War expert flies to Falklands to advise military leaders

‌Stephen Badsey, Professor of Conflict Studies at the University, was invited to the South Atlantic archipelago by the Ministry of Defence.

The trip was organised to look at how British forces carry out operations at range, across long distances of terrain and far from the immediate support structures of the UK.

Professor Badsey was invited by the MoD as part of a team of experts with either service or academic backgrounds.

The idea was for the group to look at how long distance operations were carried out in the Falklands conflict of 1982, and those still being undertaken today and see how these might be improved.

Through the collaborative expertise of the group, the MoD hope to develop a wider understanding of the effects of conflicts carried out at range, particularly at the strategic level.

Professor Badsey said: “During the visit, we studied many of the battlefields of the 1982 Falklands War, including San Carlos, Port Stanley airfield, Mount Harriet, and Goose Green, looking at how military action may be carried out or deterred over long distances.

“A lot of my work on this trip was ‘applied history’, using the experiences and lessons of a war that is now long past to help prevent other wars happening in the future.”

ENDS

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Date Issued: Wednesday, February 5, 2014.