LOCATIONS
17 Aug 06. BAE Systems has opened a 6,000-square-foot facility near Robins Air Force Base to support and upgrade Air Force equipment and software. The BAE Systems Readiness and Sustainment Center is located five miles east of the Air Force facility in an Advanced Technology Park at 132 Osigian Blvd.
18 Aug 06. HM Ships: Return from Lebanon. HMS BULWARK returned to Devonport (15 Aug 06) and HMS ST ALBANS to Portsmouth (18 Aug 06). Both ships were involved in the evacuation of people from Lebanon, which was said to have been the largest personnel evacuation in recent history.
Comment: HMS BULWARK rescued over 1,300 people and transported them safely to Cyprus. A further 243 people from Beirut were rescued by HMS ST ALBANS and also taken to Cyprus. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0632, 21 Aug 06)
Aug 06. HMS VICTORIOUS: Long Overhaul Period (Refuel) (LOP(R)). An article in DLO News (August 2006) confirmed that HMS VICTORIOUS’ LOP(R) is expected to last 160 weeks and to cost about £250m.
Comment: HMS VICTORIOUS followed HMS VANGUARD for an LOP(R), entering Devonport on 16 Jan 05 and docking down during the following month. HMS VIGILANT and VENGEANCE are programmed to follow VICTORIOUS. As defined by the MoD, the prime purpose of an LOP(R) is to refuel the boat with a modern reactor core (Core H) and to revalidate her for safe diving. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0632, 21 Aug 06)
PERSONNEL
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
23 Aug 06. Britain’s military presence in Iraq could be halved within a year Iraqi forces are to resume responsibility for security in the south A British taskforce is also in Afghanistan fighting with the Taleban Key quote “We anticipate there is not going to be a political appetite to say ‘job done’ while there is still unfinished business in the centre of the country,” – British military commander. Commanders said it was “feasible” that the handover of Basra province to full Iraqi control could be completed within nine months to a year.
That would enable the British military force to be reduced from just over 7,000 troops at present to between 3,000 and 4,000 by the middle of 2007. The sources said any cut would depend on the security situation and would need agreement by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (Source: Scotsman)
23 Aug 06. Inactive US marines face call-up. US marines serve in some of the most dangerous parts of Iraq. The US Marine Corps says it has been authorised by President Bush to recall thousands of inactive reservists to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. Up to 2,500 of a pool of nearly 60,000 marines who have left active duty could be recalled to serve at any one time. Thousands of marine reserves have already served in Iraq, but they were active reservists who train regularly. Now inactive reservists obliged only to report one day a year may be recalled – against their will if necessary. The Marine Corps describes the move as prudent planning, but critics will seize on the announcement as evidence the US military is overstretched in Iraq, reports the BBC’s James Westhead in Washington. The call-up, authorised by President George W Bush, will affect members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Under a general contract, a marine serves four years on active duty, and then a further four years in the reserve forces. For this final four years, they can either elect to join the regular reserves – where they are paid and train regularly – or choose to join the IRR. (Source: BBC)
18 Aug 06. ASN RDA Realigns PEO C4I, JPEO JTRS Leadership. Previously Dual-Hatted, Dennis Bauman Now Focuses Solely on JTRS. To adapt to changes within the Navy and Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition management organization, the leadership for the Joint Program Executive Office Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS) and the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO) for C4I and Space
have been realigned into separate positions. The decision was announced Aug. 11 i