The Salisbury Plain area continues to be very quiet with no training activity happening and a number of units that are not on standby taking local leave.

5 RIFLES deployment to Canada has been put on hold and while there is a great deal of planning taking place behind closed doors, no announcements have been made.

Corporal James Bates from The Royal Tank Regiment is one of 80 military personnel that will support the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust during the crisis. James is a volunteer ambulance driver: “I try and do one shift a week of between six to ten hours,” he said.

“As part of Operation Rescript, my skill is unique, so we've been asked to help. I feel quite excited about it, providing support where it is most needed.”

Military helicopters have been deployed across the country to support the effort and Army Air Corps Wildcat helicopters are on standby at Yeovilton to support medical services in the South West.

Internationally, six Army medics have been sent to the Falkland Islands to beef up the medical services there, in Nepal, staff from the Gurkha Depot at Pokhara ferried stranded British tourists to Kathmandu so they could take flights out of the country.

ESTONIA NEWS

The 1 FUSILIERS BG has taken over as the enhanced Forward Presence battle group in Estonia. 52 Armoured Engineer squadron have conducted low level armoured engineering skills and drills, adapting training techniques to stay dispersed.

The British Ambassador, Therese Bubbear has sent a video message of welcome and support to families in Tidworth.

In a 24hr period, members of the First Fusiliers Battlegroup will collectively attempt to cycle/run/row the distance from their current location in TAPA, ESTONIA to their home in Tidworth, a total distance of 2,450 km to raise money for the COVID-19 appeal for the NHS. At the time of writing, they had raised almost £3,000.

NEW AVIATION BRGADE FORMED

Last Wednesday saw the formation of 1st Aviation Brigade at Middle Wallop. This provides Defense with deployable and scalable Aviation command and control. The Brigade is immediately on Ops in the UK in support of Covid Support Force