future tense? Dr fox on reshaping the Department DefenceFocus Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | Ministry of Defence | issue #249 MARCH/11 within Mentoring the Afghan trainers reach combatbarbie NANAVIGATORVIGATOR medical methods: how military skills save civilian lives P10 Lifestyle p28 hoMeS for heroeS Free tickets for troops for design show p36 SkAtIng Away cover image taken Johnson Beharry Dances on Ice by: sgt martin downs (RAF) p39 mile hIgh cLub Win a skydiving experience - indoors! Regulars P12 p5 In MeMorIAM Tributes to the fallen Exclusives p18 podIuM p8 A fair cop Paul Moorcraft on Egypt’s crisis MOD Police at work in Afghanistan p22 VerbAtim p12 gettIng bAng for theIr buck Liam Fox on the challenges facing MOD Brit troops train the Afghan National Army p31 MY MEDALS p20 fuelling the front line Bosnia, Afghanistan and marriage Taking tankers of oil to the troops MARCH 2011 | ISSUE 249 | 3 EDITOR’SNOTE Danny Chapman also hear more from Ian Carr’s recent trip DefenceFocus to Afghanistan, with the focus on training I’m writing this on the day of our print the Afghan security forces. Ian echoes the For everyone in defence deadline and I am surrounded by chaos. optimism in Dr Fox’s progress report while Published by the Ministry of Defence While for the first time since the Defence also highlighting some of the challenges Level 1 Zone C Focus and Online News teams merged British personnel, military and civilian, MOD, Main Building we seem to be on target for the magazine are facing in that essential task. We also Whitehall London SW1A 2HB deadline (not too bad to have got there in have a quick look at the Royal Navy ships General enquiries: 020 721 8 1320 just three issues I think), the world around coming home and those deploying around us seems in overdrive. the world. EDITOR: Danny Chapman Tel: 020 7218 3949 In the last 24 hours there have sadly If all this activity is proving bad for email: [email protected] been three fatalities in Afghanistan, and your health, Lorraine McBride brings us ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ian Carr the Defence Secretary has issued the a report from the new NHS and military Tel: 020 7218 2825 Government’s latest progress report trauma and microbiology research centre email: [email protected] on Afghanistan, while rightly becoming where military and civilian surgeons are ASSISTANT EDITOR: Leigh Hamilton furious at redundancy notices sent to Army sharing ideas on how to save lives, both on Tel: 020 7218 5988 NCOs by email. the battlefield and here at home. Looking email: [email protected] Meanwhile, further afield, the world ahead, Dr Fox spoke to Tristan Kelly about ASSISTANT EDITOR: Lorraine McBride watches to see the next act in the drama the future of Defence and how, though Tel: 020 721 82341 unfolding in Egypt. We have asked an changed, Defence will remain a stimulating email: [email protected] expert, Paul Moorcraft, to analyse the place to work. Stimulating or not, there is ASSISTANT EDITOR: Tristan Kelly situation for us in this issue. This month we certainly enough going on! Tel: 020 7218 4252 email: [email protected] ART EDITOR: Mark Eagle Tel: 020 721 8 3658 email: [email protected] DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT: Shell Daruwala Download Defence Focus magazine pdf online Tel: 020 7218 1320 email: [email protected] www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews MOD does not endorse any product or service advertised in Defence Focus, nor does it verify any preferential treatment offered by any advertiser to MOD employees. Queries on advertisements should be addressed to our advertising agency. The Defence News Blog YouTube Opinions expressed in Defence Focus do not necessarily Get a daily update of all the major At Defence Headquarters YouTube the represent those of the MOD. Articles on all aspects of defence stories running in the media latest videos from across Defence can MOD and Defence will be considered for publication but we reserve the right to edit contributions. MOD with the MOD’s official position on the be found, including clips of soldiers on staff contributing to Defence Focus should ensure their key issues, as well as a Defence Diary patrol in Helmand and briefings from writing is suitable for open publication. with upcoming events of interest. senior personnel. Visit www.blogs.mod.uk and subscribe Advertising Afghanistan Blog Advertising sales are handled by to the daily alerts. Ten Alps Media. Tel: 020 7 657 1816 Updated daily with official news on the www.tenalps.com UK mission in Afghanistan as well as Facebook/Twitter Join over 200,000 followers at the with stories from across the media and Distribution personal blogs from Armed Forces The magazine is distributed through major military HM Armed Forces Facebook page bases, depots and MOD offices. and receive Defence HQ tweets at personnel currently deployed. DefenceHQ Twitter. Printed by Corporate www.blogs.mod.uk/afghanistan Document Services Ltd on 100 per cent recycled paper 4 | WWW.MOD.Uk/DEFENCEINTERNET/DEFENCENEWS | MARCH 2011 inmEmoriam Deaths ON OPERATIONS – 18 January to 12 february 2011 Private Martin Bell the Afghan National Army in his unit and was utterly and intimidating the local professional throughout Private Martin Simon George population. He was fatally his time in Afghanistan . He Bell, from 2nd Battalion wounded by an improvised was immensely popular and The Parachute Regiment, explosive device as he moved respected by all ranks and was killed in Afghanistan on to assist a comrade injured by identified as a rising star. Tuesday 25 January 2011 a separate device. Aged 24, He leaves behind his parents when his unit was preventing from Bradford, Pte Bell joined Simon and Elaine, and his insurgent forces from attackng the Army in 2009. He ‘shone’ brothers Oliver and Philip. Ranger David Dalzell was 20-years-old and came trustworthy. Always ready from Bangor in County Down, with a smile, Rgr Dalzell was Ranger David Dalzell, from Northern Ireland. He joined armed with a quick wit and had 1st Battalion The Royal Irish the battalion a week before the ability to turn a rough day Regiment, was killed on Friday they departed for Afghanistan into a good story and lighten 4 February 2011 as a result of and was quickly identified as a the mood. He leaves behind an operational accident while quality soldier, always the first his parents Gordon and Susan, working at Checkpoint Ranger to volunteer. He established his three sisters and three in Nad ‘Ali. Ranger Dalzell himself as resilient and brothers. Warrant Officer Class 2 when an IED detonated while iconic leader with a staggering Colin Beckett he was moving to cover amount of operational his fellow patrol members experience, he was known Warrant Officer Class 2 during an operation against and respected across the (Company Sergeant Major) insurgents near a village on Parachute Regiment. He Colin Beckett, from 3rd the Nahr-e Bughra canal. leaves behind his parents Del Battalion The Parachute Aged 36, from Peterborough, and Kim, and his wife Rachel, Regiment, was killed on WO2 Beckett joined the Army who was expecting their first Saturday 5 February 2011 in 1990. An inspirational and child mid-February 2011. Private Lewis Hendry population and provide security of the enemy as he did when in the Nad ‘Ali district when boxing in the battalion. He Private Lewis Hendry, from their patrol came under fire. intended to make a career 3rd Battalion The Parachute During the ensuing fire fight, within the Regiment or the Regiment, was killed alongside both Pte Hendry and Pte Lewis Special Forces, described as Private Conrad Lewis on received fatal gunshot wounds. realistic aspirations given his Wednesday 9 February 2011. Aged 20 from Norwich, Pte dedication and natural talent. The soldiers were on an Hendry demonstrated the He leaves behind his parents operation to reassure the local same fearlessness in the face and a brother and sister. Private Conrad Lewis Territorial Army battalion, but his fellow paratroopers. An was accepted for a full-time intelligent individual, Pte Lewis Private Conrad Lewis, from reserve service appointment in knew the risks, but day-in- 4th Battalion The Parachute 3 PARA in July 2009. He proved day-out he was still the man at Regiment, was killed alongside an exceedingly competent the front of every patrol, coolly Pte Hendry on Wednesday 9 soldier and was selected as facing the threat and keeping February 2011. Aged 22, from lead scout for his section. His his friends safe. He leaves Bournemouth, Pte Lewis diligence and bravery were behind his family and girlfriend originally served in 4 PARA, a the first line of defence for Georgina. MARCH 2011 | ISSUE 249 | 5 BIGPICTURE roll with it the royal Navy Kayak Association on the river Dart. image by lA(Phot) Stuart hill 6 | www.mod.uk/defenceInternet/defencenews | MARCH 2011 MARCH 2011 | Issue 249 | 7 afghanistanREpoRt using the force MOD POlice PASS ON their exPertiSe tO the Afghan NAtional POlice At lAShkAr gAh, reportS ian cArr eaving Main Operating Base (MOB) builders are at work on what are clearly Afghan National Police (ANP) training. If Lashkar Gah a convoy of close going to be very big buildings indeed. On we are going to make this work we need protection land cruisers bullies its the ridge are two impressive new private a lot more real police to come out here to L way down the long road that leads houses. The design of one is based on a help with the training.” to Gereshk. Mopeds, jingly trucks, battered sequence of pyramids. It wouldn’t look While the Colonel has been in charge, cars and motorised three-wheelers, out of place in Las Vegas.