Lineker: Troops deserve World Cup glory |
THE GENTLEMAN of football who captained England and hosts the BBC’s Match of the Day programme hopes England’s current crop will give British troops something to smile about at this month’s World Cup.
Gary Lineker, who netted 48 goals for his country during an 80-cap international career, spoke exclusively to Soldier about the likelihood of England winning football’s greatest prize.
The former Spurs hero explained his gratitude for the support given to the national team by Army personnel.
“I’ve heard the soldiers in Afghanistan will drop their tools to watch the matches and quite right too,” he said. “Hopefully England can give the soldiers a bit of a lift with their performances just like the Army is giving the country a boost.
“Playing football for England in a World Cup is completely different from fighting a war but it’s still important and let’s hope they do well.”
With injury plaguing the England back four, Lineker insisted the country would only succeed if every member of the squad is on top form.
“A lot depends on who is fit, because at the moment there are some uncertainties,” Lineker added. “I would say England have got an outside chance if we have our best team out.
“England’s defence has been questioned with Rio not being fit for parts of the season and John Terry having a somewhat difficult season.
“If the World Cup had started at the beginning of May, I would have said England had no chance because the defence was not ready then.
“But by the time the tournament kicks off we should have had more than enough time to prepare.”
The 49-year-old veteran of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup campaigns added: “I think Capello will bring out the best in the players and if they are good enough, he will be the right man to coach them.”
INJURED soldiers will be placed firmly on the road to recovery with the introduction of a new initiative to ensure they are fully fit for Service life or civvy street.
Working in partnership with Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion and other leading Service charities, the MoD has set up the Army Recovery Capability, which will unite several separate medical schemes under a single umbrella.
The £30 million initiative, which is underpinned by the creation of new recovery centres, aims is to bring troops back up to the health standards required to continue their military careers – or to return them to a fit enough state for discharge into civilian life – however long it takes.
Defence Under-Secretary Kevan Jones believed the new recovery capability would further bolster standards of care for soldiers and help them in their battle back to fitness.
He added in a statement: “This is another step in the ongoing improvements we have made to welfare support for Service personnel, their families and veterans.
“It underlines the Government’s commitment, outlined in the 2008 Service Personnel Command Paper, to deliver world class services for our Armed Forces.”
As part of the recovery plan, Personnel Recovery Units will replace the Army’s existing sickness and absence management teams. Based around the UK, these will tailor personal health and fitness plans to individual injured soldiers to assist in their treatment.
Construction of the new centres will begin soon, with the first set to be up and running in Colchester next year, and others following in Bulford and Edinburgh. The scheme will be able to support up to 1,500 soldiers at any time, and will also be open to mobilised reservists and will assist personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force where needed.
The implementation of the recovery plan follows a series of high profile improvements to military health care. Among them is a new 58-bed accommodation block at the Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Epsom, Surrey and a new package of measures to support personnel who have sustained serious injuries, which was unveiled by the Government earlier in the year.
Civvy experts sign up for ops
A NEWLY-FORMED British group will have a vital part to play in bringing stability to trouble hot spots around the world, according to the Prime Minister.
Speaking at the launch of the Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG), Gordon Brown said that crack teams from the 1,000-strong pool of UK professionals would be ready to deploy to failing states and crisis zones with less than 24 hours notice.
CSG units will also help Afghanistan get back on its feet by working alongside elders and district governors in areas that have been secured by coalition and national troops.
Mr Brown added: “Hot stabilisation means civilian experts are able to deploy in close cooperation with the military and can show immediate progress.
“This work in the field that so often goes unnoticed is absolutely vital to the enduring success of any military or stabilisation operation.”
The CSG was first mooted in 2008 when Mr Brown called for the creation of a civilian contingent capable of bringing reconstruction and stabilisation expertise to troubled areas.
Covering fields including law enforcement, governance, economic recovery and security sector reform, the group is sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.
As well as aiding the Army’s mission on Op Herrick, CSG assets have been earmarked to boost the civilian effort in countries including Iraq, Sudan, Kosovo, Georgia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They also provided assistance to the Haitian Government following the recent earthquakes by rebuilding prisons and helping the World Bank to identify priorities.
CSG head Sheelagh Stewart said: “The unit is the government’s centre of expertise and best practice in stabilisation, responding to the complex challenges of fragile and conflict-affected states.”
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Bridge over troubled water |
Green machine: Royal Engineers from 10 Field Squadron (Air Support) worked through the night and under fire to get a vital bridge in Nad-e-Ali into place
PLUCKY sappers dipped into their box of tricks to overcome a Taliban ambush and finish building an important bridge in the Nad-e-Ali district of Afghanistan.
The soldiers, from 10 Field Squadron (Air Support), were working on the structure when insurgents attacked, forcing them to take cover in a ditch while British and Afghan National Army troops fired back.
Returning to finish the job the next day, the engineers again came under contact but the use of smoke grenades provided them with the cover they needed to get the bridge into position.
Troop commander Lt Kristian Haagensen said: “We went in in the middle of the night, assembled the bridge and placed it at first light.
“Again as it got light the insurgents contacted us with some small arms fire. The lads got down in the ditch and we actually used the digger scoop to get them into a safe position.
“Smoke was called in to provide us with cover and once it had cleared, the build was complete – a gleaming result.”
Spr Craig Mellon explained how he and his colleagues had scrambled for cover after enemy fighters opened fire from a compound just 250 metres away.
“We were stuck in the ditch for an hour, but once the threat had passed we got on with it,” the 24-year-old said. “I suppose I did feel nervous afterwards, but this is the job we trained to do.”
Fellow sapper Daniel Nansoz praised the strength of the plant equipment used by Royal Engineers in Afghanistan.
“I was in the cab of the digger when the insurgents opened fire,” he said. “I was well protected by the armour and kept my head down until it was over.”
The completed bridge is initially being used to allow troops to reach an area home to several insurgents but will eventually be opened up to civilian traffic. A second, smaller crossing for motorbikes is already in place.
Lt Haagensen added: “Once we have pushed the insurgents out the locals will be able to move freely and the vehicle bridge will make their lives a lot easier.”
Viking brave after close shave
A SOLDIER who cheated death when he was shot in the neck by a Taliban sniper has spoken of his determination to rejoin his colleagues in Helmand.
LCpl Andrew Ferguson of 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment was left fearing for his life when he was struck near Nad-e-Ali and discovered blood pouring from his wounds.
But, incredibly, the bullet passed through the back of his neck and missed his spinal chord by a matter of millimetres, a stroke of luck that has seen him dubbed “the miracle of Helmand” in the national media.
The 31-year-old had been engaged in a fierce firefight with insurgents as his patrol cleared compounds in the region and the NCO was preparing to fire an under-slung grenade launcher when he moved to inform his section commander what was happening.
He added: “I turned round to crawl back to my firing position and I suddenly felt an incredible pain in my neck. In that split second I thought I was dead.”
The father-of-two was airlifted to Camp Bastion hospital and was operated on immediately. Within 36 hours he was back in the UK for further treatment at Selly Oak Hospital.
He is now well on the road to recovery and is already back at work performing light duties at his battalion headquarters in Pirbright, Surrey.
“I hope to be back and fit for duty within a month,” LCpl Ferguson said. “I have asked to be redeployed and I hope that happens, but if not I want to join my mates on normal duties when they get back.”
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Public support key says Rammell |
A DEATH-DEFYING infantryman who survived being shot by a Taliban round has carried out his wish to personally thank those who made his body armour. After being hit by a 7.62mm bullet in May last year, LSgt Daniel Collins, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, said: “Thank you to whoever designed the body armour. If I ever meet them, I’d like to buy them a pint!”
So Soldier tracked down the teams involved in developing the Osprey body armour and invited LSgt Collins to meet them. The 27-year-old, who served as a fire support section commander, was shown around the Bath base of Defence Equipment and Support (DES) before setting off to buy his symbolic pint.
Speaking to an audience including Lt Col Matthew Tressider, chief of staff defence clothing, and Mike Piggot, from the DES combat protection team, LSgt Collins said: “We were looking at a map in a ditch and two shots were fired – I was hit by one and it was like being hit by a hammer. It’s an honour to be able to meet the guys who made Osprey and to be able to say thanks. I am living proof that the kit works.”
