Frontline Insights: Operational Military Liaison Teams- Building The Afghan Army

12:15, 13 Oct 2008
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET

Link to map: multimap

Options	Price
Normal rate	£17.02
Frontline Insight Special Rate for Six Sessions	£85.11

'Frontline Insights' are a panel of six sessions where unit commanders from recent operational deployments will share aspects of their personal experience of modern conflict.

Participants can either book to attend this event, or book by paying for all six events at a reduced rate. Book online (below) or complete booking form (right).

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About the event:

Lunch-time Presentation One

Lieutenant Colonel S J Downey OBE, Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).

UK Forces have now been heavily committed to major expeditionary military operations for a total of 12 years.  In that time, much has been learnt about warfare in the modern age. 

Following swiftly concluded ‘conventional’ wars, the subsequent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have been of a very different character.  In adapting to the demands of the enduring insurgencies in these countries and the contemporaneous ‘War on Terror’, each of the Armed Services has experienced a steep learning curve and continues to adapt to the needs of a dynamic security environment.  

The operations being conducted today in Basra Province, the Arabian Gulf and the shadow of the Hindu Kush may contain fundamental similarities to historic wars but they are essentially different in execution.  Today’s Albion warriors are experiencing something new. 

Lieutenant Colonel S J Downey OBE was commissioned in 1987 and saw early service in Germany and Northern Ireland.  Post staff college, he was appointed Chief of Staff 16 Air Assault Brigade with whom he conducted the invasion of Iraq in 2003, being appointed an MBE.  On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he served as Military Assistant to the Master General of the Ordnance before assuming command of the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).  He commanded the Battalion on operations in the Balkans and in Afghanistan, in the latter capacity leading the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battlegroup mentoring the Afghan Army in Helmand Province.  He oversaw the Afghan recapture of MUSA QALEH and, as the UK commander in MUSA QALEH, its subsequent stabilisation.  He was awarded an OBE in the post tour operational honours list.    

Following Presentations are as follows:

• Monday 3 November 2008: Royal Air Force Tornado Operations Over Iraq.
  Wing Commander D J E Cooper MA BEng (Hons) RAF, Officer Commanding 617 Squadron.
  
• Monday 1 December 2008: The Royal Navy And Task Force Operations In The Persian Gulf.
  Speaker: Royal Navy warship commander.
• Tuesday 13 January 2009: Infantry Operations In Southern Afghanistan.
  Speaker: Unit Commander from 16 Air Assault Brigade, currently in Afghanistan.
• Tuesday 10 February 2009: Joint Helicopter Force Operations In A Counter-Insurgency. 
  Speaker: Royal Air Force Support Helicopter Squadron Commander.
• Monday 9 March 2009: Fight In, Fight Out - The Operation To Withdraw From Basra Palace And The Assault On Musa Qala. Speakers: Colonel P N Y M Sanders DSO OBE (Late CO 4 RIFLES).

A sandwich lunch will be available from 1215-1300, with the presentation and subsequent question session from 1300-1430.

Individual event prices are £20 (inc VAT), including a sandwich lunch and 15% of the subscription fee will go to a charity of the speakers’ choice. 

All six lunchtime presentations can currently be purchased for a special price of £100.

Military personnel attend for free.