Your weekly dose of defence news, biased opinions and poorly curated content. You’re welcome.
TOP STORY THIS WEEK
Yup - RFA are on strike again
The RFA - the civilian, union-dominated arm of the Royal Navy - has just gone on strike again over pay and working conditions.
After finally agreeing to a 6.5% pay increase last year, and reduction in deployment lengths to 10 weeks, the RMT has encouraged its RFA members to strike again this month, demanding higher pay.
The fact they are being encouraged to do this at a time of such critical national security threats really begs the question: whose side are the unions on?
Oh, other RMT members in the London Underground are on strike next week because they want their work week reduced to 32hrs…UK average is 40.
Cheers.
IN OTHER NEWS
UK send 120,000 drones to Ukraine
Flyyyyyyy, my precious
The UK is sending a monster batch of drones to Ukraine (along with petty cash of £750m) as part of its latest support effort.
Some 120,000 drones will include long-range strike, reconnaissance and logistical systems - in the latest push to counter Putin’s forces in the region.
See below for how far drone usage has come on the battlefield.
Robot Wars
Coming to a front line near you
Ukraine has released footage that purportedly shows Russian soldiers surrendering to an entirely drone-based assault force.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a public broadcast that, since the start of this year, robotic systems have undertaken some 22,000 frontline missions: “The future is already on the front line - and Ukraine is building it.”
IN THE MEDIA
WSJ Footage: Drone Teams Ukraine
Pretty wild how organised this has all become. Good viewing on what front lines are looking like now. Get on your Playstations now if you want to be useful.
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
Big events from the past, covered in brief and probably inaccurately.
14th April 1606: Union Jack becomes a thing
Brace aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapp.
RAISE THE COLOURS. On 12 April 1606, King James I issued a royal decree to end scrapping between English and Scottish sailors, by creating the first version of the Jack flag - merging the crosses of St George and St Andrew.
A hundred years later, Queen Anne formally selected this design as the official emblem for the newly formed Kingdom of Great Britain. It did take a bit more time for the version we know and love today to arrive on the scene (1801), but this month still marks the beginning of one of the world’s most iconic flags.
JOB SPOTLIGHT
Changing things up? This is where we briefly look at career options from across the civvy world - everything goes here so expect some absolute drivel. Sometimes Forces Assist can help place you, sometimes we can’t. Either way we can offer advice.
We still need HGV Technicians. NOW.
A load of HGV Technician jobs are still open across Plymouth, Leicester, Hampshire, Cardiff and Suffolk. Great pay, solid hours - if you know anyone with the relevant quals can you do us a solid and send them our way via our contact us form. If they namedrop your subscriber email and pass probation I will personally give you £500. Gen.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Get your mucker to sign up for this…
Bored of asking - they’ll love Despatches and we’ll love them.
Cheers,
Team Forces Assist