Mark Pawsey MP is this week attending the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom as part of his time with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS).
AFPS was established in the 1980s to provide Members of Parliament with experience of Military life and see at first hand the everyday life of Service personnel and the tasks they are asked to undertake on behalf of the country. MPs spend 22 days a year in a unit of the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force and to date over 170 MPs have graduated from the scheme.
Mark has joined the Army to consider military life from the perspective of Major and has already attended briefings from the Chief of Defence staff. Earlier this year he visited the recruiting team at The Army’s Careers Office in Church St, Rugby.
Mark said:
“Our Servicemen and women put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect the UKs national interest and, not having a military background myself, I wanted to understand more fully the work they do. The AFPS is a great way for MPs do so since we spend time alongside service personnel, learning about the individual tasks they undertake.”
Mark added:
“This week at the Defence Academy, I am involved in sessions considering the role of the military and the strategic context for defence as well as taking part in a practical firing session and looking at equipment capability. I will also be meeting representatives of service charities. Later in the scheme I will have the opportunity to join new recruits on their training, to meet soldiers returning from Afghanistan and to join a unit on an overseas deployment ”
Mark concluded:
“The scheme will enable me to have an informed impression of what life is like in the Army and the pressures on the brave men and women who put themselves forward for this role. I am sure that this will be invaluable to me when the role of our Armed Services is considered in Parliament.”