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07 Jun 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. Tornado GR4 from IX Squadron staged shows of force/presence to deter insurgent activity. Reaper provided direct support to friendly forces, flying for over 362 hours. (RAF Ops for 25 May to 7 Jun 14.)
An alert RAF Regiment Gunner was commended by US and UK commanders for his “life-saving diligence”.
Two suspects were detained and three improvised explosive devices recovered. (MoD, 9 Jun 14.)
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forecasts that the Afghan Air Force will be at full operational capability by the end of 2017. (Written Answer, 12 Jun 14.)
Comment: The ISAF ‘drawdown’ continues, (Some ISAF documentation gives a total of 49,902 as at 1 Jun 14, rather than the correct total of 50,774.) The UK contribution is in the process of reducing from 5,200 to 4,100. In addition, the UK will be providing some 90 staff for the National Army Officer Academy as well as their military protectors.
AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF)
TROOP CONTRIBUTING NATIONS (TCN) AS AT 1 JUN 14
United States 32,800
Azerbaijan 94
United Kingdom 5,200
Lithuania 83
Germany 2,695
Albania 72
Italy 2,000
Norway 67
Jordan 1,069
Portugal 66
Romania 1,002
Tonga 55
Poland 968
Bosnia-Herzegovina 53
Georgia 805
Korea (RoK) 50
Turkey 457
Mongolia 40
Bulgaria 378
United Arab Emirates 35
Australia 356
Latvia 31
Slovakia 275
Ukraine 27
Czech Republic 250
Montenegro 25
Spain 247
Estonia 20
Sweden 219
Greece 10
Netherlands 200
Ireland 7
France 177
Slovenia 4
Denmark 165
Austria 3
Macedonia 152
Iceland 3
Belgium 147
Malaysia 2
Croatia 146
New Zealand 2
Armenia 121
Luxembourg 1
Hungary 100
Bahrain 0
Finland 95
El Salvador 0
TOTAL 50,774
(Source: ISAF.)
NATO members are shown in italics.
It should be noted that the above totals are approximations and actual numbers change daily. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/24, 16 Jun 14)
12 Jun 14. Redundancies: Final Notification. The MoD announced (12 Jun 14) the fourth and final group of redundancies (Tranche 4 in the jargon). 1,060 have been selected for redundancy, of whom 760 (72%) applied to leave. The total selected for redundancy is 12,130 of whom, 8,980 (74%) are applicants. Applicants in the final group will leave the Services on or before 11 Dec 14 while non-applicants will leave on or before 11 Jun 15.
Comment: The above figures need to be considered against a total of some 24,000 leaving the Armed Forces each year. Some of the non-applicants for redundancy may well be those whom the MoD is quite happy to lose! (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/24, 16 Jun 14)
10 Jun 14. Combined Chiefs of Staff: London Meeting. The Combined Chiefs of Staff from the US and the UK met in London (10 Jun 14), “to discuss the longer-term strategic challenges that their respective Armed Forces can expect to face together in future”. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was accompanied by the heads of the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force while on the UK side the Chief of the Defence Staff was supported by the Service Chiefs.
Comment: The Combined Chiefs of Staff no longer meet on a regular basis as they did during World War II. The Chiefs also met during 1948 in response to the Berlin blockade. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/24, 16 Jun 14)
09 Jun 14. Bosnia-Herzegovina: OP ALTHEA. Ministers outlined (9 Jun 14) the UK’s contribution to EUFOR Operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the period from July to December 2014, in the run up to elections. The UK will be contributing two Staff Officers in support of HQ planning activity and two reconnai