Fifty Per Cent Phase with Half the Afghan Population Now Living in Transitioning Areas We Look at How It Works Combatbarbie NANAVIGATORVIGATOR
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2012 hopefuls: three servicemen training for glory DefenceFocus Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | Ministry of Defence | issue #260 April/12 fifty per cent phase With half the Afghan population now living in transitioning areas we look at how it works combatbarbie NANAVIGATORVIGATOR a flare for excitement: 50 years of commando comics P18 p14 the applIance oF scIence Regulars We meet the new head of Dstl p6 In memorIam p16 commons knowledge Tributes to the fallen MPs learn about military life p20 podIum p22 LONDON CALLING By the late war reporter, Marie Colvin Armed Forces Olympic hopefuls p26 gIzmo gIve away Win your own miniaturised assault course P22 P16 Features p8 aFghan transItIon How the transition process works p10 JoInIng up The new Joint Forces Command explained p12 new look For RAF northolt P26 Five years of construction comes to an end APRIL 2012 | ISSUE 260 | 3 EDITOR’SNOTE DANNY CHAPMAN press conference that “recent days have DefenceFocus reminded us how difficult our mission IT’S been a bad month for operations is and how high the cost of this war has For everyone in defence in Afghanistan. Three tragic incidents been for Britain, for America and for the Published by the Ministry of Defence have meant that the public perception Afghans themselves,” adding, “but we Level 1 Zone C of the mission has taken a bad knock in will not give up on this mission, because MOD, Main Building Afghanistan, the UK and US. Afghanistan must never again be a safe Whitehall London SW1A 2HB In early March there was the largest haven for Al-Qaeda to launch attacks General enquiries: 020 721 8 1320 loss of UK Service personnel due to enemy against us.” action in a single incident since operations The goal, they reaffirmed is for EDITOR: Danny Chapman Tel: 020 7218 3949 began. Less than a week later a US soldier Afghan forces to take full responsibility for email: [email protected] went on a rogue shooting spree killing 16 security in 2014, adding “we won’t be in a ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ian Carr innocent Afghan civilians and then this combat role after 2014.” Tel: 020 7218 2825 week (end of March) two UK Servicemen The transition of responsibility for email: [email protected] were killed by a rogue member of the security to Afghan control is therefore ASSISTANT EDITOR: Leigh Hamilton Afghan national Army. what it’s now all about. Tel: 020 7218 5988 Of course the biggest tragedy here Transition is not an easy process email: [email protected] is the loss of lives and the heartache for to understand which is why we have a ASSISTANT EDITOR: Lorraine McBride the families of those involved, be they in feature in this issue helping to explain it. Tel: 020 721 82341 Afghanistan, the UK or the US. But terrible But it is a process that is well underway, email: [email protected] as these incidents are, do they signify any indeed as our cover page states, 50 per ASSISTANT EDITOR: Tristan Kelly larger pattern or worsening situation? cent of Afghanistan is now “transitioned.” Tel: 020 7218 4252 Certainly they have not caused any I’m sure the process will stay on email: [email protected] change in the strategy of ISAF. Days after target and I hope, like all of us, that we ART EDITOR: Mark Eagle the first two incidents David Cameron said, see far, far less of the type of incidents we Tel: 020 721 8 3658 standing next to Barak Obama at a joint have seen over the last month. email: [email protected] DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT: Shell Daruwala Tel: 020 7218 1320 email: [email protected] Download Defence Focus magazine pdf online MOD does not endorse any product or service advertised in Defence Focus, nor does it verify any preferential www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews treatment offered by any advertiser to MOD employees. Queries on advertisements should be addressed to our advertising agency. Opinions expressed in Defence Focus do not necessarily represent those of the MOD. Articles on all aspects of The Defence News Blog YouTube MOD and Defence will be considered for publication Get a daily update of all the major At Defence Headquarters YouTube the but we reserve the right to edit contributions. MOD defence stories running in the media latest videos from across Defence can staff contributing to Defence Focus should ensure their with the MOD’s official position on the be found, including clips of soldiers on writing is suitable for open publication. key issues, as well as a Defence Diary patrol in Helmand and briefings from Advertising with upcoming events of interest. senior personnel. Advertising sales are handled by Shun Tamura Visit www.blogs.mod.uk and subscribe at Ten Alps Media. Tel: 020 7657 1810 to the daily alerts. email: [email protected] Afghanistan Blog Updated daily with official news on the Distribution Facebook/Twitter UK mission in Afghanistan as well as The magazine is distributed through major military bases, depots and MOD offices. Join over 200,000 followers at the HM with stories from across the media and Armed Forces Facebook page and personal blogs from Armed Forces Printed by Corporate receive Defence HQ tweets @DefenceHQ personnel currently deployed. Document Services Ltd on 100 per cent on Twitter. www.ukforcesafghanistan.wordpress.com recycled paper 4 | WWW.MOD.Uk/DEFENCEINTERNET/DEFENCENEWS | APRIL 2012 BIG PICTURE INTO THE BLUE DIvErs frOM the TrI- sERVICE Submarine PArachute AssIstance Group leap from an rAf HErcules into the waters Off Gibraltar DUrING A TrAINING EXErCIsE Picture: Cpl Al Crowe RAF Cpl Al Crowe Picture: APRIL 2012 | ISSUE 260 | 5 inmemoriam deAtDEHsA tONHs o ONPER oAPtERIONSAtIONS –11 f - ebru26 sePAtemberry 2012 to to 27 26 m octoberArcH 2012 2011 senior Aircraftman Monday 13 February 2012 by supported squadron ryan tomlin insurgent small arms fire operations out on the ground during a partnered patrol to around Bastion. Senior Aircraftman Ryan reassure and interact with Aged 21, from Hemel Tomlin, from 2 Squadron the local population in Nad Hempstead, he leaves behind Royal Air Force Regiment, ‘Ali district. his mother Diane, father was killed in Afghanistan on During his tour he Kevin and sister Michelle. sergeAnt Nigel couPe, corPorAl JAke HArtley, PrIvAte AntHony frAmPton, PrIvAte ChrIstopher kershaw, PrIvAte DanIel Wade And PrIvAte DanIel Wilford were killed on the border of Helmand and kandahar provinces in Afghanistan on tuesday 6 march 2012. they were on a patrol to dominate the area and maintain freedom of movement when their warrior armoured fighting vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, resulting tragically in the deaths of all six men. sergeant nigel coupe as a Warrior Sergeant in 7 fully prepared for operations. Platoon, Corunna Company. Aged 33, from Lytham Sergeant Nigel Coupe, from He served as a Warrior Saint Annes, Lancashire, 1st Battalion The Duke of instructor in the UK and then he leaves behind his wife Lancaster’s Regiment, was as a vehicle commander, the Natalie, two children Ella deployed to Afghanistan role for which in Afghanistan and Jasmine, mother Elaine, attached to 3rd Battalion his expertise was vital to father Alan, sister Linda and The Yorkshire Regiment ensuring the Company was grandfather Roy. corporal Jake Hartley He was already And his knowledge of his promoting well ahead of his profession was first class. Corporal Jake Hartley, from years, which is testament to Aged 20, from Dewsbury, 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire his soldiering ability, and had West Yorkshire, he leaves Regiment, joined the an innate ability to inspire behind his mother Nathalie, Battalion in December 2008 those around him and make stepfather Mark, brother and had a very bright future them achieve more than they Ethan, and uncle and best in the Army. ever imagined was possible. friend Luke. Private Anthony employed as an Infantry Aged 20, from frampton Dismount and Warrior Huddersfield, he leaves Gunner. behind his mother Private Anthony Frampton, A true team player Margaret, stepfather from 3rd Battalion The with an infectious sense of Martin, his father Gary, Yorkshire Regiment, joined humour he possessed a real sisters Gemma and Nicola, the Army in 2010. talent for Armoured Infantry great-uncle Pat and In Afghanistan he was gunnery. extended family. 6 | www.mod.uk/defenceInternet/defencenews | APRIL 2012 FEATUREINTERVIEW Private christopher on a Warrior driving cadre, to fill this role on operations. kershaw thoroughly enjoying working He proved himself, in a very on the Warriors where his short time, to be an excellent Private Christopher Kershaw, talent for the role became soldier. from 3rd Battalion The evident. He also proved Aged 19, from Bradford, Yorkshire Regiment, joined himself an extremely effective he leaves behind his parents the Battalion in September Light Machine Gun gunner and Brian and Monica, and sister 2011 and was immediately put was subsequently selected Sarah Louise. Private daniel wade placed onto a Warrior driving shot and he proved himself, cadre, which he passed with in a very short time, to be an Private Daniel Wade, from flying colours. excellent soldier. 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire It did not take him long Aged 20, from Regiment, joined the Army to establish himself as one Warrington, he leaves behind in January 2011 and arrived of the best drivers in the his mother Lisa, his sister in the Battalion in July 2011 Company. Stacey, his fiancée Emma where he was immediately He was also an excellent and unborn baby Lexie. Private daniel wilford 2011 before deploying to He had proven himself an Afghanistan in the same role extremely competent soldier Private Daniel Wilford, from in February 2012.