Notes From a Small Military

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RFE/RL: Regarding this imminent counteroffensive, is it merely symbolism that is at play here -- as in they are trying to secure some sort of a victory for the 24th of February, or is Russia trying to race against time before [advanced] Western tanks arrive in Ukraine? So, the first thing is that it puts everything in eastern Ukraine in range because the range is 150 kilometers.

He joined the British Army in September 1980 after sponsorship at Lancaster University. He was the only army student to achieve a first class honours degree in his year. He joined 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) and fought in the Falklands campaign, including the Battle of Goose Green. He stayed with 2 PARA until May 1985 which included his first Northern Ireland (NI) tour in South Armagh. While tweeting that he loved the Prince, Former Royal Marine Ben McBean said the royal needed to "shut up". To introduce greater independence into the way police disciplinary hearings are conducted and ensure judgements are legally sound, I am consulting on the introduction of legally qualified chairs to conduct police disciplinary hearings.

He was as an instructor on the Platoon Commander's Division before returning to 2 PARA as the Adjutant. In 1989-90 he served on exchange with the Canadian Airborne Regiment prior to attending UK Staff College at Camberley in 1991. On graduation he became Chief of Staff 5 Airborne Brigade. Because the Prince was a Apache pilot who used cannons or missiles from a range some way away from the action, Chapman says there is no way he could ID or bury anyone. But, of course, he’s also not going to compromise at the moment; and the best solution to making him compromise is to give Ukraine the equipment, because they’ve got the morale, so that they can succeed. Weapons are the way to a better peace, from a Ukrainian perspective.

That therefore limits your tempo of operations -- it slows it down in sustainment and availability terms of logistics, artillery, ammunition, and the like. So, I think it's going to be almost up there as one [example] of that dreadful phrase...“it's a game changer.” The Network does not replace or seek to duplicate any of the existing ‘official’ networks, e.g. the PRA, but it aims to draw in many with whom RHQ has lost touch, whilst streamlining communications with those still ‘close’ to the Airborne family.Capability is the sum of a number of things, including your training, your equipment, your morale, your logistics.” Chapman admitted he had never come across "this body count mentality" in the forces, slamming Harry's claim of 25 kills as "slightly ridiculous". Chapman: Now, of course, it doesn't make sense militarily. But for example, rather like the discussion early in March last year about a no-fly zone. From a military perspective, the advice you give is, “Can we?” Yes, we can, we could impose a no-fly zone. But politicians ask two different questions: “Should we?” and “Must we?” So, you do need a strategy bridge between political intent and military power. But you also need that between the senior military folk and the politicians. And ultimately in a democracy it's the politicians who make the decisions, not the military men.

Chapman believes Harry opening up about his conscience is the "one good thing" he says about his experience in the military - and should have been developed more in the book.

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Major-General Chapman joined the British Army in September 1980 after sponsorship at Lancaster University. He was the only army student to achieve a first class honours degree in his year.

RFE/RL: I want to ask you about this numbers war, the beloved Russian tactic of swarming the enemy with numbers. Can the Russian leadership’s disregard for their own men and the sheer numbers that they possess win them the day? Chapman spoke to RFE/RL’s Georgian Service ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion about whether Kremlin war planners’ apparent attrition strategy can work, Moscow’s “deep battle” for territory and Ukrainian minds, how Ukraine might win the war, and the “realism” of Russia’s neighbors.

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RFE/RL: On Bakhmut, most of what was remaining as a regiment has been transferred to the east. Will we see more sieges like we saw in Mariupol last year? Will that become a new norm to hold on to Ukrainian territory? RFE/RL: What else might be stopped? Are we going to see ATACMS [surface-to-air Army Tactical Missile Systems], for example? RFE/RL: You don't rate the strategic soundness of remaining or defending Bakhmut to the last soldier, as I’ve read. Finally, the government has already announced a consultation on protections for police whistleblowers to ensure that concerns can be raised without fear of disciplinary action. Today’s consultation document contains further proposals, including strengthening the independent route for whistleblowing to the IPCC and allowing the IPCC to conduct investigations in a way that protects the identity of the whistleblower. High level analyst/commentator/communicator for TV/radio channels on defence/terrorism/radicalisation/Middle East