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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" xml:lang="en-US" > <title type="text">Defence in the media</title> <subtitle type="text">Media updates from the Ministry of Defence news team</subtitle> <updated>2020-04-01T10:02:32Z</updated> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/feed/</id> <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/feed/" /> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Closure of the Defence in the Media Blog]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/01/closure-of-the-defence-in-the-media-blog/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=16161</id> <updated>2020-04-01T10:02:32Z</updated> <published>2020-04-01T10:01:33Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Defence in the media" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Defence in the Media blog is now closed. In future all media updates and responses may be found on the official MOD Twitter account. All previous blog posts will remain accessible, but no new posts will be made. The …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/01/closure-of-the-defence-in-the-media-blog/"><![CDATA[The Defence in the Media blog is now closed. In future all media updates and responses may be found on the official <a href="https://twitter.com/defencehq">MOD Twitter account</a>. All previous blog posts will remain accessible, but no new posts will be made. The decision to close this blog has been made following internal discussions on how best to ensure our audience is informed, as well as feedback gathered from readers. ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Defence in the Media: 5 November 2019]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/11/05/defence-in-the-media-5-november-2019/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15964</id> <updated>2019-12-05T13:19:22Z</updated> <published>2019-11-05T18:00:36Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Uncategorized" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The MOD announced today that a contract worth £2.8 billion has been signed to provide state-of-the-art armoured fighting vehicles to the British Army. Ahead of the upcoming General Election, the Defence in the Media blog will pause to reflect the Civil …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/11/05/defence-in-the-media-5-november-2019/"><![CDATA[The MOD announced today that a contract worth £2.8 billion has been signed to provide state-of-the-art armoured fighting vehicles to the British Army. Ahead of the upcoming General Election, the Defence in the Media blog will pause to reflect the Civil Service guidelines (Purdah) in place throughout the campaigning period. <h3>BOXER ARMOURED VEHICLES CONTRACT</h3> The Defence Secretary has announced that the army will receive more than 500 Boxer 8x8 high mobility, network-enabled armoured vehicles to transport troops onto the frontline. The vehicles will form part of the Army’s Strike brigades, new units set up to deploy rapidly over long distances across varied terrains. Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said: <blockquote> Our men and women of the Armed Forces deserve to have the best equipment to do their job. </blockquote> <blockquote> The Boxer vehicle is a leader in its field and I look forward to it arriving in units from 2023. <div id="attachment_15965" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15965" class="wp-image-15965 size-full" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/s300_Image_1_-_Boxer.jpg" alt="Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle) demonstration on Salisbury Plain" width="300" height="195" />Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle) demonstration on Salisbury Plain</div></blockquote> ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Defence in the media: Sunday 3 November 2019]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/11/03/defence-in-the-media-sunday-3-november-2019/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15960</id> <updated>2020-04-01T09:53:15Z</updated> <published>2019-11-03T11:17:10Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Defence in the media" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Today’s defence related news includes coverage of HMS Queen Elizabeth and Continuity of Education Allowance. Continuity of Education Allowance The Independent covers critical comments on the Continuity of Education Allowance, including most recent figures from a Parliamentary Question. Government spokesperson …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/11/03/defence-in-the-media-sunday-3-november-2019/"><![CDATA[Today’s defence related news includes coverage of HMS Queen Elizabeth and Continuity of Education Allowance. <h3>Continuity of Education Allowance</h3> The Independent covers critical comments on the Continuity of Education Allowance, including most recent figures from a Parliamentary Question. Government spokesperson said: <blockquote>In order to represent UK interests across the world, members of the diplomatic and armed services can be asked to move frequently during their career, sometimes at very short notice. In these cases, we offer support to all personnel, regardless of position, to help maintain continuous education and provide stability for children.</blockquote> <h3>HMS Queen Elizabeth</h3> The Sunday Telegraph includes a feature piece on life on HMS Queen Elizabeth as it took the four-month trip across the Atlantic. The journalist said the ship is ‘phenomenally futuristic in her stealth design, cutting-edge in her combat systems and boasts unprecedented levels of automation.’ <h3>Vegan clothing</h3> The Mail on Sunday reports on vegan clothing. MOD Spokesperson said: <blockquote>Vegan dietary options are available for almost all personnel and the Armed Forces have not raised concerns over provision of vegan-compliant clothing for service personnel.</blockquote> <h3>Image of the day</h3> <div id="attachment_15961" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15961" class="wp-image-15961 size-medium" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228-310x207.jpg" alt="Troops and veterans selling poppies to the public at Waterloo Station during London Poppy Day" width="310" height="207" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228-310x207.jpg 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228-614x410.jpg 614w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228-768x513.jpg 768w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228-620x414.jpg 620w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228-435x291.jpg 435w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/11/DSJ_9228.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px" />Troops and veterans selling poppies to the public at Waterloo Station during London Poppy Day (Thursday). Defence Ministers joined nearly 1,000 members of serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans to raise money for The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal on London Poppy Day at London's Mainline Railway, Thameslink and Underground Stations, selling poppies to try to raise one million pounds in a single day for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.</div> ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Army Combat Power Day]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/30/army-combat-power-day/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15956</id> <updated>2019-10-30T11:03:48Z</updated> <published>2019-10-30T11:03:48Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Army" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Defence in the media" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Equipment" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Events" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Ministerial comment" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Operations" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Personnel" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Today’s defence related news includes coverage of the Army Combat Power Day on Salisbury Plain and the Invictus Games team announcement. Image of the day Army Combat Power Day Positive coverage and imagery is carried by Press Association and Mail …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/30/army-combat-power-day/"><![CDATA[Today’s defence related news includes coverage of the Army Combat Power Day on Salisbury Plain and the Invictus Games team announcement. <h2>Image of the day</h2> <div id="attachment_15957" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15957" class="size-medium wp-image-15957" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45165203-310x207.jpg" alt="A tank crossing a bridge" width="310" height="207" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45165203-310x207.jpg 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45165203-615x410.jpg 615w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45165203.jpg 620w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45165203-435x290.jpg 435w" sizes="(max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px" />Pictured is a Challenger 2 (CR2). Crown copyright.</div> <h3>Army Combat Power Day</h3> Positive coverage and imagery is carried by Press Association and <a title="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-7627303%2FBritish-Army-blows-Russian-tanks-awesome-display-might.html&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Ccbc3311c31894d9ea56f08d75d113d85%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637080200980045141&sdata=KIBTFWhs74pm2GeIct6YZM%2FX6vTQCy6rGkyBJtFy3TU%3D&reserved=0" href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-7627303%2FBritish-Army-blows-Russian-tanks-awesome-display-might.html&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Ccbc3311c31894d9ea56f08d75d113d85%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637080200980045141&sdata=KIBTFWhs74pm2GeIct6YZM%2FX6vTQCy6rGkyBJtFy3TU%3D&reserved=0">Mail Online</a>. Coverage is visually-led, with striking pictures from yesterday’s demonstrations. The Mail Online describes how the Army showcased its strength by blowing up Russian tanks in a “breathtaking display of power,” during mock combat situations as part of the annual Army Combat Power Demonstration. Pieces reflect that the event is designed to showcase the capability of the Army, its soldiers and their use of advanced technology, adding that those present witnessed Apache helicopters in action, as well as a number of armoured vehicles. <h3>Invictus Games team announcement</h3> Following PA copy published yesterday, positive articles on the announcement of the UK team are carried in The Telegraph, Daily Express, The Scotsman, The Herald, Press & Journal, and <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forces.net%2Fnews&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Ccbc3311c31894d9ea56f08d75d113d85%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637080200980055135&sdata=YYGSoLM4h00LpDxkaWDTsIiNCdnLdzTZIFc4Wztl2No%3D&reserved=0">BFBS online</a> and also featured in yesterday’s Evening Standard. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, said: <blockquote>I wish the best of luck to the team selected to represent the UK at the Invictus Games next year and look forward to following their journey from training camps to The Hague. The Invictus Games are a powerful reminder of the ability of sport to inspire and support the recovery of wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans.</blockquote> <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_DefenceHQ&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=gJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA&m=VRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4&s=BAWqEWmdo8aafytZayH4uYFrIobbdiQxMMcH4JSXAmU&e=">Follow us on Twitter</a>, <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_company_1587-3Ftrk-3Dtyah-26trkInfo-3DclickedVertical-253Acompany-252CclickedEntityId-253A1587-252Cidx-253A4-2D1-2D10-252CtarId-253A1484060172104-252Ctas-253AMinistry-2520of-2520Defence&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=YZrearmVXzHFHWt2hFy6PaEOdrmojyRTKcjzv7wFkqc&m=p7sJMrk66UOuHNONamrZ8jHdc8z3uTyPB8F3WZ8MUPM&s=WoE68xeZyaKw9wTValdcKkELP-T_a6PXIKX8w1rLdtc&e=">join us on Linked in</a> and <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_ministryofdefence_&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=YZrearmVXzHFHWt2hFy6PaEOdrmojyRTKcjzv7wFkqc&m=p7sJMrk66UOuHNONamrZ8jHdc8z3uTyPB8F3WZ8MUPM&s=LaxscarUMVh8Y-6W6zvAgyvwJczob84h31_x4EiSFLg&e=">Follow our Instagram page </a>and don’t forget to <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__public.govdelivery.com_accounts_UKGOVUK_subscriber_new-3Ftopic-5Fid-3DUKGOVUK-5F17458&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=gJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA&m=VRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4&s=b7T7iL1aVq3vXfpTzgyqnR0gNHLaZXrcTSoIzTQEzXs&e=">sign up for email alerts.</a> ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Defence in the media: Daesh leader killed by US military]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/28/defence-in-the-media-daesh-leader-killed-by-us-military/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15951</id> <updated>2019-12-05T13:29:52Z</updated> <published>2019-10-28T12:16:58Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Uncategorized" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Highlighted Defence coverage includes the announcement of the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by US special forces in Northwest Syria and a feature documentary on the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed by US military …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/28/defence-in-the-media-daesh-leader-killed-by-us-military/"><![CDATA[Highlighted Defence coverage includes the announcement of the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by US special forces in Northwest Syria and a feature documentary on the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. <h3>Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed by US military</h3> The story of Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death by US special forces is covered on the front page of almost every newspaper and leads the broadcast headlines this morning for BBC, Sky, The Sun, Telegraph, Times, The Independent and The Daily Mail . Print reporting focuses on the rise and fall of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, from controlling a territory the size of Britain at the peak of Daesh’s powers in 2014 to the detonation of his suicide vest, killing himself and three of his children. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “ISIS is one of the most murderous terrorist organisations of our generation. Their leaders have twisted Islam to groom thousands of people into joining their evil cause. “I welcome the action that has been taken. The world will not miss Al-Baghdadi. “The UK has played a leading role in the Global Coalition Against Daesh, working hand in hand with international partners to defeat the group and we will continue to do so.” Read the government’s <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-statement-on-death-of-daeshs-leader">full statement.</a> HMS Queen Elizabeth stars in BBC 2 documentary In the first of a three-part series named ‘Britain’s biggest warship’, the BBC followed the crew onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth as they undertook afour month deployment to the United States The show interviewed the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Jerry Kyd, and followed the ship’s company as they dealt with on-board incidents, Russian ships, and the first successful landing of Lightning jets on the aircraft carrier. Watch the <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y25c6swx">first episode</a> in the series. <div id="attachment_15953" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15953" class="wp-image-15953 size-medium" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/Unknown-310x174.png" alt="Sailors on the HMS Queen Elizabeth" width="310" height="174" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/Unknown-310x174.png 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/Unknown.png 429w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px" />Sailors on the HMS Queen Elizabeth</div>             <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__twitter.com_DefenceHQ%26d%3DCwMGaQ%26c%3DSpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g%26r%3DgJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA%26m%3DVRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4%26s%3DBAWqEWmdo8aafytZayH4uYFrIobbdiQxMMcH4JSXAmU%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Cfe85437dfe2b44f140e608d75b9e94f2%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637078608975111973&sdata=iPM47Jhzr%2B%2FvfvdOXZvEn3QJnd0HMdYMRp42GGpv3GE%3D&reserved=0">Follow us on Twitter</a>, <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__www.linkedin.com_company_1587-3Ftrk-3Dtyah-26trkInfo-3DclickedVertical-253Acompany-252CclickedEntityId-253A1587-252Cidx-253A4-2D1-2D10-252CtarId-253A1484060172104-252Ctas-253AMinistry-2520of-2520Defence%26d%3DCwMGaQ%26c%3DSpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g%26r%3DYZrearmVXzHFHWt2hFy6PaEOdrmojyRTKcjzv7wFkqc%26m%3Dp7sJMrk66UOuHNONamrZ8jHdc8z3uTyPB8F3WZ8MUPM%26s%3DWoE68xeZyaKw9wTValdcKkELP-T_a6PXIKX8w1rLdtc%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Cfe85437dfe2b44f140e608d75b9e94f2%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637078608975121929&sdata=5xbOBbNCjeOloThtQc%2FZA9xcJhvVTsGOGtLpEbVx8RI%3D&reserved=0">join us on Linked in</a>, <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__www.instagram.com_ministryofdefence_%26d%3DCwMGaQ%26c%3DSpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g%26r%3DYZrearmVXzHFHWt2hFy6PaEOdrmojyRTKcjzv7wFkqc%26m%3Dp7sJMrk66UOuHNONamrZ8jHdc8z3uTyPB8F3WZ8MUPM%26s%3DLaxscarUMVh8Y-6W6zvAgyvwJczob84h31_x4EiSFLg%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Cfe85437dfe2b44f140e608d75b9e94f2%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637078608975121929&sdata=%2BtUzsy5YDc%2BO02vmnZvOkcHJFrtR7SqCLwYmOtoeMHY%3D&reserved=0">follow our Instagram page </a>and don’t forget to <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__public.govdelivery.com_accounts_UKGOVUK_subscriber_new-3Ftopic-5Fid-3DUKGOVUK-5F17458%26d%3DCwMGaQ%26c%3DSpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g%26r%3DgJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA%26m%3DVRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4%26s%3Db7T7iL1aVq3vXfpTzgyqnR0gNHLaZXrcTSoIzTQEzXs%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CAndrew.Mcdowell104%40mod.gov.uk%7Cfe85437dfe2b44f140e608d75b9e94f2%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C637078608975121929&sdata=vl6rbwKPAuzUf44269jvkHFAkungIabVybJdQSITkt8%3D&reserved=0">sign up for email alerts.</a>   ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Defence in the Media: MOD centre identifies Great War soldiers]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/22/defence-in-the-media-mod-centre-identifies-great-war-soldiers/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15936</id> <updated>2019-10-22T12:32:32Z</updated> <published>2019-10-22T12:29:13Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Commemoration" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Defence in the media" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Ministerial comment" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Personnel" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Reactive statements" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="JCCC" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="SSAFA" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Highlighted Defence coverage includes a documentary on identifying British personnel killed in historic campaigns, as well as reporting of the Defence Secretary's announcement on extending the Forces Help to Buy scheme. World War One documentary A special episode of ITV series …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/22/defence-in-the-media-mod-centre-identifies-great-war-soldiers/"><![CDATA[Highlighted Defence coverage includes a documentary on identifying British personnel killed in historic campaigns, as well as reporting of the Defence Secretary's announcement on extending the Forces Help to Buy scheme. <h3>World War One documentary</h3> A special episode of ITV series Long Lost Family last night featured the work of the Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassion Centre and its ability to identify remains of soldiers from the Great War. The documentary had unprecedented access to the MOD's War Detectives, an elite team who use state of the art forensics and ground-breaking technology to identify the bodies of unknown British and Commonwealth soldiers. The War Detectives work tirelessly to identify lost soldiers and provide answers for their families. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: <blockquote>It is great to see the work of such an important part of the Ministry of Defence showcased to the general public. Their work allows new generations of families and military the opportunity to pay their respects. We must always do our utmost to honour those who give their lives in the service of their country – whether today or 100 years ago.</blockquote> <h3>Forces Help to Buy scheme</h3> There is coverage in The Sun today of the Defence Secretary's announcement that the Forces Help to Buy scheme, which helps military personnel get on the housing ladder, has been extended until the end of 2022. The Forces Help to Buy scheme has lent over £280 million to over 18,000 armed forces applicants since its introduction in 2014, and allows military personnel to borrow a deposit of up to half of their annual salary, interest free, to contribute towards buying a home, building an extension on their current one or moving to another property. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: <blockquote>The extension of this scheme demonstrates the value we put on our Armed Forces and means service personnel can continue to realise the ambition of owning their own home or borrowing to extend. It has already proven very popular amongst the Armed Forces community and by extending it further we will be able to help many more service personnel make those first steps on the property ladder or expand their home to fit their family.</blockquote> Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said: <blockquote>The extension of the Forces Help to Buy Scheme is fantastic news for all those wanting to take that first step on to the property ladder. The Scheme helps to provide stability for our Armed Forces personnel and families, as a thank you for their commitment to their service for this country.</blockquote> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/forces-help-to-buy-scheme-extended-for-a-further-three-years">Read more on the Forces Help to Buy scheme extension here</a>. <h3>SSAFA report</h3> The Daily Star today reports on a report published by Armed Forces charity SSAFA on the perceptions of veterans. In the report, it is claimed that veterans may struggle to find work in civilian life because of misperceptions around mental health. Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said: <blockquote>Veterans make a huge contribution to society and it’s wrong that any business should worry about employing them. I welcome SSAFA’s efforts to help provide the facts around veterans and ensure that former personnel are not unfairly stigmatised. The new Office for Veterans’ Affairs will also work to improve the perception of veterans.</blockquote> <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_DefenceHQ&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=gJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA&m=VRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4&s=BAWqEWmdo8aafytZayH4uYFrIobbdiQxMMcH4JSXAmU&e=">Follow us on Twitter</a>, <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_company_1587-3Ftrk-3Dtyah-26trkInfo-3DclickedVertical-253Acompany-252CclickedEntityId-253A1587-252Cidx-253A4-2D1-2D10-252CtarId-253A1484060172104-252Ctas-253AMinistry-2520of-2520Defence&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=YZrearmVXzHFHWt2hFy6PaEOdrmojyRTKcjzv7wFkqc&m=p7sJMrk66UOuHNONamrZ8jHdc8z3uTyPB8F3WZ8MUPM&s=WoE68xeZyaKw9wTValdcKkELP-T_a6PXIKX8w1rLdtc&e=">join us on Linked in</a>, <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_ministryofdefence_&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=YZrearmVXzHFHWt2hFy6PaEOdrmojyRTKcjzv7wFkqc&m=p7sJMrk66UOuHNONamrZ8jHdc8z3uTyPB8F3WZ8MUPM&s=LaxscarUMVh8Y-6W6zvAgyvwJczob84h31_x4EiSFLg&e=">follow our Instagram page </a>and don’t forget to <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__public.govdelivery.com_accounts_UKGOVUK_subscriber_new-3Ftopic-5Fid-3DUKGOVUK-5F17458&d=CwMGaQ&c=SpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g&r=gJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA&m=VRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4&s=b7T7iL1aVq3vXfpTzgyqnR0gNHLaZXrcTSoIzTQEzXs&e=">sign up for email alerts.</a> ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Office for Veterans Affairs launched]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/16/office-for-veterans-affairs-launched/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15928</id> <updated>2019-12-05T13:31:33Z</updated> <published>2019-10-16T13:52:12Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Uncategorized" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[              The launch of the Office for Veterans Affairs is officially taking place today. As part of the launch, ministers have announced that the new head of the OVA will be Col David Richmond, …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/16/office-for-veterans-affairs-launched/"><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_15932" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15932" class="wp-image-15932 size-medium" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/VAL-20180630-AFD-233-016-310x207.jpg" alt="Veterans parade on Armed Forces Day" width="310" height="207" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/VAL-20180630-AFD-233-016-310x207.jpg 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/VAL-20180630-AFD-233-016-615x410.jpg 615w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/VAL-20180630-AFD-233-016-768x512.jpg 768w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/VAL-20180630-AFD-233-016-620x413.jpg 620w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/VAL-20180630-AFD-233-016-435x290.jpg 435w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px" />Veterans parade on Armed Forces Day. Crown Copyright.</div>               The launch of the Office for Veterans Affairs is officially taking place today. As part of the launch, ministers have announced that the new head of the OVA will be Col David Richmond, the former Recovery Director of Help for Heroes. Further details of what the office will do have also been announced, including its new functions of better co-ordinating Government and charity support and improving perceptions of veterans. The launch has been covered across widely across many national media outlets today, with pieces in the Daily Telegraph and The Sun, as well as broadcast coverage with interviews on Good Morning Britain and Sky News this morning. Coverage was also featured on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme. The Telegraph carries comments from Col David Richmond on the launch, who says that he “understands the struggles that some face” after he became the most senior officer injured in the Afghanistan conflict. The Sun also carries comments from Col David Richmond saying he “wants the OVA to champion veterans.” Earlier this morning, Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer was interviewed on Good Morning Britain. He said that he “came into politics to reset the relationship between the country and its veterans”. Later the Minister was also interviewed on Sky News and said that the new office will help to cohere the goodwill towards veterans. <h3>British soldiers’ phone messages</h3> The Telegraph also reports that British soldiers on operation in Estonia have been sent mysterious phone messages. The report claims that soldiers have been sent suspicious messages on Facebook, Twitter and by text which are believed to be from Russia. The Telegraph also includes an official MOD comment. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Like many members of the public, those in the Armed Forces may on occasion receive communications from unverified sources. “All our personnel are equipped with the appropriate guidelines to operate electronic devices safely and securely.” <a title="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__twitter.com_DefenceHQ%26d%3DCwMGaQ%26c%3DSpkS68ZihjmrPEDEws428g%26r%3DgJhEs9Ejxtj5Ey1uN4_ScgC-2ID_JpiX-DaCzzxodZA%26m%3DVRmHVzf723muW04j4Wx-DZ_Z-sr8mqx-ukZibEpVLk4%26s%3DBAWqEWmdo8aafytZayH4uYFrIobbdiQxMMcH4JSXAmU%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CWilliam.Archer101%40mod.gov.uk%7Ca57ff823129c439a350808d6d8644d2d%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C636934322630003869&sdata=Sqtt2Xl46x7gTZsQSNf4nWtex5GbIQElTgjK0v%2BXqWY%3D&reserved=0" 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href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/08/mod-corrects-claims-that-british-troops-risk-being-forced-to-join-eu-army/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15917</id> <updated>2019-12-05T13:33:36Z</updated> <published>2019-10-08T14:40:27Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Myth busting" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Daily Express has reported incorrect claims by a campaign group that British troops could be forced to join an EU defence force after Britain leaves the European Union.]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/08/mod-corrects-claims-that-british-troops-risk-being-forced-to-join-eu-army/"><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-15918 size-medium" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923-310x207.jpg" alt="Three military helicopters fly over some mountains." width="310" height="207" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923-310x207.jpg 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923-614x410.jpg 614w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923-768x513.jpg 768w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923-620x414.jpg 620w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923-435x290.jpg 435w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/45164923.jpg 1900w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px" />           The Daily Express has reported incorrect claims by a campaign group that British troops could be forced to join an EU defence force after Britain leaves the European Union. These false claims were corrected by the Ministry of Defence, which confirmed that the UK has always had the sovereign right to deploy military troops and equipment and will continue to do so after Brexit. A Government spokesperson said: <blockquote>Claims that the UK could be forced into any form of EU Army are inaccurate. The UK has always made our own sovereign decisions on defence spending on where and how to deploy our Armed Forces. This will remain the case as we leave the EU.</blockquote> Any decision to involve British Armed Forces in co-operative missions with other countries would be taken by the UK based on an assessment of the UK's best interests. The UK is committed to Europe's security and will continue to demonstrate that commitment through our leading role in NATO and other international organisations. The UK also has extensive bilateral arrangements for defence and security. ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team Member</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Defence in the media: Tuesday 8 October 2019]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/08/defence-in-the-media-tuesday-8-october-2019/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15912</id> <updated>2019-12-05T13:34:38Z</updated> <published>2019-10-08T09:43:42Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Defence in the media" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Medical" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Personnel" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Royal Navy" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Coverage of defence-related issues in the media today includes online reports of Royal Navy ships escorting Russian warships passing UK shores and a new fundraising campaign by the charity Help For Heroes. ]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/08/defence-in-the-media-tuesday-8-october-2019/"><![CDATA[Coverage of defence-related issues in the media today includes online reports of Royal Navy ships escorting Russian warships passing UK shores and a new fundraising campaign by the charity Help For Heroes. <h3>Royal Navy escorts Russian ships</h3> The Royal Navy has spent three days keeping close watch on Russian warships passing UK shores. HMS Mersey, a River-class patrol vessel, monitored the Russian task group of three vessels off the Norfolk coast. The Daily Star, Portsmouth News and Forces Network have all reported on the Royal Navy's work protecting the British coastline. HMS Mersey's commanding officer, Lt Cdr Will Edwards-Bannon, said: "The Royal Navy is used to working alongside our allies to uphold the rules-based international system, both in home waters and around the globe. "As ever, I am very grateful to the friends and families of all of us who serve in Mersey for their continued support as we work hard to protect our nation's interests." <h3>Help For Heroes campaign</h3> The Times, The Mirror and the Daily Star report on a new campaign from Help For Heroes on medical discharges. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Our Armed Forces do a dangerous job in keeping this country safe and anyone who is medically discharged receives bespoke support to help them back into civilian life. "Fewer than 2% of personnel who have served in the Armed Forces over the last 20 years were medically discharged. "When someone is injured, wounded or sick, in most cases they are medically downgraded in order to allow for treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. "The 39,696 personnel medically discharged over 20 years reflects a period of high operational tempo, including conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan." <h3>Image of the day</h3> <div id="attachment_15913" style="width: 625px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15913" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-15913" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol-615x410.jpg" alt="Royal Navy sailors watch a Russian ship pass them from HMS Mersey" width="615" height="410" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol-615x410.jpg 615w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol-310x207.jpg 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol-768x512.jpg 768w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol-620x413.jpg 620w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol-435x290.jpg 435w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/HMS-Mersey-patrol.jpg 1500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" />Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Mersey has shadowed a Russian naval frigate off the British coast.</div> ]]></content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>MOD News Team Member</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Defence in the media: Thursday 3 October 2019]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/03/defence-in-the-media-thursday-3-october-2019/" /> <id>https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/?p=15903</id> <updated>2019-12-05T13:36:25Z</updated> <published>2019-10-03T11:31:50Z</published> <category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Army" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Defence in the media" /><category scheme="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk" term="Royal Air Force" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Today’s defence related news includes the RAF and Virgin Orbit’s selection of an RAF pilot to be seconded to the company’s ground-breaking small satellite launch programme and the Times’s coverage of a social media post made by the Army on …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/03/defence-in-the-media-thursday-3-october-2019/"><![CDATA[Today’s defence related news includes the RAF and Virgin Orbit’s selection of an RAF pilot to be seconded to the company’s ground-breaking small satellite launch programme and the Times’s coverage of a social media post made by the Army on Black History Month. <h3 class="wordsection1">RAF pilot seconded to Virgin Orbit space programme</h3> The partnership between the RAF and Virgin Orbit was unveiled at the Air and Space Power conference in July. Following a tough selection process, Air Vice-Marshal Simon Rochelle and Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart have announced that Flight Lieutenant Mathew ‘Stanny’ Stannard has been selected. Flt Lt. Stannard is currently a Typhoon pilot with one of the RAF’s test and evaluation squadrons and is expected to join the pioneering Virgin Orbit programme next year. The selection has been covered widely this morning, with pieces in the Daily Telegraph and The Sun, as well as coverage online across BBC News, ITV News and Sky News. Coverage was carried on Radio 4’s Today Programme. The Telegraph quotes Flt Lt. Stannard’s comments that he’s “flown Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets in the RAF but being involved in Virgin Orbit’s space programme is a truly unique opportunity”. The Sun states that he has seen action in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan flying Tornado and Typhoon jets and quotes saying he feels “very privileged.” On the Today Programme, the BBC’s defence correspondent covered the announcement, noting that “these are the first small steps for the RAF in space, but it’s a giant leap for Flight Lieutenant Stannard”. The report notes that this is a part of the RAF’s space programme which will eventually lead to “a constellation of UK-built small satellites” to be launched next year. Defence Minister Annie-Marie Trevelyan said: <blockquote> The UK and the US already have an incredibly close defence relationship and now we’re working together to forge new frontiers in space. This exciting partnership will see Virgin Orbit benefit from the skills and expertise of our personnel while propelling the RAF’s space ambitions to new heights. </blockquote> <h3 class="wordsection1">Black History Month</h3> The Times reports on the British Army's social media coverage of Black History Month. The Times coverage quotes the University of Birmingham which said that “over the years the focus of Black History Month has expanded its coverage to include the history of African, Asian and Caribbean peoples and their contribution to Britain’s ‘island story.” Ian Thomas, a spokesman for the body that facilitates Black History Month, was also quoted in the piece, saying, “the contribution of Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities can’t be ignored." <h3>Image of the day</h3> <div id="attachment_15905" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15905" class="wp-image-15905 size-medium" src="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412-310x207.jpg" alt="The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows flypast the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, yesterday, trailing the Red, White and blue smoke over the bridge." width="310" height="207" srcset="https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412-310x207.jpg 310w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412-614x410.jpg 614w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412-768x513.jpg 768w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412-620x414.jpg 620w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412-435x290.jpg 435w, https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2019/10/SCA-Official-20191001-815-0412.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px" />The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows flypast the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, yesterday, trailing the Red, White and blue smoke over the bridge.</div> ]]></content> </entry> </feed>