What is the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)?

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), headquartered at Porton Down in Salisbury, provides solutions to the problems of UK defence and security by delivering high-impact science and technology. DSTL is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), operated along commercial lines. It is one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the… Read More

What is the British Forces Post Office (BFPO)?

The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has a long and distinguished history of providing an efficient and effective Postal and Courier Service in support of the UK Armed Forces and their dependants worldwide. The BFPO is committed to delivering a modern, technology-based, end-to-end (E2E) postal service, as a seamless extension of the UK mail system, which is customer-focused, demand-led and… Read More

What is Team Leidos?

Team Leidos, part of the Logistics Commodities Operating Centre, is an expert team of defence and logistic specialists with the sole purpose of managing the Logistic Commodities and Services (Transformation) (LCS(T)) contract, a critical effort to enhance and improve the UK’s defence supply chain. Working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Team Leidos is helping transform UK Defence Logistics… Read More

How Many British Military Personnel have changed their Nationality from Commonwealth to British between 2003 & 2017?

The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on personnel who have changed their nationality from Commonwealth to British. However, there were: 153 personnel who had British as their first nationality and a Commonwealth country as their second nationality (although the MOD cannot accurately tell if they joined the British armed forces directly… Read More

The Citizenship Test and Foreign & Commonwealth Personnel

The introduction of the Citizenship (Armed Forces) Act 2014 allows the home secretary to waive the requirement for foreign and Commonwealth personnel applying for naturalisation to be in the UK on day one of the five year qualifying period, provided they are serving overseas with the British military. However, applying for citizenship is not required for service in… Read More

Military Catering: ORPs, Halal & Kosher Meals

Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel in the United Kingdom (UK) and permanent bases overseas are primarily catered for through a number of facilities management contracts. British Armed Forces personnel serving on operations, exercises and Her Majesty’s ships and submarines are catered for under the Deployable Food Programme introduced on 01 October 2017. All food procured for… Read More

All Ground Close Combat Roles Open to Women by 2018, says UK MOD

Ok, so a bit slow off the mark with this one, which was first announced on 08 July 2016. Only one month slow! I’ll use the excuse of emigrating to Australia as the reason for the delay. Anyway, the Secretary of Defence (Michael Fallon) and the Chief of the Defence Staff (General Sir Nick Carter) have announced that… Read More