Dstl's unsung heroes
The conflict in Iraq was the biggest deployment of scientists to the field since the second world war. Dstl's staff were a major constituent of that effort and continue to be an essential part of the ongoing Operation Telic. The difficult and often dangerous work they have done was recognised earlier this year by the award of the Iraq medal.
Fifty eight Dstl scientists and analysts were presented with the Iraq Campaign Medal on 27th April. The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff awarded the medal and paid tribute to our scientists in a speech at the medal ceremony in MOD Main Building.
MOD's Chief Scientific Adviser opened the proceedings with an address in which he emphasised the importance of science in directly supporting military operations. The scientists were referred to as the 'unsung heroes' of military operations and it was said that military commanders do recognise, and value the contribution of scientists and will now be an established feature of operations.
More than 100 Dstl staff have deployed to Iraq to date, of whom 80 plus have qualified for the campaign medal by spending longer than a month in theatre. Ten of the recipients received the medal 'with clasp', signifying that they were in theatre during the main combat phase from 19th March to 28th April 2003. In the initial stages of the conflict deployment locations included Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The medal recipients included a number of 'veterans' who had done two tours in Basra (and one female member of staff who has done three). Among those qualifying for medals, but who were unable to be present on the day to receive them personally (including one who is doing a second stint in Basra), are four Dstl staff who have also received Afghan Campaign Medals (two deployed to Kabul with ISAF and two to Bagram with the Royal Marines in 2002).
Still deployed
Two years after the conflict a number of our scientists and analysts can still be found in support of operations in Iraq. One Dstl analyst who already has the Iraq medal is currently in Basra leading a Dstl Operational Analysis team of two Dstl Analysts, both of which are on their second tour of Iraq, and have received the Iraq medal.
They described their daily routine: "We are working for the J3 Operations Support Unit. Essentially, we are data gathering and analysing incidents. The focus of this work is to help the UK Armed Forces interpret intelligence and thus understand and manage the current threats they are facing."
The team is situated at the UK HQ in Basra where the team eats, sleeps and works 24/7. They explain that there is little time for anything else: "We are working 75 or 80 hours a week so it is pretty intense, but we do get one morning off per week."
Two years after the conflict a number of our scientists and analysts can still be found in support of operations in Iraq. The team is currently headed by a senior Dstl scientist, reflecting the broader range of advice that is now required.