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Rescuing our troops part 2
Getting the inside track
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Eugene Gold Monday 23 August 2010 |
When I wrote the article Rescuing our troops, I did so somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
I presumed, I now realise wrongly, that this was a bit of easyJet opportunism and that the MoD could not really be this inept.
Over the years, I have gathered a few friends in high-places and many more in low-places, including some within the MoD itself. So, I begun to ask more questions.
It turns out that, for troops returning on R & R, (rest and recuperation), delays are now almost routine because of the reliance on aging RAF TriStar jets.
Some soldiers lose a quarter of their leave from the front line because of un-serviceability of these aircraft, most of which were purchased as redundant passenger jets from PanAm and BA in the early 1980s.
My MoD contact reckoned that about 30% of flights returning from Afghanistan are delayed due to mechanical failures. He said with troops entitled to only 14 days R & R during a six-month tour, no allowance is made for these lost days.
The easyJet offer came about because flights from Afghanistan to the UK refuel in Cyprus. As many broke down there, easyJet offered the discounted ‘get-you-home fare’. Apparently, it started as a local initiative. It has now grown with many soldiers preferring to pay to get home rather than be stuck in RAF Akrotiri.
A further operational worry for the MoD is that crucial military personnel can be stranded in the UK unless another aircraft (or the Americans) can take them to Afghanistan.
My friend was quite blunt, calling it (in the polite form) a disgraceful shambles. He said that new aircraft were planned for 2014 but economic woes may delay that.
His final, and somewhat telling comment was that there were never any delays in transporting Tony Blair and his entourage of security personnel.
Some things obviously take precedence over R & R for the ordinary soldier.
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Henry Jones, retired 26 August 2010, 11:11AM | |
I feel very sorry for our troops. Ignoring the arguments about illegal wars and whether they are or not actually in our national interest, we have sent young men out to fight and die on our behalf. Before doing that, we should have worked out the logistics ranging from hospitals for the wounded, guns and vehicles, and simple things such as pay and holidays. If an ordinary employer behaved in the cavalier manner that the MoD displays, there would be a visit to the employment tribunal in the diary. | |
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Ron Hatton, Birmingham 28 August 2010, 06:25PM | |
It is just damned stupid, Blair should have checked this all out before agreeing to go to war. We cant afford to go out building schools and hospitals in other countries. What about winning harts and minds here? | |
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Kim Garnett, London 30 August 2010, 11:41AM | |
I just do not know what the MoD are thinking about. These old aircraft that we use are always breaking down and front line troops simply cannot be guaranteed their leave. | |
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charlie 20 March 2011, 12:23PM | |
my boyfriend has broken his arm in afghanistan so was due to fly home on friday it is now sunday and he is still there and also had to lie down in a cargo plane just to get home for his r&r and its just going to carry on it desperately needs sorting out its a disgrace. | |
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