British Military Current Events

[daftandbarmy]

Helps explain why the Light Division march so fast

Cocaine ring of British Army soldiers jailed after selling nearly £100k of drugs to fellow personnel​

A cocaine-dealing ring of British soldiers that sold almost £100,000 of drugs to fellow military personnel have been jailed.

Rifleman Claudius Scott, Rfn Ryan Saedi, Rfn Ashleigh Walker and Lance Corporal Bradley Hesketh, who were all part of 5th Battalion, The Rifles, were sentenced to a combined 13 years and three months in prison at Bulford Military Court.

Addressing the four men, Assistant Judge Advocate John Atwill said: "You all chose to join a criminal conspiracy to supply cocaine to members of your unit for your own financial gain.

"You were a mutually reinforcing conspiracy that set out to sell as much as possible."

The 'network' of four soldiers dealt one kilo of the Class A drug cocaine at up to £100 a gramme to other servicemen at an Army barracks over a three-year period, a panel was told.

The court earlier heard Rfn Scott, 31, orchestrated the operation which saw the cocaine brought into the soldiers' base from west London.

Cocaine ring of British Army soldiers jailed after selling nearly £100k of drugs to fellow personnel

 

[daftandbarmy]

Walt-a-geddon on Wolverhampton...

Labour MP's husband and former Wolverhampton mayor accused of 'stolen valour' after wearing Iraq war badge and telling coworkers 'he served in the commandos' - despite not finishing training​

A Labour MP's husband has been accused of 'stolen valour' after wearing an Iraq war badge and reportedly telling coworkers he served in the commandos.

Ex-Wolverhampton mayor and former firefighter Cllr Greg Brackenridge, 53, boasted to his voters that he had a career serving in the Marines.

Despite allegedly telling his coworkers that he served for a 'number of years' in 45 Commando amphibious commando unit, he failed to complete the training.

MP's husband boasted about being a Royal Marine but failed training

New Labour MP Sureena Brackenridge's husband has been accused of 'stolen valour' over claims he lied about his service in the Royal Marines as he never finished the training.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[OldSolduer]

Walt-a-geddon on Wolverhampton...

Labour MP's husband and former Wolverhampton mayor accused of 'stolen valour' after wearing Iraq war badge and telling coworkers 'he served in the commandos' - despite not finishing training​

A Labour MP's husband has been accused of 'stolen valour' after wearing an Iraq war badge and reportedly telling coworkers he served in the commandos.

Ex-Wolverhampton mayor and former firefighter Cllr Greg Brackenridge, 53, boasted to his voters that he had a career serving in the Marines.

Despite allegedly telling his coworkers that he served for a 'number of years' in 45 Commando amphibious commando unit, he failed to complete the training.

MP's husband boasted about being a Royal Marine but failed training

New Labour MP Sureena Brackenridge's husband has been accused of 'stolen valour' over claims he lied about his service in the Royal Marines as he never finished the training.

www.dailymail.co.uk

No sexual hijinks? No
Men dressing like little Bo Peep?

 

[daftandbarmy]

I'd follow him anywhere, and we all will now at some point of course

Military community pays tribute to 'soldier's soldier' General Sir Mike Jackson​

General Sir Mike Jackson spent three years as the head of the Army and has been described as 'inspirational' (Picture: PA/Alamy)
The Armed Forces community has paid tribute to former head of the British Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, who has died aged 80.

General 'Jacko', who was Chief of the General Staff for three years, was one of Britain's most well-known military officers since the Second World War, with tributes praising his inspiring leadership and intelligence.

He led the Army during the allied invasion of Iraq in 2003 and with Nato in 1999, famously refused to confront Russian forces at Pristina airport in Kosovo, telling his American superior: "Sir, I'm not going to start World War Three for you."

Paying tribute, the current Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker, said: "Today we mourn the loss of a great man and excellent leader - General Sir Mike Jackson. "A soldier’s soldier, he was respected and admired for his conscientious leadership, fierce intellect, and straight-talking approach. He will be sorely missed."

Security Minister Dan Jarvis, a former Parachute Regiment officer who served alongside Gen Sir Mike, said he was an "outstanding, inspirational and charismatic leader" and also described him as a "soldier's soldier"

Military community pays tribute to 'soldier's soldier' General Sir Mike Jackson

Former Army chief General Sir Mike Jackson has been described as a 'true airborne legend' and a 'leader of the finest quality'.

www.forcesnews.com

 

[Rifleman62]

New.

The British Army’s Battle for Survival: Is it ready for war?​

 

[FJAG]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but an interesting series of articles in the Summer 2024 British Army Review on accelerating modernization.

https://chacr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BAR-189_compressed.pdf

 

[daftandbarmy]

Superb...

Former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major Speaks Out​

I am the former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the 22 Special Air Service (SAS). I was built for purpose, and that purpose was to ensure that the operating standards and morale of the SAS were the best they could be in all circumstances. The role of RSM is unique in the military and carries a huge responsibility to wield enormous power over a unit’s personnel effectively. The Commanding Officer (CO) connects the unit to the higher command, and the RSM connects the people who deliver combat power to the CO. Standards and accountability.

It is within that context that I am following the path of my successors in the SAS with interest in the developing legal narrative and also in the never-ending NI Legacy cases. The increasingly pious, tut-tutting antics of those who control this country, when faced with the effects of their political decisions—i.e., committing lethal force to their foreign policy adventures in the form of the SAS and the wider military—are notable.

I am clear that when a politician states that they value ‘our armed forces and will protect their interests in all matters,’ they don’t actually mean it. What matters is what they do, not what they say; and what they do demonstrably contradicts that glib commitment.

By ignoring our published letter in The Times (below) that raised the issue of the impact of the ECHR on SAS operations and potentially its future, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shown that it does not want any exposure of this issue, quite the opposite.

As such, it is reasonable to assume that the MoD wishes for the public to be kept in the dark about this threat to the Regiment – the following is a human perspective of the effect that 30 years of the Article 2 process has had on our soldiers and the indirect (until now) effect on our country.

One of the reasons I decided it was time to break cover and write our letter to The Times was to shed light on what is happening to our soldiers — and by “our,” I mean those men and women who embody the key message within that well-known proverb: “We sleep safely at night only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.”

Former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major Speaks Out COUNTRY SQUIRE MAGAZINE

BY GEORGE SIMM DCM I am the former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the 22 Special Air Service (SAS). I was built for purpose, and that purpose was to ensure that the operating standards and mora…

countrysquire.co.uk

 

[daftandbarmy]

The Luftwaffe flying from British bases... who'd a thought it

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat​

Under a major new defense agreement, the United Kingdom and Germany will work together on a raft of programs including new drones, missile defenses, and deep-strike weapons, as well as the periodic deployment of the German Navy’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to a base in Scotland. The Trinity House Agreement will also see significant cooperation on the industrial level, including artillery and armored vehicles. Taken together, the agreement is squarely aimed at better equipping the two countries to deter and defend against Russian belligerence in Europe.

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat

The future deployment of German sub-hunting planes to the United Kingdom is part of a much broader defense agreement signed today. The future deployment of German sub-hunting planes to the United Kingdom is part of a much broader defense agreement signed today.

www.twz.com

 

[dimsum]

The Luftwaffe flying from British bases... who'd a thought it

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat​

Under a major new defense agreement, the United Kingdom and Germany will work together on a raft of programs including new drones, missile defenses, and deep-strike weapons, as well as the periodic deployment of the German Navy’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to a base in Scotland. The Trinity House Agreement will also see significant cooperation on the industrial level, including artillery and armored vehicles. Taken together, the agreement is squarely aimed at better equipping the two countries to deter and defend against Russian belligerence in Europe.

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat

The future deployment of German sub-hunting planes to the United Kingdom is part of a much broader defense agreement signed today. The future deployment of German sub-hunting planes to the United Kingdom is part of a much broader defense agreement signed today.

www.twz.com

The best part was RAF Lossiemouth’s response to some of the more ridiculous comments re: German P-8s flying out of there.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1849067109478756525

 

[daftandbarmy]

Epic piss taking sessions to follow

https://twitter.com/x/status/1848832759672008865

 

[medicineman]

The Luftwaffe flying from British bases... who'd a thought it

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat​

Under a major new defense agreement, the United Kingdom and Germany will work together on a raft of programs including new drones, missile defenses, and deep-strike weapons, as well as the periodic deployment of the German Navy’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to a base in Scotland. The Trinity House Agreement will also see significant cooperation on the industrial level, including artillery and armored vehicles. Taken together, the agreement is squarely aimed at better equipping the two countries to deter and defend against Russian belligerence in Europe.

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat

The future deployment of German sub-hunting planes to the United Kingdom is part of a much broader defense agreement signed today. The future deployment of German sub-hunting planes to the United Kingdom is part of a much broader defense agreement signed today.

www.twz.com

Be fun vith ze German haircrews trying to make ze Scots air traffic controllers TALK...und if ze kan understand eachother...

 

[daftandbarmy]

Put your country's money where your mouth is....


The Armed Forces are not ready to fight a war, the Defence Secretary has admitted.

John Healey said the military had been “hollowed out” and “underfunded” under the last government to such an extent that it would not be able to deter the enemy if war broke out today.

He said: “The UK, in keeping with many other nations, has essentially become very skilled and ready to conduct military operations. What we’ve not been ready to do is to fight. Unless we are ready to fight, we are not in shape to deter.

“This is at the heart of the Nato thinking. We’ve got to not just be capable of defending our Nato nations, but more importantly we’ve got to be more effective in the deterrence we provide against any future aggression.”

This week, Vladimir Putin’s allies gathered at a summit in Russia in what the Russian president claimed was the start of a new world order.

In attendance were Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, as well as the leaders of 36 countries including Iran, India, South Africa the UAE, Ethiopia and Egypt.


Armed Forces not ready to fight a war, admits Defence Secretary

 

[FJAG]

Major UK MoD procurement and strengthened defence reforms launched with a new National Armaments Director to tackle waste and boost industry.​

~

Press Release, Whitehall, 25 October 2024: The biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence in over 50 years to fix what the Public Accounts Committee calls the ‘broken’ defence procurement system and to strengthen UK Defence, has been launched by the Defence Secretary. It comes amid increasing global threats, with growing Russian aggression and conflict in the Middle East. This requires increased resilience and warfighting readiness.

The Defence Secretary is leading the reforms to create a stronger defence centre which is able to secure better value for money, better outcomes for our Armed Forces, and better implement the Strategic Defence Review which will be published in the first half of next year.

Central to this is the creation of a new role: the fully fledged National Armaments Director. Its aim is to ensure the armed forces are properly equipped to defend Britain, to build up the British defence industry and to crack down on waste. The recruitment process for the role has now begun, with a search for candidates now underway and which will continue over the coming weeks.

The new National Armaments Director will be responsible for:

• Delivering the capabilities required from industry to execute the Defence plans and operations demanded by the new era.
• Shaping and delivering the Defence industrial strategy which will be launched in the coming weeks.
• Ensuring a resilient supply chain and the required readiness of the national ‘arsenal’.
• Leading on UK defence exports and acquisition reform.
• Harmonising procurement and working closely with wider government, industry, academia, and international partners to deploy best practice and investment.

The changes come as the Defence Secretary commits to ensuring “value for money across every penny of defence spend.” The reforms will also see the Chief of the Defence Staff overseeing a new Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) where he will formally command the individual Service Chiefs for the first time. They will now be central to investment decisions between the Services, along with the Defence Secretary and Permanent Secretary.

This Government’s MoD reforms will ensure faster delivery and clearer accountability across Defence, to support the Government’s ‘One Defence’ drive. They will also ensure defence is ready to take forward recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, with the new MSHQ fully functioning by the end of 2024 – ready to implement recommendations from the SDR in the first half of next year.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Our government is delivering the change we promised: cracking down on waste and boosting Britain’s defence industry. We will forge “One Defence”, which is clear in its goals and consistent in its methods, to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

“The world is more dangerous, with growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East and increasing global threats.

“These vital reforms will make UK military decision making faster, keep the country safer and achieve best value for taxpayers. This Government will strengthen UK Defence to respond to increasing threats.”

Defence Equipment & Support CEO and the UK’s current NAD, Andy Start, said: “This fully fledged NAD role is a vitally important step towards transforming defence acquisition and the industrial base in the UK.

“ This new role will have the levers needed to ensure our Armed Forces have the right kit and to deliver the defence industrial strategy we need for growth.

“We will work with industrial partners to embrace the One Defence approach so they can play their part in improvements that underpin national security and prosperity.”

The programme of reform will be informed by lessons from the department’s highly praised support to Ukraine. The National Audit Office recently highlighted the speed and scale of the MoD’s Operation INTERFLEX training programme for Ukrainian recruits, as well as fast-tracked procurement and distribution of essential gifted equipment to the Ukrainian front line.

These reforms will radically simplify the MoD. Governance and processes will be streamlined, with innovation in technology and an improved approach to data underpinning everything the department does.

~

Editor’s Comment: To paraphrase Worzel Gummidge, please forgive me if keep my cynical head on for the moment.

Major UK MoD Procurement Reforms Launched | Joint Forces News

Major UK MoD procurement and strengthened defence reforms launched with a new National Armaments Director to tackle waste and boost industry.

www.joint-forces.com

 

[Cloud Cover]

Sounds good. Obviously a decoy for what’s really coming.

 

[daftandbarmy]

British Army 'not ready' to fend off invasion, Defence Secretary warns - 'Far worse than we thought!'

It comes as the UK signed a pact with Germany over growing concerns about Russia

www.gbnews.com

 

[daftandbarmy]

This should make the former colonials, and their personal injury lawyers, happy

Robert Jenrick says Britain's former colonies should be THANKING us for the legacy of the Empire - and not demanding slavery reparations​

Writing in the Daily Mail, the Tory leadership contender says Commonwealth countries owe Britain a 'debt of gratitude' for the democratic institutions inherited from the Empire.

Mr Jenrick savages Sir Keir Starmer for 'capitulating' to pressure at the weekend and signing up to a Commonwealth Summit declaration which commits leaders to starting a 'conversation' about reparations for the transatlantic slave trade.

Some campaigners have claimed that reparations could eventually run to £19 trillion - seven times the annual output of the entire British economy.

Mr Jenrick calls for an end to the narrative 'stoked by a liberal elite and Labour politicians' that Britain should regard its imperial past with 'crippling shame'.

He says that while the British Empire was not an 'unadulterated good', people should be 'very proud indeed' of its record.

Britain's former colonies should be thanking this country for the legacy of Empire, not demanding reparations, Robert Jenrick (pictured) has said

The PM's official spokesman told reporters that Sir Keir was 'focused on looking forwards, not backwards, and working with Commonwealth countries on the challenges of the future'
Revealed: Text ambulance worker sent after trying to kill her boss
And he points out that the Royal Navy spent years battling to end the slave trade, adding: 'British blood was spilled fighting the African kings that sought to perpetuate it'.

Downing Street yesterday insisted that the declaration at the end of the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa at the weekend would not result in Britain paying vast reparations to former colonies in the Caribbean.

The PM's official spokesman told reporters that Sir Keir was 'focused on looking forwards, not backwards, and working with Commonwealth countries on the challenges of the future.'

He added: 'The PM's made clear the UK's stance on reparations is that we do not pay reparations. We need to look forwards, not backwards.'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned last night that the UK could not afford to pay reparations on the scale being demanded.

'Britain's ex-colonies should thank us for the Empire's legacy'

Writing in the Daily Mail, the Tory leadership contender says Commonwealth countries owe Britain a 'debt of gratitude' for the democratic institutions inherited from the Empire.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[medicineman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851642466363183148

 

[medicineman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851642466363183148

Well, wasn't paying close attention to detail there...

 

[daftandbarmy]

The newest 'anything but the SA 80' rifle

Exclusive hands-on with the new British Army AR-15: The KS-1 (L403A1), with Jonathan Ferguson​