BFBS Radio - Factual & Documentaries

A year ago, we began telling the stories of the servicemen and women playing a key role in the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the height of the crisis, 20,000 military personnel were on standby as part of the Covid Support Force (CSF). Thousands were deployed on Operation Rescript each day to support the civil authorities and the NHS.

Here, some of the personnel involved re-join BFBS to update us on their experience one year on.

Presented by Amy Casey with Jess Bracey and Hal Stewart.

Analysis and expert commentary on the Integrated Review - described as the biggest Review of Defence and Security policy since the Cold War -with former CDS Lord Richards, Professor Michael Clarke, Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government and chair of the For Affairs Comm Tom Tugendhat. Also, flexible working in the armed forces with MOD's Helen Helliwell and Royal Marines on night exercises.

Men and women who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender talk about their experiences while serving in the UK armed forces. Some decided to keep their sexuality hidden, while others have come out. Some talk about how they were forced to give up the job they loved because they were found out.

This programme was originally broadcast in February 2019, for LGBTQ History Month.

As part of Black History Month Akylah Rodriguez talks to serving soldiers about their experiences. It’s quite a personal exploration. Akylah’s parents, who are from Jamaica, both joined the army in the 1970s.

As part of Black History Month Akylah Rodriguez has been finding out about the experience of black people serving in the British Army. Here she explores what it’s like to be a minority within a minority. Black and female.

As part of Black History Month, Akylah Rodriguez has been finding out about the experience of black Commonwealth soldiers. Akylah’s parents, who are from Jamaica, both joined the army in the 1970s but here she explains how her family connection to the British Forces goes all the way back to the Second World War.

As part of Black History Month Akylah Rodriguez has been talking to serving soldiers about their experiences. Here she looks at representation across the ranks, in particular, the number of black officers.

Akylah Rodriguez has been talking to serving soldiers about their experiences as part of Black History Month. Here she's finding out how the Army is trying to improve diversity.

The triumphs and trials of family life in the armed forces

Servicemen and women have been playing a key role in the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the height of the crisis, 20,000 military personnel were on standby as part of the Covid Support Force (CSF).

Thousands were deployed each day as part of Operation Rescript to support the civil authorities and the NHS. Their work has been formally recognised by the Prime Minister.

A group of servicemen and women who’ve made an outstanding contribution to Op Rescript joined a Zoom call with Boris Johnson who expressed his thanks. Listen to the servicemen and women who got to speak to the PM talk about their experiences.

Presented by Amy Casey