ukraine carries high level of political and military risk, Senior General has admitted.

www.kyivpost.com

 

[daftandbarmy]

Meanwhile, in the RAF before Christmas....

Air Force amn/nco/snco

Air Force amn/nco/snco. 113,479 likes · 35,962 talking about this. United States Space Force, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy Military and Civilian Forum Media News

www.facebook.com

 

[Good2Golf]

The third world is a few notches above what is considered 'adequate' in terms of British Military accommodations quality, as I recall. 'Squalor' is a good word to describe some of the stuff I've seen in even Lt Col's homes as recently as earlier this year.

It's OK though, the MoD has apologized

MoD apologises over ‘unacceptable’ standard of army homes​

Sure, but did the spokesperson cry?

 

[Kirkhill]

Meanwhile, in the RAF before Christmas....

Air Force amn/nco/snco

Air Force amn/nco/snco. 113,479 likes · 35,962 talking about this. United States Space Force, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy Military and Civilian Forum Media News

www.facebook.com

Is that the RAF or is that USAF Special Ops posted at RAF Mildenhall?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Is that the RAF or is that USAF Special Ops posted at RAF Mildenhall?

Good question... I have no idea

 

[Good2Golf]

US. Ospreys.

Hint: use of TDY

 

[Kirkhill]

752nd SOAMXS conducts CV-22 emergency landing training

Airmen assigned to the 752nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducted emergency landing training with a CV-22 Osprey aircraft at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, Oct. 19. The training

www.mildenhall.af.mil

 

[Blackadder1916]

Is that the RAF or is that USAF Special Ops posted at RAF Mildenhall?

It's the USAF.

This was the response from their wing commander.

 

[daftandbarmy]

It's the USAF.

This was the response from their wing commander.

View attachment 75486

Interesting... the anonymous lady mentioned a female commander.

 

[Kirkhill]

Interesting... the anonymous lady mentioned a female commander.

I think 752 SOAMXS is a Maintenance Squadron under the command of 352 SOW. I believe that the female commander referred to is probably the SOAMXS commander reporting to Col McGill.

 

[dapaterson]

Since invading the Falkland Islands, Argentina has appeared in four World Cup finals, winning one so far.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Since invading the Falkland Islands, Argentina has appeared in four World Cup finals, winning one so far.

Trying hard to make up for a deeply insulting national embarrassment seems to be the winning formula then.

 

[GR66]

Trying hard to make up for a deeply insulting national embarrassment seems to be the winning formula then.

Maybe then we should attempt...and fail to invade St-Pierre & Miquelon...for the sake of our future soccer teams.

 

[dapaterson]

Trying hard to make up for a deeply insulting national embarrassment seems to be the winning formula then.

By that logic, after this year in Parliament, England should have won hands down.