New trench system at Eastmere Village STANTA - GOV.UK - Landmarc Support Services

I've seen criticisms of the DIO's £4.4 million investment in new trench training facilities. Some points have been understandable, others not so much.

There is certainly a legitimate debate about defence priorities, including the need to improve service accommodation. However, realistic trench training is not an optional

A new campaign, Shoulder to Shoulder, has been launched by senior former military leaders and veterans to encourage Parliament to modify the 'Troubles Bill' draft legislation dealing with Northern Ireland legacy cases.

The campaign website includes a suggested message to send to your MP, and also gives the opportunity to sign up for future updates.

The website is at: 

For an update see Exercise Haruka Storm back on for the autumn. We previously reported that:

A British Army training exercise in Kenya has been cancelled amid a dispute between the UK and Kenyan governments over the future terms under which British troops operate in the country.

The exercise, due to begin in September and involving 1st Battalion, The

The latest report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee contains a striking observation about the Army's troubled Ajax armoured vehicle programme. It concludes that the Ministry of Defence is placing "unrealistic expectations" on soldiers operating the vehicle safely while underlying noise and vibration issues remain unresolved.

Anyone who has spent any time in an armoured vehicle – which

We thought it might assist Glasgow City Council members if they were to see an example of a previous parade in which the Freedom of a council area was formally conferred on the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Here's a high-quality video of the Freedom Ceremony on 12th October, 2015 conferring on the Regiment the Freedom of the Highlands:

[Thanks to

Congratulations to the whole team involved in getting medical assistance and supplies to the remote British Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha to help a British national with suspected hantavirus.

The UK Health Security Agency had confirmed on Friday that a British national had disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius to the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha,