RAF Personnel to Grow Beards for Afghan Deployment

, RAF Regiment Personnel to Grow Beards for Afghan Deployment 
 
Several newspapers report that personnel from 51 Squadron RAF Regiment are growing beards in preparation for their forthcoming deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire, requested permission from senior officers in order to help them win hearts and minds of local Afghans, for whom a beard is a symbol of stature and masculinity. 
 
Squadron Leader Tony Brown, Officer Commanding 51 Sqn, said: 
 
“It is essential that we win the hearts and minds of the local people, the majority of whom are friendly towards the NATO forces. In the rural south where we will be, beards are a big thing culturally and represent strength and virility. Beards engender a lot of respect in the local community and this may help to open doors and give us a rapport with the local population.”  
 
MOD Civil Servants to Take Industrial Action 
 
Media reports claim that MOD and Passport Office staff will take strike action on Friday 30 March 2007. 
 
We are disappointed that Public and Commercial System (PCS) members have voted for a one day strike on 30 March 2007 in response to issues connected with the MOD Pay Award and as part of the union’s ongoing national dispute over pay, jobs and privatisation. A number of meetings have been held between the PCS and the Department to address their concerns. 
 
A pay offer was made to Trade Unions in November 2006 following protracted negotiations with the Treasury. Industrial Trade Unions have accepted the offer, whereas Non-Industrial TUs rejected the offer, although we did return to the negotiating table in an attempt to seek a resolution of the outstanding issues. 
 
We do not anticipate that any MOD sites and establishments will be closed if the proposed strike action goes ahead.