23 Aug 23. Positive Armed Forces training experience marred by ageing and sometimes unsafe facilities.
Ofsted has today published its 15th annual report on the effectiveness of care and welfare arrangements for recruits, trainees and officer cadets (OCdts).
Ten Armed Forces establishments, along with 6 Royal Air Force (RAF) University Service Units (USUs) and their headquarters, have been graded good for their initial training.
However, significant problems with ageing infrastructure as well as poorly-fitting uniform and equipment threaten the overall experience of recruits, trainees and OCdts.
Read the ‘Effectiveness of care and welfare arrangements for recruits, trainees and OCdts in Armed Forces initial training’ report.
The report draws on evidence from 11 inspections of initial training establishments for Regular Service personnel as well as a combined inspection of 6 USUs and the University Air Station (UAS) headquarters operated by the RAF. This was the first time that inspectors had graded a combined unit and headquarters in a single inspection.
All establishments were found to be providing good-quality training as well as effective care and welfare arrangements. Soldiers, sailors and aviators at each establishment benefit from a wide range of opportunities and engaging activities, leaving them well prepared to become skilled and knowledgeable members of the Armed Forces.
However, as we reported last year, long-standing failures in facilities, infrastructure and resources remain. Inspectors observed buildings in poor condition at 4 establishments and several UAS units. At one establishment, Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), inspectors noted examples of rotting infrastructure as the worst they have ever seen.
Despite concerns raised in last year’s report, problems also persist with uniform and equipment standards. Too many recruits, particularly smaller and female recruits, are not given suitable, properly fitting uniforms, body-armour and backpacks. This is affecting recruits’ morale and posing injury risks.
Ofsted has issued several recommendations for all training establishments including:
- Urgently improve the condition of training establishment infrastructure, accommodation and welfare and training facilities. This includes areas that are out of bounds to personnel because they are unsafe to use.
- Give commanding officers the support, guidance and funding they need to properly manage and maintain their failing infrastructure to make sure recruits, trainees, OCdts and staff can live and train in acceptable conditions.
- Give recruits, trainees and OCdts military equipment and clothing at the appropriate time and make sure that items fit properly. In particular, give female personnel correctly fitting uniform and specialist equipment such as rucksacks and body armour.
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said: “Senior commanders and their teams should be proud of their inspection results that reflect the high-quality training and support they are providing to such a valuable group of people. However, we have yet again reported evidence of sub-standard and sometimes unsafe buildings and facilities, within which our recruits are expected to complete their training. I urge senior colleagues in the MoD to take urgent action to provide our young Services personnel with the facilities, infrastructure and resources they need to flourish and work safely.”
All inspections were carried out between October 2022 and May 2023.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
23 Aug 23. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has led the Army’s largest ever force development war game and collaboration. Army Wargame 23 (AWG23) tested a new UK Army approach to future operations. Known as the ‘Land Operating Concept’, it looked at redesigning combat power with an aim to protect and advance UK and international interests.
The 9-week war game involved more than 250 participants. It created a diverse team of experts including international partners, industry and academics, and was viewed by senior Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials.
4 fictitious mission scenarios were exercised which examined a variety of force structures in order to help the Army understand aspects critical to delivering a battle-winning operating concept.
Senior Army officials made a special visit to the event which included Major General James Bowder (Director Futures, Army HQ) who hosted Chief of the General Staff (CGS) General Sir Patrick Sanders.
General Bowder said: “This event shows evidence of the great work that has been going on ‘behind the scenes’ and the compelling insights and results achieved. I am very proud of the work and the relationship we have with Dstl.”
Addressing attendees General Sir Patrick Sanders commented: “These are the most useful and evidenced insights I have ever seen from war gaming. The collaboration with international partners has led to the success of AWG23. The UK armed forces very rarely go into operations entirely alone, and so international involvement and contribution has been crucial to understand how allies will operate together in the future.”
Sarah Knight, a Senior Principal Operational Research analyst for Dstl, said: “International contribution enables us to use their areas of expertise which gives us a richer picture of how we can operate together in the future. Together we have looked at multi domain integration relating to different technologies we all share – and that has been extremely valuable.”
The US provided a number of personnel which looked at deep shaping for a UK division involved in close combat.
Colonel Matthew Olson from US Army Futures Command said:
The ability to share new ideas with our UK colleagues is very valuable to us; the environment, techniques and the exchange of information has been second to none. Having the ability to overlay our concepts with UK concepts, specifically seeing how to conduct and improve joint operations and each other’s perspectives with our close allies is invaluable. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
04 Aug 23. British Armed Forces take part in largest military exercise between UK, Australia, and US. The deployment demonstrates the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific and working with partners in the region. More than 150 UK personnel have joined troops from 13 other nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre, which took place across Australia and in adjacent waters, to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Talisman Sabre, which began on 22 July and ends today, is the largest military exercise between Australian, UK and US Armed Forces and is designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability among key allies. It tests joint capabilities across land, sea, air, space and digital domains.
More than 34,000 troops took part in this 10th iteration of Talisman Sabre, which involved forces from Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, the UK and United States.
This year marks the UK’s largest contribution to Talisman Sabre, with capabilities from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force (RAF).
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Security and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific is essential. Exercise Talisman Sabre demonstrates the UK’s commitment to the region and the strength of our ties with friends and allies.
As part of Talisman Sabre, the UK Royal Marines Commando Force embarked on HMAS Adelaide, Australia’s largest warship, and conducted ship to shore landings, a capability that is essential for high-readiness crisis response.”
Major Aran Sandiford, Commanding Officer of the Commando Forces, said:
“The opportunity for UK Commando Forces to integrate with like-minded, specialist reconnaissance and raiding forces, really is invaluable. As well as being a fantastic chance to develop shared tactics and practice operating alongside key partners, deploying Commandos into the Indo-Pacific is one of the best ways of demonstrating the Royal Navy’s continued commitment to the region.”
During this training, the head of the British Army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, visited the troops aboard HMAS Adelaide. The UK Commando Force previously deployed to the Indo-Pacific in March for exercise Ssang Yong 2023 in South Korea. More recently, the Force worked with many of the same partners in Talisman Sabre to support evacuation efforts in Sudan.
In Western Australia, a team from the RAF Support Force based at RAF Wittering provided logistical support for Talisman Sabre. They worked with their Australian counterparts to prepare more than 40,000 meals for more than 600 personnel exercising at RAAF Curtin, supporting F-35A and F22 fighter jet operations.
Service Personnel from 4 Regiment Army Air Corps also supported aviation efforts, conducting forward arming and refuelling, whilst 14 Signals Regiment provided Electronic Warfare capability, both increasing UK interoperability with Australian hosts. Observers from 4th Battalion Ranger Regiment and UK Space Command also took part in the exercise, signalling all areas of UK defence are to integrating with regional partners.
Exercise Talisman Sabre is a complex and ambitious exercise which involves risks, as the tragic loss of an Australian helicopter at sea on 28 July has reminded us. UK personnel assisted in search and rescue efforts for the crew and the Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin sent his condolences to his Australian counterpart for the tragic loss of four Australian Army soldiers.
The UK remains committed to the Indo-Pacific and working with partners in the region, as set out in the recently published Integrated Review Refresh and Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR). The DCPR confirmed the continued deployment of the Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Spey and HMS Tamar in the region. Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey recently met the crews of both vessels in Australia during a visit to engage top defence officials in the Indo-Pacific. The UK’s persistent maritime presence is set to be increased with visits from Commando Force Littoral Response Group later this year, and the Carrier Strike Group which will return in 2025, building on its maiden voyage in 2021.
The increased engagement with Australia comes a few months after the Prime Minister visited Washington DC where, alongside the President of the United States and Prime Minister of Australia, he confirmed that a British-led design has been selected for the AUKUS submarine project. The first generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines will be built in the UK and Australia, based on the UK’s world-leading submarine design and will support thousands of jobs in the UK, with many based in the North-West of England. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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