It is reported that Defence Secretary Liam Fox has ended speculation that the Royal Air Force could be merged with the other armed services. From Virginia-based journal, DefenseNews:

Lt Gen (retd) Sir Graeme Lamb, Former Commander of the Field Army and a key member of the team which carried out the Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) Study, writes in the Daily Telegraph (13 Jul) that the The balance between regulars and reserves in our Armed Forces should be rethought:

The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) aims to operate as a professional staff association. It is not, and does not aim to be, a military trade union.

In its final issue after 168 years, the News of the World reports that HMS Liverpool has made the Royal Navy's first use of main armament gunnery since the Falklands Campaign:

Last year we followed the story that that women might be allowed to serve aboard RN submarines for the first time. The Sunday Mirror now reports that:

The Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons next week following the review led by retired judge Lord Philips relating to the crash on 2 June 1994 at the Mull of Kintyre of RAF Chinook ZD676, killing all twenty-five passengers and four crew. From BBC News:

Dundee-based newspaper The Courier claims that the decision on future defence basing, which we were expecting early in the week, may now be delayed until Thursday (14 Jul) due to the business disruption caused by the News of the World alleged phone hacking scandal:

According to Forces News' report of the Armed Forces Bill debate in the Lords on Wednesday evening, the Government is being warned by armed services chiefs that the armed forces could be "on the brink" because of planned reforms and “morally indefensible" redundancies:

To what extent does human rights law apply to British forces on operations overseas? This vexed question has been in the news again lately, the latest development being the long-awaited decision by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in the case of al-Skeini and Others. Update:

Based on replies by Dr Fox in today's Commons Defence Questions, BBC News says that the decision on RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Leuchars is expected soon:

News of the future of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Leuchars in Fife could be imminent, Defence Secretary Liam Fox has hinted.

Mr Fox said a number of decisions on the future of threatened air bases - including the two in Scotland - had been taken.

Answering questions in the Commons, Mr Fox said he hoped "to make progress very shortly".

Campaigners have been trying to save the Lossiemouth and Leuchars bases.

The Scottish government has said Scotland has already suffered more than its fair share of military spending cuts.

The UK government decided to scrap the fleet of new Nimrod spy planes at Kinloss in Moray as part of the defence review

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has also been gathering evidence on the possible effect of two base closures on the Moray economy.

North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell said that the campaign for keeping RAF Leuchars was in the "home straight" but the race was still on "until we reach the tape".

He urged supporters to e-mail the prime minister directly to make their own case for the base's retention.

• BBC News source: RAF Lossiemouth and Leuchars news could be imminent

According to the Sunday Telegraph, millions of pounds in bonus payments to military bands have been axed as the Ministry of Defence desperately attempts to save more money:

Badly wounded soldiers are subjected to a “postcode lottery” of care on the NHS when they leave the Services, charity chiefs have told MPs.From the Daily Telegraph:

External links have been removed from this archived 2011 article.

The Howard League for Penal Reform’s Inquiry into Former Armed Service Personnel in Prison published its final report recently in the run up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 25th June:

A report in the Daily Telegraph says that as part of the new military covenant, the Prime Minister is to change the law (in England) "in an attempt to show he is recognising the sacrifices of those who risk their lives for their country". This follows initiatives by a number of local authorities. The Telegraph story continues:

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, RAF chiefs fear that the “cream” of the air force is leaving after a dozen group captains resigned or asked for voluntary redundancy in the past month:

The Armed Forces Bill has now completed its consideration in the House of Commons. It is due to be debated on the House of Lords on 6 July.

This article from June 2011 is of renewed topical interest. An investigation by BBC News has revealed that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) - which was announced in March 2010 and began work at the beginning of November - has so far managed to interview only ONE of the Iraqi civilian complainants. Some individuals have reportedly refused to cooperate on the advice of their lawyers, but IHAT dispute that such advice is justified.

 British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) spokesman Adrian Weale, who served on Operation Telic, was interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme and other BBC media. He said:

NATO has agreed plans for a new land, air and maritime command structure which will reduce command and staff personnel by 30 per cent. The maritime component command in Northwood, cited in a recent NATO study as one of the most efficient headquarters within the entire NATO command structure. is being retained. Aviation Week reports:

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Armed Forces should recruit more part-time soldiers to help Britain prepare for conflict and natural disasters, the FR20 review has concluded:

Investigations into leaks at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are likely to result in "a number" of prosecutions, Liam Fox has told Sky News.

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) is operating off the Libyan coast as part of the Nato operation in support of UNSCR 1973. BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale got exclusive access on board the pride of the French navy:

British Forces News reported in 2011 that a new gardening project has been launched at Headley Court to provide occupational therapy for personnel recovering at the Ministry of Defence Rehabilitation Centre. Update 18 June 2017: The Sunday Times reported that the MoD wanted the charity to continue treating its troops, even when Headley Court closes next year and is replaced by Stanford Hall, a new £300m rehabilitation centre in Nottinghamshire, but had declined to help fund the £350,000 needed to finance another three years of the programme and said the charity would have to find the money itself.

A Ministry of Defence study found that 44.9 per cent were overweight and another 12.1 per cent were classed as obese or even heavier. According to The Daily Telegraph:

The Guardian is reporting that Lord Levene's plans for root and branch reform of the military are likely to cause consternation among senior officers:

Armed forces veterans are being fast-tracked for council housing, according to some council leaders in England. LocalGov.co.uk reports that: