BFBS Radio Sitrep

In today’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee -

Is India now a super-power?

How London and Moscow are trying to improve relations.

Plus, why do people leave the armed forces?  And what should the Mod do to increase retention

And, how one part of Brexit IS happening on time tomorrow.

This week on Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:

It's 2019 and if you're a woman, you can now apply to do every single job in the British Armed Forces.

We celebrate International Women's Day by hearing from some of the top female voices in defence, including:

• Dr Karin Von Hippel, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute.
• Colonel Lucy Giles, President of the Army Selection Board.
• Madeleine Moon MP, a long-serving member of the House of Commons Defence Committee who says the Ministry of Defence isn't doing enough to recruit more women.
• Commodore Ellie Ablett MBE, who founded the Naval Servicewomen's Network.
• Maria Stuttaford who has been studying the impact of the unpaid work done by military wives.

And Sarah Brown, Chair of Theirworld and wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown talks about a forgotten casualty of war; the education of girls.

28th February

This week on Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:

President Trump and Kim Jong-un have said no deal this time on nuclear warheads.  We hear from Professor Robert Kelly of Pusan University in South Korea and Professor Michael Stathis from the University of Southern Utah in the USA.

Why has nobody managed to find a solution to the conflict over Kashmir?  Dr Dan Plesch from SOAS at the University of London explains.

The UN's highest court says Britain should end its control of the Chagos Islands, but what about Diego Garcia where the US keeps its B-52 Bombers?

Officer cadets at Sandhurst are trained by the Red Cross.  It's to teach them how to work with humanitarian agencies in conflict zones. Retired Brigadier Ian McLoed has worked for the ICRC for 20 years and explains why this is so important.

And the former soldier who says his optician refused to make a note of his military service on his medical records.  We hear from Hugh Milroy the CEO of Veterans Aid about the confusion over the Armed Forces Covenant.

21st February

This week on Sitrep with Tim Cooper and Christopher Lee:

Putin has told Moscow's federal assembly that Russia will deploy new weapons and aim them at the west if the US deploys new short and medium-range missiles in Europe.  So what's Putin's game?  We hear from RUSI's Professor Mark Galleotti and writer on Russian affairs Mary Dejevsky.

Simon Marks reports from Washington on President Trump's plans to give US nuclear powered technology to Saudi Arabia, a sworn enemy of Israel.  Professor Paul Rogers from the University of Bradford explains what this could mean.

The UK's signed a new military pact with Oman which will allow Royal Navy ships and submarines to dock in a new port being built there, putting British "East of Suez" plans into action.

And we mark LGBTQ History Month with a look ahead to next week's special programmes on Forces Radio BFBS including an interview with Caroline Paige, the first transgender officer to serve openly in the British Armed Forces.

This week on Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:

Professor Michael Clarke from the new counter-terrorist think tank Co-Jit UK explains why British Intelligence Officers might like to speak to the IS bride who wants to come to the UK.

Forces News reporter Laura Mackin-Isherwood reports from the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

The London Evening Standard's Defence Editor Robert Fox gives his take on the Defence Secretary's "Paper Tiger" speech.

Naval Historian Professor Eric Grove explains why the Defence Secretary wants to send HMS Queen Elizabeth to the South China Sea.

 Dr Julian Lewis talks about his concerns about French involvement in the production of the Type 26 frigate.

And Christopher Lee has a soppy story about Valentine's Day!

In (today’s) Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:

Are Islamic State really defeated in Syria or is it wishful thinking by President Trump?

The UK hosts the Nato’s 70th summit later this year – is it chance to modernise the alliance?

Find out why there are now more Gurkhas joining the British Army than in the past 30 years.

And as we wave goodbye to the Tornado, Sitrep looks at how it will compare to other “iconic” RAF aircraft

That’s all in  Sitrep, Thurs at 6.30 UK time, or listen to the Podcast at any time.

PROGRAMME TX THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum).  On Sky Channel 0211.

Alternatively - listen again on-line, www.forces.net/sitrep or download the Sitrep Podcast.

This week on Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood explains why Brexit defence planning is the number one priority at the Ministry of Defence.

Professor Paul Rogers explains the INF treaty and why President Trump is warning the US may pull out.

The new Commander of British Forces in the Falklands, Brigadier Nick Sawyer, gives his first interview and tells Gini Carlin about his plans to improve training there.

RAF Marham is now running on Biofuel - so how does that work?

And new details about work carried out by the Pentagon's top secret UFO research programme with former MOD UFO man Nick Pope.

What’s behind last weekend’s car bomb in Londonderry?  We speak to Dr Marisa McGlinchey whose forthcoming book "Unfinished Business: The politics of Dissident Irish Republicanism" is out soon.

President Trump and North Korea are planning another summit  - but is North Korea still developing nuclear warheads?  Sitrep looks at the meeting from both the US and North Korean perspective with Robert E Kelly, Professor of Political Science at Pusan University in South Korea and Michael Stathis, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern Utah.

Michael Stathis also comments on the US shutdown and how it’s affecting defence and security.

And Glynn Prysor from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission talks to us about memorials and why they get vandalised.

17th January edition

 What would a no-deal Brexit mean for defence?

Why France and Germany are strengthening their defence and foreign policies with a new Treaty.

The US Shutdown - how does it affect US Defence? 

Plus what’s the Royal Navy up to in the South China Seas and what was the SAS man doing at a Nairobi Hotel?

It's out with the old and in with the new for the RAF.  The F-35s are deployment ready while the Tornadoes are being prepared to retire, Aviation Expert Paul Beaver explains the significance.

We speak to Christina Lamb, the Sunday Times Chief Foreign Correspondent, who was recently in South Sudan, about how British soldiers intervened to stop the repeated rape of a group of women there.

What will Turkey do if the US withdraws its forces from Syria? Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace studies at the University of Bradford, explains the impact on the region.

And after Captain Louis Rudd’s successful solo Antarctic trek, Sitrep asks Colonel Neil Wilson, Commander of the Army’s Adventurous Training Group, why adventurous training is so important for the forces.

We also have a tribute to Lord Ashdown.

Did you enjoy the programme?  We’d love it if you left us a review!  Follow us on Twitter: @BFBSSitrep

Sitrep looks at the highs and lows of 2018

From the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury to President Trump’s historic talks with North Korea’s leader.

The RAF celebrated 100 years, the Royal Navy put its new Carrier to sea and we remembered the fallen of first World War in the centenary of the Armistice

Plus: will the Modernising Defence Programme deliver what it promises?

And what’s in store for 2019?  – How will Brexit change British and European Security?  And what other global threats might our Armed Forces face?

GUESTS

General The Lord Dannatt, former CGS

Professor Michael Clarke, defence analyst

Dr Julian Lewis, Chair of the HoC Defence Select Committee

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director General of RUSI

Christopher Lee, BFBS' defence analyst

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Check out our Facebook video on the Forces News facebook  (after 15.15 UKT)

PROGRAMME TX THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:00pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum).  On Sky Channel 0211.

Alternatively - listen again on-line, www.forces.net/sitrep or download the Sitrep Podcast.

In this week’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee…

In today’s programme Sitrep hears from the Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, and General Sir Nick Carter,  the Chief of the defence staff  who is rated by many as one of the best modernisers in the army

The carnage in Yemen - is there a chance to bring some hope to more than a hundred thousand people made homeless and starving as a result of this war?

Why the Afghan interpreters for the British Army fear that they or their families may be killed if the UK sends them back home

And has the navy scooped the PR opportunity of the year?  Find out, in today’s Sitrep

In this week’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee…

Should we be banning one of China’s biggest telecoms firms from involvement in Britain’s next-generation mobile networks? The head of MI6 is asking that question, and many of Britain’s global security partners have already taken action – should the UK follow suit?

As Russia threatens to escalate missile production – are we heading into a new Cold War era?

Could climate change create a security crisis triggering a military response?

Plus the ethic of autonomous weapons – as the Army tests a potential killer robot.

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Check out our Facebook video on the Forces News facebook  (after 15.15 UKT)

PROGRAMME TX THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum).  On Sky Channel 0211.

Alternatively - listen again on-line, www.forces.net/sitrep or download the Sitrep Podcast.

The defence secretary, Gavin Williamson speaks to Sitrep about Ukraine, the Navy and Brexit

Will NATO get involved as tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine?

The new F35s have been on exercise off the North Sea….

And, a pocket guide to UK defence, all you need to know in a nutshell.

In this week’s episode with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee….

Has the Matthew Hedges’ case made for tricky relations between Britain and the UAE?   

Is it time to ditch the Russian-American missile treaties and start again?

It’s Thanksgiving in America but is it a bad time to say thank you?

And the Armed Forces Covenant - what has it done for you?

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Check out our Facebook video on the Forces News facebook Thursdays (15.15 GMT)

PROGRAMME TX THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum).  On Sky Channel 0211.

Alternatively - listen again on-line, www.forces.net/sitrep or download the Sitrep Podcast.

In today’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee…..

Brexit – what happens to the military?  Is the Defence Budget threatened and what about NATO?

Does Britain still have influence in the Middle East and has the US lost its global military edge ?

Plus - how does the MoD monitor big defence contracts?

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Check out our Facebook video on the Forces News facebook  (after 15.15 UKT)

PROGRAMME TX THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum).  On Sky Channel 0211.

Alternatively - listen again on-line, www.forces.net/sitrep or download the Sitrep Podcast.

In today’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee…..

A boost to improve care for veterans, but why has it taken so long?

America's top thinking General tell us what's wrong with leadership.

The US mid-term elections, who are the winners and losers?

And, as we look towards the centenary of the Armistice on Sunday - Dan Snow looks back on 100 years of PTSD and …are we getting remembrance right?

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Check out our Facebook video on the Forces News facebook  (after 15.30 UKT)

PROGRAMME TX THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum).  On Sky Channel 0211.

Alternatively - listen again on-line, www.forces.net/sitrep or download the Sitrep Podcast.