Y o u a n d t h e R A F
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE’S TOP LEVEL MESSAGES
W
hat are the ‘Top Level Messages’? Tey are unclassified statements issued by the senior staffs of the MOD
which define the Government’s stance on current and emerging policy. Tese statements are updated monthly to reflect the constantly changing environment in which the Armed Forces work.
Why would they be of interest to families? We’re not sure if they are! But we thought it might provide family members with an insight into these top-level messages as they show where the Government’s and therefore the RAF’s, priorities lie. They may be worth a scan over a cup of coffee and, if they stimulate some debate about top-level policy, all well and good! If you have a view about any of the issues covered in this article, feel free to get in touch with the Federation and we can represent your views to those who write the messages.
Please note that to reduce the content from 15 pages to something readers could cope with over a cuppa, we have deliberately focussed on the ‘light blue’ elements of the key messages. The messages undoubtedly have an element of “they would say that, wouldn’t they?” to them but if you feel strongly that what the MOD is publishing is wrong, provide us with the appropriate evidence and we will happily fight your corner.
Happy Reading! Operations
AFGHANISTAN - WHY ARE WE HERE? It is in our national interest to be in Afghanistan. We do not want the country once again to be a base for international terrorism that threatens us. The only long-term solution is to extend government authority and the rule of law across the country, and to improve the quality of life for the people of Afghanistan. That is what we are helping the democratically elected Afghan Government to do.
Key facts o UK commitment: is approx 7,800 personnel from all 3 Services, located mainly in the South. We lead the Helmand Task Force in Helmand Province and a UK General currently has command of Regional Command (South), which covers six southern provinces.
o International commitment: approx. 42,000 forces from 38 nations are in Afghanistan.
o Society: Since 2001, estimated infant mortality rates have fallen from 165 to 135 deaths per 1,000; around 6.4 m children are now in school (over a third of these girls). Basic health services reach 82% of the population (up from 9% in 2002) and 233 new health centres were constructed or renovated in 2006-7. More than 4.8 million Afghans have returned to their country, mostly from Pakistan and Iran.
o Security: 50,000 soldiers and 76,000 Afghan police have been trained, equipped and deployed. Over 60,000 former combatants have been disarmed.
34 Spring 2008
Introduction by the Chairman of the RAF Families Federation
IRAQ – WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The UK remains fully committed to Iraq – we will honour our commit- ments and discharge our duties to its people and to the interna- tional community. British forces will remain in Iraq until we, the Iraqi Government and our coalition partners are confident that the Iraqi Security Forces can operate without our support.
• Our forces will, increasingly focus on training and mentoring the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) but will retain the capability to provide varying levels of support to Iraqi operations.
• We expect to be able to reduce force levels in southern Iraq further, to around 2,500 from Spring 2008 but this will be driven by conditions on the ground and detailed planning with our Iraqi and Coalition partners.
• In Basra Generals Mohan and Jalil have repeatedly demonstrated their preparedness to act promptly and firmly, and the Iraqi authorities have shown themselves able to deal effectively with the challenges that have arisen in those provinces for which they have already assumed full responsibility.
• Iraq’s problems will not be solved overnight; a level of violence that would be unacceptable in the West is likely to remain for some time. But these are Iraqi problems that require Iraqi solutions. To that end, we support fully the Iraqi Government’s efforts to seek reconciliation with disaffected groups.
Key facts o Our commitment: UK forces in Iraq have now reduced to around 4,500.
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