Following a fact-finding trip to California, during parliamentary recess, to join 42 Commando on exercise Sheryll Murray MP has contacted the Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans at the MOD, Mark Francois MP, to raise concerns about the kit issued to some of the Royal Marines during their training.
Sheryll, who paid for the flight to California herself, learned that 42 Commando were due to take over as lead Commando for 2013. This means that they will be expected to deploy with just 2-5 days notice, should an emergency arise anywhere in the world. Many of the men are training with the old style body armour. Whilst they have been deployed to Afghanistan, they have been using the up to date Osprey body armour. Some of them have had to hand it back on their return home.
Sheryll explained, “In the event of an emergency deployment whilst operating as the lead Commando, they would be issued with the new style Osprey but because they rig their webbing and equipment in a different way whilst wearing the different body armour this is causing them concern.”
They asked Sheryll why they were not issued with the same kit they would use on operation and whilst they accept that a priority must be for troops who are operating in Afghanistan, they feel the reduction of personnel in the conflict should allow them to train with the equipment they would use on operations. Many men raised this concern with Sheryll because integrating their equipment into the different structure of the new body armour takes time.
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Contact: Sheryll Murray MP 01579 344428