The past week has been an interesting one in many ways. I had the joy of seeing my eldest daughter graduate from University and proud doesn't come close to it. But, as I often bore my children with if it was easy you wouldn't appreciate it, and the acquisition of knowledge to allow us to make informed decisions is a privilege.
So, as recess arrived I have been learning in an area that in this part of Suffolk came up time and time again on the doorstep whilst I was canvassing - defence and our armed forces. In order to inform MPs, Parliament runs the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme that allows you to participate in various on the ground experiences and talk to men and women of all ranks serving in our armed forces. It is a 15 day commitment per annum.
Some training is generic like two days at the staff college but beyond that you choose a service to attach yourself to for a year - in my case it is the RAF. So at 6.30am I found myself waiting at Brize Norton, where we took a plane to Cyprus. We got to sit next to servicemen and women using the flight to go to Cyprus or beyond in order to carry out their duties; we spoke of the challenges of family life and the up and downsides of serving. Arrival, briefings and some political context to the area was then followed by supper with more of the personnel this really started to give us an idea of life serving overseas for three years.
Next morning breakfast at 07.15 had us dressed in fatigues (hot!) in order to go off to the ranges, there we used a variety of weapons which was made interesting by way of a competition - yours truly won third prize but different carrying the kit to firing it. A full pack on my back I marvel at the fitness some of our service personnel have to maintain. A demonstration of a working field hospital was fascinating and the cross transferral of knowledge flowing to and from the NHS was incredible; the doctor and medics used a simulated patient with a limb loss and spoke to us frankly about life in a tough environment.
The afternoon saw us at the RAF base - I don’t know how but I got put in the full flight kit of a tornado pilot and sat in one, I can only imagine an 8hour flight in those confines – in the heat it was gruelling and that was before the days’ work. Firefighters explained their role next in a demonstration before we got to speak to those who fly helicopters and experience a brief tour. More conversations with men and women over supper gave us a clearer insight into life in the forces and the challenges. Friday was another early start and a fascinating selection of talks and tours of the UN brief in Cyprus and a tour through the Nicosia buffer zone.
A lunch with the personnel of the Black Watch was highly entertaining and next to me a young lady had learnt the day before of her promotion to Corporal – she was looking forward to going to home to celebrate! Her insight into what life was really like helped give me food for thought on the way home. Our flight had us back at Brize Norton at 21.00 and home by midnight. As a party we have committed in the budget to a 2% spend ensuring that it is a true spend and our servicemen and women are trusted to do the job they so ably can, will be for discussion in future columns no doubt!
- Published in the Bury Free Press