New ambulance teams in Lashkar Gar
Three British Army medics serving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, have begun training five Afghan nurses from Lashkar Gar, who will form the basis of a new professional ambulance service.
As part of a nine-day course to qualify as “patient transfer specialists”, the nurses were shown skills used by paramedics in the UK. The aim was to help them to improve the 15-minute journey for injured locals between the military-run medical centre and the hospital at Lashkar Gar.
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Tattoo in aid of heroes
A Tattoo in support of the charity Help for Heroes takes place at Bracknell Leisure Centre, Berkshire, today.The two-hour show combines military and civilian bands and display teams including the Band of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Reading Scottish Pipe Band, the REME Big Band and the Army Medical Services Band.
The matinee runs at 2.30pm and there is also an evening performance at 7.30pm. For details: www.thetattoo.co.uk
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HMS Bulwark shows off her kit
The newly upgraded amphibious assault ship Bulwark left London earlier this week after five days berthed at Greenwich, during which she showed off the fabulous array of “kit” at her disposal. Demonstrations to a wide array of visitors included her hardware, such as her Sea King helicopters, one of which demonstrated a dramatic “fast rope” attack by Royal Marines. Bulwark also showed her command and control and amphibious assault capacity, and her ability to support a wide variety of humanitarian relief efforts. Her CO, Captain Alex Burton, said: “Bulwark is the country’s very own Swiss army knife.”
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Sailors and Navy medics get weapons training for Afghanistan
Royal Navy personnel of all ranks rates and specialisations, including medics and other non-combat branches, are being trained in weapon-handling skills at HMS Raleigh at Torpoint, Cornwall, to ensure they can defend themselves and their comrades when deployed to Afghanistan and other theatres of land operations. The Military Training Unit (MTU) at the Royal Navy base is providing a two-week weapons package as part of their overall pre-deployment training. The course covers weapons safety and maintenance, as well as live firings on the range from varying distances by day and night.
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Double sea rescue for HMS Campbeltown
The Royal Navy Type 22 frigate HMS Campbeltown recently made a double sea rescue in the same day. While operating off Plymouth, she sped to the aid of a motorboat which had lost power and was being swept towards Mewstone Rock, before rescuing a young woman who fell from the town quay at Falmouth. HMS Campbeltown is being decommissioned under the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.