Photo: MoD
Vigilance can report that reservists across the country from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF are swapping their civilian clothes for military uniforms today (25 June) to celebrate Uniform to Work Day.
The day is a chance for the country to celebrate the huge contribution ordinary men and women make to the Armed Forces, and is part of a week-long series of events building up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 28 June. By wearing their military uniform to their civilian place of work, Reservists are highlighting how it is ordinary citizens who are going the extra mile for their country.
More than 20,000 people across the UK give up their time to be part of the Armed Forces Reserves, and Reservists have been deployed over 25,000 times since 2003 on operations around the globe. Some 2,000 Reservists provided security at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and Reservists from 7th Battalion the Rifles contributed to flood relief efforts across affected parts of the UK earlier this year.
The Prime Minister David Cameron, said: “Our Reserve Forces play a vital role building the modern, integrated, well trained and well equipped Armed Forces we need to meet the challenges of the future. Reserves come from all walks of life and joining the Forces offers them the chance to face new challenges and bring new skills and experiences back to their work places.
PM Cameron added: “I am proud that so many Reservists are taking part in Uniform to Work Day today – it is right that our Reserves are able to wear their uniforms with pride and remind people of the huge contribution they make. I would also like to thank all the employers around the country who rightly make it possible for their staff to be a part of our Reserves. I hope that even more people will be inspired today to find out about the fantastic opportunities being a member of the Reserves can provide. “
Many of the Reservists taking part have served on operational tours and have a wealth of skills and experience from civilian life that they bring to their roles in the Armed Forces.
Craftsman Iain Fitt balances life as a busy school teacher with a career in the Army Reserves. He serves in the Military Stabilisation Support Group (MSSG) - a tri-service organisation made up of Regulars and Reserves – which provides military support to the civilian efforts to stabilise countries around the world which are either emerging from conflict or are at the risk of sliding into chaos.
The 49 year old who served in Afghanistan in 2011 with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), teaches Engineering and IT at Eastbury Comprehensive School, in Barking, East London, which was recently shortlisted by the Times Education Supplement for Secondary School of the Year.
He said:"I joined the British Army Reserve at quite a late point in my life, but as both my Great Grandfather and Grandfather saw active service I felt that I needed to serve. It has been a decision that has made an immeasurably positive difference to my professional and personal life. Working with such a highly skilled and diverse range of people that reflect modern British society, and who are unquestioningly supportive of each other, is such an uplifting experience. The values and standards that we live and work by equip you with a 'can do - will do' mentality that gives you the confidence in your ability to attempt pretty much anything. It is a matter of immense pride to me to be the third generation of my family wearing this uniform."
David Dickson, Head teacher of Eastbury Comprehensive School, added: “Iain is a highly valued colleague and first rate teacher. As a Reservist I have seen Iain’s skills and attributes grow enormously to the benefit of the school community. His experience is being used to speak confidently to whole school assemblies on the importance of equality, democracy and education for all across the world, and his work in Army engineering has provided up to date knowledge and skills that have widened the range of subjects he can teach. The school is proud of him.”
As well as Reservists wearing their uniforms to work, employers and business can show their support for the Armed Forces by signing the Corporate Covenant, a voluntary pledge which demonstrates their concrete support for the Armed Forces community, which includes employing and supporting reservists. G4S is one such company showing their support on Uniform to Work by pledging to sign the Corporate Covenant and recruit 600 reservists.
In another development Defence Secretary on Monday visited Middle East partners to discuss situation in Iraq
Secretary Philip Hammond visited the Gulf to discuss the threat ISIL poses to Iraq and the region as a whole.
Mr Hammond arriveed in the Gulf early on Tuesday to meet with Foreign and Defence Ministers of the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.
The two day visit will be an opportunity to discuss the need for a political solution to the crisis in Iraq, which is inclusive and representative of all Iraq’s communities.
The meetings with regional allies will again demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the security of Gulf countries.
Mr Hammond said: “The UK is deeply concerned by the recent developments in Iraq and the gains made by ISIL. Although the UK is not planning a military intervention, we are committed to finding a long-term political solution. We remain committed to the security of the Gulf, and want to reassure our friends and allies that we will do everything possible to support those who are working for a stable and democratic Iraqi state and to alleviate humanitarian suffering.
Hammond added: “As the Foreign Secretary and I have previously made clear, the response to these events must be led by the Iraqi government. We are urgently looking at ways to help the Iraqi Government, for example with counter-terrorist expertise.”
Also, HMS Montrose Tracks Russian Warship In International Waters
HMS Montrose demonstrated NATO Allies’ resolve in the Baltic Sea last week as it tracked a Russian warship off the Danish coast.
Montrose, deployed on the multinational BALTOPS exercise, was dispatched to investigate after picking up the radar signature of an unidentified surface ship. Despite high seas and 30 knot winds, the crew of Monstrose identified the unknown ship as the 104m-long Steregushchiy-class frigate RFS Soobrazitelny, making her way west at slow-speed.
As Montrose closed with the Russian vessel a Russian Ilyushin IL-20 “Coot” maritime patrol aircraft was detected over 40 miles away, and soon appeared overhead, circling the two vessels. Both the Russian vessel and aircraft appeared to be carrying out their normal business.
The HMS Montrose Officer of the Watch, Lieutenant Chloe Lea, said: “After we picked up a vessel on our radar that was not showing any of the normal behaviour expected of merchant vessels or BALTOPS warships, we were able to identify her as the same Russian Steregushchiy Class corvette that we saw a few days ago. We have seen the Russians operate a lot in this area but this is the closest we have seen them.”
The same Ilyushin IL20-Coot has also been spotted on several occasions, monitoring developments on BALTOPS 14.
Commander James Parkin, Commanding Officer of HMS Montrose, said: “After operating very close to Russian warships in the Eastern Mediterranean at the beginning of the year, seeing so many Russian ships and aircraft in the Baltic is normal business for my team. All our interaction so far has been professional, and effective, and we have gained huge benefit from working so closely with our NATO and European allies in such a busy and challenging environment”.
The incident is the latest occasion on which Russian units have approached ships taking part in BALTOPS, a US led exercise involving warships, submarines and helicopters from 14 different nations.
Plymouth based HMS Montrose started BALTOPS 14 on 6 June, alongside in Sweden, and the exercise has now concluded.