Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)

A new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block for Senior Ranks has just been opened at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. It is named 'Phillips Block', after the first Welsh Guardsman to be Academy Sergeant Major and members of his family joined the team at the opening. The block, which will shortly be joined by another for Junior Ranks, has 53 single en suite bedspaces as well as utility and drying rooms, a kitchen, and communal space. Built by offsite construction specialists Reds10, the modular, sustainable SLA includes solar energy harvesting, air source heat pumps and a SMART building management system. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ePgT-QWD

Items found as part of an Operation Nightingale dig at RAF Valley have officially been declared as treasure – a first for the programme!     Military personnel and veterans joined DIO Senior Archaeologist Richard Osgood to search for pieces from the famed Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard, which was first discovered in the 1940s.     A bridle-bit and terret ring used in a Celtic chariot were found underneath the station’s airfield. They will be put on display at Oriel Mon, on Anglesey, from 2026.

We worked with our suppliers to prepare our response to the issues that the colder weather can bring. We increased staff answering calls and on the ground, to ensure we were ready to support families over the festive period. Pinnacle Service Families , Amey , VIVO Defence Services

Parts of a 2,000-year-old Celtic chariot uncovered by military personnel and veterans at RAF Valley, on Anglesey, have officially been declared as treasure.   A horse bridle-bit and a terret ring, used to guide a horse’s reins on a chariot, were found during an archaeological dig underneath the station’s airfield, the site where the famous Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard was discovered in the 1940s. The dig was part of Operation Nightingale, a UK Ministry of Defence initiative which supports the recovery of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans by getting them involved in archaeological investigations. These notable finds were discovered by serving Flight Sergeant Graham Moore, and retired Squadron Leader David Ulke. The remarkable artefacts will now be donated to Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. 📸 Harvey Mills Photography #Archaeology #IronAge #HistoricalDiscovery #Veteran #Treasure #RAF #HistoryUncovered #SupportingVeterans #ArchaeologicalFinds ......................................... Mae rhannau o gerbyd Celtaidd 2,000 o flynyddoedd oed a ddadorchuddiwyd gan staff milwrol a chyn-filwyr yn RAF y Fali, Ynys Môn, wedi cael eu datgan yn drysor swyddogol. Daethpwyd o hyd i ddolen cyfrwy a genfa i dywys ffrwyn ceffyl ar gerbyd, yn ystod gwaith cloddio archeolegol o dan faes awyr yr orsaf. Dyma’r safle lle cafodd casgliad enwog Llyn Cerrig Bach ei ddarganfod yn y 1940au. Roedd y gwaith cloddio yn rhan o Ymgyrch Nightingale, menter gan y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn sy’n cefnogi’r broses o adfer milwyr a chyn-filwyr sydd wedi’u hanafu ac sy’n sâl, drwy eu hannog i gymryd rhan mewn ymchwiliadau archeolegol. Daethpwyd o hyd i'r darganfyddiadau nodedig hyn gan yr Rhingyll Hedfan, Graham Moore, a’r Arweinydd Sgwadron David Ulke sydd wedi ymddeol.  Bydd yr arteffactau rhyfeddol nawr yn cael eu rhoi i Amgueddfa Cymru, Caerdydd. 📸 Harvey Mills Photography #Archaeoleg #OesHaearn #DarganfyddiadHanesyddol #CynFilwr #Trysor #RAF #DadorchuddioHanes #CefnogiCynFilwyr #DarganfyddiadauArchaeolegol

It was fantastic to welcome HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to Sandhurst yesterday to open an impressive new facility for the Royal Corps of Army Music, delivered for us by Willmott Dixon, Pick Everard and HLM Architects.   The £12m building was funded by the Defence Estate Optimisation Army Programme, which is designed to deliver a better structured and more sustainable Defence estate to support military capability and enhance the lived experience of Service personnel.   The building – now named The Duchess of Edinburgh Hall – houses both the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Army Engagement Ensemble. It combines modern buildings with refurbished existing infrastructure to create a sustainable and high-performance acoustic facility with solar panels and air source heat pumps. It includes a glass-roofed atrium for ensemble performance practice, rehearsal rooms, an instrument store, music library, offices, storage space and a crew room. 

Vigilant Ministry of Defence Guard Service officers at HMNB Clyde have been praised for locating two teenagers who had been reported missing 48 hours earlier. Steven Russell and Charles Lavery were on duty in the HMNB Clyde control room during the early hours. While carrying out a CCTV sweep of the base, Steven noticed two youths on the fence line. Given the time and freezing conditions, it seemed odd to the officers so they asked Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) colleagues to despatch a patrol to investigate. Steven and Charles watched the pair’s movements until they crossed the road and entered a wooded area. MDP arrived to question the two individuals to discover a male and female, both 14 years old, who had been reported missing to Police Scotland two days earlier. They were both handed over to Police Scotland and then safely returned to their parents. Operational Manager Damien Queen said: “Steven and Charles’ vigilance ensured the safe return of both vulnerable youths to their homes. Their involvement ensured a successful outcome for all involved.”

There's still time to enter your nominations for the 34th Ministry of Defence Sanctuary Awards! ✨ The prestigious awards, which celebrate outstanding sustainability and conservation efforts across the MOD, have been held annually since 1991. And this year we're introducing three brand new categories: 🌏 The Climate Change Resilience Award is open to projects or activities focused on taking action to enhance climate resilience through mitigation or adaptation. 💡The Early Career Award is for early career professionals who have made a significant contribution to Defence in the areas of environment, sustainability, energy or conservation, with an emphasis on novel approaches or contributions. 🍃 The Sustainable Delivery Award is for projects that deliver against an MOD priority area, objective or commitment to improve or innovate in the field of sustainability. You have until 5pm on 24 January to enter! Find out more here: https://ow.ly/BXsK50UGO2k #SanctuaryAwards #Sustainability #Conservation

Pete Chamberlain is the Training Safety Marshal for East Anglia Training Areas which includes Barton Road Rifle Range. It's about 1,200 yards long and one of only three bracketed ranges in the UK, meaning that there are several brackets up to 1,200 yards in 100m increments. Pete's primary role is to ensure that the range and its users operate in a safe manner. He oversees the safety of the range, and liaises with the various units, ensuring that everything is in good working order. At the end of the firing sessions, he conducts debriefs, listening to feedback about the services provided. He is also responsible for authorising the use of the training areas on the range for both live firing and dry firing, so he has an exciting and wide-ranging job as Training Safety Marshal. Read more about in his blog:

The MOD Conservation Group at Longmoor, in Hampshire, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary! ✨ The dedicated work of Conservation Group members has been key to fostering relationships with external organisations, assisting with the development of land management plans, and implementing practical conservation measures on Defence establishments in the UK and overseas. As the first and longest running MOD Conservation Group, Longmoor Conservation Group has a rich history. Over the decades, its work has ranged from managing habitats for the rare natterjack toad at Woolmer Forest in collaboration with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, to other projects helping to conserve some of the UK's rarest reptile, amphibian and bird species. Many of Longmoor Conservation Group's achievements have been recorded in the annual MOD Sanctuary magazine, which is also currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. Article ideas for the next edition of the magazine can be submitted on our online portal by 24 January: https://lnkd.in/eYfVMved Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/e8ZUwjGX 📸 Olivia French

We have today completed a landmark deal to bring more than 36,000 military houses back into public ownership. 🏡 This follows the exchange of contracts between MOD and Annington Homes Ltd last month. Today's formal completion sees taxpayers regaining ownership of the 36,347 houses, ending the £600,000 daily rental bill and making major housing redevelopment and improvements to military housing possible. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etfQNgAS #MOD #MilitaryHousing