We Remember - WW2

With a stunning field of 888,246 red ceramic poppies surrounding the Tower of London and poppy sellers in every town, most of the population have given thought to service men and women. When people think of the armed forces, their image is most usually of soldiers fighting in war. Whether from the air, sea or land, the military's primary task is to protect and secure their country and its people.

Modern Military

In addition to fighting wars, military personnel can take on a range of other roles that serve to protect others. Through the autumn, strike action has been supported by NHS workers and ambulance services. Military personnel have been trained and prepared to take on the delivery of emergency services on these occasions.

The Ebola crisis has also seen a number of soldiers sent to affected areas of Africa including Sierra Leone. Soldiers have taken an active role in building and equipping Ebola treatment facilities that could play a vital role in preventing the rapid spread of the disease. Our financial support for such emergency causes is greatly appreciated, but having people on the ground that can support locals in creating the necessary infrastructure and in the treatment of patients are excellent ways to provide practical help.

Training other soldiers is another essential role that the Military take on. Whilst ground troops have yet to be sent from Europe or America to support the Army's in Syria and Iraq, soldiers are returning to Baghdad in order to train Iraqi soldiers in the fight against ISIS. This move comes 3 years after the last troops returned home from Iraq, following a lengthy battle.

Protecting Military Personnel

No matter what role the military are taking on, it is essential that soldiers are provided with suitable training, equipment and resources to undertake the tasks, they have been sent to complete. Whether fighting an enemy or a disease proper protection is vital for success.

Government ministers have admitted that the UK Military were insufficiently prepared and resourced for the Afghanistan conflict, as the scale of the problem was greatly underestimated. Of the 3,300 British troops that were sent to fight, 435 individuals lost their lives. Their families will be amongst the millions who will forever be remembering on 11 November.

Although it will come too late for their loved ones, other families will be pleased to hear the Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to invest £164billion in equipment over the next decade. Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is responsible for the purchase and support of all defence equipment. In order to deliver the planned transformation of the MoD, DE&S will be working with private sector experts on this programme of investment.

The main contractors were announced in November and it is hoped that the commitment to and budget for this transformation will advance the British military to the highest achievable standards. From personal protective clothing, weapons and vehicles to advanced technology that can operate remotely, there could be significant changes over the next ten years.

Aeroglow

Aeroglow are UK manufacturers and suppliers of vehicle emergency lighting that is widely used to support orientation and a quick escape from military vehicles. Our vehicle emergency lighting system HaLO illuminates escape hatches and emergency equipment when a vehicle has been rolled due to an explosion or extreme off road terrain.