Recognition and Thanks for our Armed Forces

During, ‘the troubles', in Northern Ireland Britain's armed forces all but disappeared from public view. To prevent attacks on serving personnel they withdrew behind the wire defences of military bases. Uniforms stopped being worn in public except for parades and families did not speak of their military connections.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the end of the Cold War, the need for strong, well trained and equipped armed forces in Britain seemed diminished. The days of nation on nation war seemed gone and cuts were made to defence budgets, estates, personnel, planning and equipment. Seduced by increased affluence we failed to see new threats growing.

Armed Forces day celebrations were held here in Bridgend last week with veterans, cadet forces, serving military and their families taking part. Our armed forces are out from behind the wire and visible again. There is again pride in our military personnel, families and communities for the work they do on our behalf and a growing awareness of the threats we face.

As a member of the Defence Select Committee I help scrutinise the work of the Ministry of Defence so need a knowledge and understanding of the military. The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme helps build that understanding and knowledge, in my case, by giving access to the work, training, skills and people in the RAF.

Recently I undertook a five day tour of front line squadrons. On the fifth day, we left RAF Lynham, to undertake manoeuvres around Salisbury Plain in a Chinook helicopter before heading for RAF Odium.

The Chinook is the war horse of the modern military; its twin engines and long body give it tremendous lifting and carrying capacity for both men and equipment. It is essential for supplying forward bases in conflict zones with food, water, equipment and communications from home.

Flying in and out of forward bases is dangerous work; often carried out under attack from small arms, rockets and missiles. The training on Salisbury Plain prepares the four man crew for operations in hostile settings..
Connected to the ceiling of the helicopter by a long lead, I hung on to the open side door of the machine as it was flown in constantly changing directions to make it a difficult target to hit. Sometimes flying sideways or feet above the grass then skywards, quick descents and landings were followed by rapid assents.

Down below on the plains were tanks, soldiers and armoured vehicles undertaking exercises. The helicopter descended near an armed group to pick up a trailer full of equipment. From the hatch mid way down the machine a crew man lowered a hook to pick up a net enclosed trainer filled with equipment and flew it to a second unit for use.

Descending into small openings in copses of trees and landing in small marked spaces marked on the ground ready to off load or load men and equipment was hair rising. The crew were skilled, professionals with a bond of trust in each other and a clear pride in their work.

RAF Odium is the home of three Chinook squadrons. They have taken part in actions in the former Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. In one room alone, a display showed 40 of the personnel of the Chinook squadrons who had received awards for bravery over the past 8 years.

The Chinooks are called to carry out a variety of duties as well as serving in battle zones. They are present in the Falkland Islands; on standby to assist in a national emergency and to provide support and assistance in peace keeping and UN humanitarian operations.

I watched a RAF medivac unit of anaesthetists and paramedics practise jumping from the Chinooks and retrieving casualties to take back to base hospitals. Speedy evacuations can save lives and in Afghanistan the Chinooks are on stand by 24/7 to help UK, coalition and civilians injured in the battlefield. Missions like this take place all over the world in all sorts of weather and terrain so practise is imperative.

Talking to engineers, pilots, military police, logistics officers, movement and loading personnel, medical staff, padres and personnel officers about their work and life in the military has been inspirational. All have been proud of the work they do. All trained hard to improve their performance. All took individual ownership of responsibility for performance and success of their unit. This mutually supportive ethos is highly effective and forms the strong bond between those who are serving or have served in the military.

During the armed forces celebrations in Bridgend one man was honoured for his service by his comrades in the British Legion. Captured in the Far East had been forced to help build the evil Burma railway before being taken to Japan as a forced labourer. Unlike so many he survived and is now in his nineties; a brave man who faced unimaginable cruelty on our behalf.

On 6th June we also remembered those who on D day took the fight for freedom back onto mainland Europe, many having trained for the landing in the dunes and fields around Porthcawl. Together they ensured we have the freedom to live within a rule of law guaranteeing individual rights and equalities no matter what sex, religion, colour, sexual orientation or ability.

Today's armed forces continue that fight and we civilians owe them gratitude, support and recognition.