British Armed Forces recognised for battlefield bravery
Some 118 members of the British Armed Forces are included in the latest Operational Honours list.
Walking With The Wounded: Soldiers' trek to South Pole
A soldier is hoping to become the first double amputee to walk to the South Pole in a team made up of wounded servicemen and women.
Prince Harry mucks in to army life in Afghanistan
He may be the heir in line to the throne, but Prince Harry was not exempt from making the tea in Afghanistan.
Live updates
UK to withdraw 11,000 troops from Germany by 2016
Around 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016 under plans which will see nearly £2 billion invested in Army housing and bases, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will announce today.
Under the speeded-up withdrawal, the remaining 4,500 troops will be back in the UK by 2019, a year earlier than planned.
Around £1bn of the funding being announced today will go towards 1,900 new houses for service families and accommodation for 7,800 single soldiers.
Another £800 million will be spent on infrastructure and refurbishment of bases.
The Government hopes the plans will mean more cash is ploughed back into the British, rather than German, economy as well as creating new construction jobs in the UK.
Savings of around £240 million a year are also expected to be made through reductions in operating costs.
Hammond to announce future of German army bases
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will unveil his plans for a large scale withdrawal of UK troops from Germany later today.
The 15,000-strong British Army of the Rhine has been in Germany since 1945 and was due to return by 2020.
The Daily Express is reporting that the majority of soldiers will be withdrawn by 2016, with the last 4,500 due back in 2019.
Another 17,000 MoD employees will come back over the same period.
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Catering firm Sodexo supplies Armed Forces
by Chris Choi - Consumer EditorThe latest product withdrawal will affect the army as catering company Sodexo is a supplier to the Armed Forces.
Sodexo will withdraw beefburgers, minced beef and halal minced beef.
Injured soldiers to be offered bionic legs
British servicemen and women who lose their legs on the battlefield of Iraq or Afghanistan will be offered state-of-the-art bionic legs to improve their lives.
The new technology, which will cost £6.5million, represents a dramatic improvement on current prosthetics.
ITV News’ Martha Fairlie reports:
Up to a year and half to fit all new bionic legs
Six and half million pounds will be used to supply the injured soldiers of Afghanistan and Iraq with state of the art new bionic legs.
Those currently waiting for a limb will start to get the new ones fitted straight away, those who already have a prosthetic leg will get their replaced.
Defence Minister Mark Francois told Daybreak the whole process should take a year to a year and half to fit the legs.
Bionic leg technology: How does it help?
All members of the Armed Forces, past and present, injured in Iraq or Afghanistan will be able to get state-of-the-art micro processor limbs, known as "bionic legs".
The benefits of the new legs:
- Dramatically improve the quality of life for rehabilitation amputees
- The leg will provide better stability
- It will allow for more mobility
- Improvements in the ability to step over obstacles, negotiate stairs and walk backwards safely
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Latest prosthetic technology gives more 'freedom'
Wounded service personnel have welcomed a government move to guarantee leg amputees get the most up-to-date prosthetic limbs available.
Captain Nick Beighton, a Paralympic rower who competed in London 2012, lost both his legs in a blast while on a foot patrol in Afghanistan in 2009.
– Captain Nick Beighton, Paralympic rowerTo have the opportunity to try it and to use it and get the latest technology is fabulous for us because it just gives us that freedom to get out and do more things and have greater functionality and more independence, essentially.
Read: Funding boost guarantees up to date limbs for amputees
Defence Secretary 'delighted' about prosthetic advances
Around 160 individuals who were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan, will benefit from Government funds for the most up-to-date prosthetic limbs available.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "One of this Government's top priorities has always been to give our troops the best possible care and support."
Mr Hammond said he was "delighted" to announce funds of £6.5 million which will be used to ensure UK servicemen and veterans injured in Afghanistan or Iraq have the opportunity to "upgrade to the most technologically advanced prosthetics currently available."
Bionic legs will 'improve the quality of life' for amputees
– Surgeon General Air Marshal Paul EvansThe next generation of micro processor knee is a fantastic prosthetic development and now seen to have proven benefits for certain amputees. It will improve the quality of life and rehabilitation for our patients, where it is clinically suitable.
Not only does it provide better stability and improved mobility but will also help reduce back pain and aid rehabilitation generally.
The team at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre are now planning for individual patients to be offered the next generation of micro processor knee where clinically appropriate.
Funding guarantees up to date limbs for amputees
Whitehall will today announce a funding boost to guarantee leg amputees get the most up-to-date prosthetic limbs available.
All members of the Armed Forces, past and present, injured in Iraq or Afghanistan will be able to get state-of-the-art micro processor limbs, known as "bionic legs".
The £6.5 million which will fund this has been made available by the Chancellor from the Treasury's Special Reserve.
The leg will be the same as the one used by British Paralympic discus thrower Derek Derenalagi.
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