| Synopsis: |
Iraq and Afghanistan have presented considerable operational challenges for the Ministry of Defence in supporting United Kingdom forces. This report examines the availability of equipment and spares, the re-supply of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the training of Service personnel for operations and support to Service personnel in theatre. Undertaking operations in these countries means coping with difficult environmental conditions, including harsh and varied terrain, extreme temperatures and dust. The combination of long distances between them and the United Kingdom, as well as the lack of direct maritime access to Afghanistan, complicate the transporting of personnel and equipment. The support the MoD provides to forces deployed on operations is crucial in enabling military capability. Availability of equipment and spares - The majority of equipment procured as Urgent Operational Requirements has performed well in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of these new vehicles have provided improved protection.There have, however, been shortages of spare parts, and the enforced cannibalisation of helicopters to support the fleets deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan has contributed to an 11 per cent shortfall in helicopters available for training and to support contingent operations. The effectiveness of body armour provided to soldiers today has improved since the combat phase of operations in Iraq in 2003. However, this enhanced protection has considerably increased the weight carried by the soldier making it challenging to move quickly and freely, particularly while under fire. The Department is making progress in reducing the weight of personal equipment with the introduction of lighter Osprey body armour and lighter batteries. Re-supplying troops in Iraq and Afghanistan - Despite the challenging operational environments, the Department has successfully delivered around 300,000 personnel and 90,000 tonnes of freight to the two theatres over the last two years using a combination of air and sea lift. However, the MoD has not met its supply chain targets for the delivery of stock to Iraq and Afghanistan.Since July 2007 only 57 per cent of demands made in Afghanistan and 71 per cent made in Iraq met the supply chain targets. Training Service personnel for operations - The pre-deployment training for Iraq and Afghanistan has been responsive to lessons identified in theatre and commanders are confident in its overall quality although the report notes problems in providing pre-deployment training. The proportion of personnel deploying to theatres who have completed short packages of individual reinforcement training, rather than full collective pre deployment training, has increased. The equipment used for pre-deployment training does not include many of the Urgent Operational Requirement upgrades and was not of the same standard as that used in theatre. Support to Service personnel in theatre - The provision of medical support, including life-saving treatment at the front line, has been a particular success. This is reflected in the increasing number of unexpected survivors following severe battlefield injuries.The Department has also made progress in developing a process to identify, on operations, personnel at risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other mental illnesses. This examination by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee was prompted by the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General in May 2009: "Support to High Intensity Operations" (ISBN 9780102954999). |