PERSONNEL
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
07 Nov 06. Operations: Numbers Deployed. The Armed Forces’ Minister stated (7 Nov 06) that, as at 3 Oct 06, some 28,180 Service personnel were deployed on Operations. Details are given on page 3.
Comment: The information was announced by way of a Written Answer to the Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary. (The House of Commons record of 94 Defence Written Answers dated 7 Nov 06 and 36 dated
8 Nov 06 only became available via the Parliament website on 14 Nov 06.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0644, 20 Nov 06)
23 Nov 06. UK Armed Forces at 96.5% manning. The publication today of the Ministry of Defence’s latest Armed Forces manning figures show that the UK Armed Forces are currently at 96.5% p Full Time Trained Strength. As at 1 October 2006, the Full Time Trained Strength of the UK Armed Forces was 179,420p against a target of 185,750. This comprises 174,590 p UK Regular Forces, 1,560 p Full Time Reserve Service personnel and 3,280 Gurkhas. There were also 18,400 p untrained UK Regulars and 310 untrained Gurkhas.
07 Nov 06. Allied Armies: Standardisation. The Armed Forces’ Minister explained (7 Nov 06) that the ABCA (America, Britain, Canada & Australia) Armies’ Standardisation Programme was a forum through which the Armies aimed “to optimise interoperability”. New Zealand joined the existing ABCA members in March 2006.
Comment: Association with ABCA is one of the more attractive perks available to an aspiring Staff Officer, since the meetings form a most agreeable military ‘club within a club’. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0644, 20 Nov 06)
17 Nov 06. DoD Announces Units for Next Operation Iraqi Freedom Rotation. The Department of Defense announced the first of the major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation. This announcement involves one Army division headquarters and five Army combat brigades consisting of approximately 20,000 service members. The scheduled rotation for the forces identified in this announcement will begin in early 2007. Force levels in Iraq continue to be conditions-based, and are determined based on the recommendations of military commanders in Iraq and in consultation with the Iraqi government. U.S. force rotations will be tailored based upon changes in the security situation. Iraqi security forces continue to develop capability and assume responsibility for security in Iraq. This rotation continues the U.S. commitment to the stability and security of Iraq, yet is flexible and adaptable in order to meet the evolving requirements for the mission. For Operation Iraqi Freedom, the major units announced today are:
3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, Fort Stewart, Ga.
4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Ks.
4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wa.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.
1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C
173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy
The department also alerted approximately 27,000 active duty and 10,000 reserve component troops in combat support and combat service support units smaller than brigade-size elements for deployment beginning in 2007.
17 Nov 06. DoD Announces Unit for Next Afghanistan Rotation. The Department of Defense announced today that the 218th Brigade Combat Team, South Carolina Army National Guard, will deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to train the Afghan National Security Forces. The scheduled rotation will begin in early 2007, and will include approximately 1,500 service members as presently envisioned. The department also alerted approximately 6,200 active duty and 600 Reservists in combat support and combat service support units smaller than brigade-size elements for deployment beginning in 2007. This deployment reflects the continued U.S. commitment to Afghanistan. Force levels in Afghanistan continue to be conditions-based, and are determined based on the recomme