Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

22
support to ops
On-line to the front line
Staff get writing to
give UK forces
a seasonal boost
HUNDREDS OF DE&S staff got online
with the front line to illustrate the
simplicity and success of the forces’
e-bluey system.
The web-based process can deliver
a hard copy private message free of
charge to a loved one on the front line
anywhere in the world within hours.
Around 100,000 letters a month
are downloaded by the system as
family members look to send their
best wishes to servicemen and women
in Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever
British forces are operational.
“This is the last half mile to the guys
on the front line,” said Major
General Alan Macklin, leader
of DE&S’ Armoured Fighting
Vehicles Group, who was at the
Abbey Wood demonstration to
e-mail a colleague. A second
demonstration took place at
Andover with a third at MOD
Main Building.
“People are used to e-mail
but not everyone can get e-mail
in the forward operating bases.
This system adapts what the younger
generation – the internet generation
– has as standard and delivers it to
areas where you don’t have those
facilities.”
The system is part of the forces’
welfare package and is run by the
British Forces Post Office.
“The system is very successful,”
said Sgt Kevin Pellington of BFPO.
“We are downloading so many each
month it shows how popular it is. And
even before Afghanistan it was being
well used. It is a very quick connection
between families and troops.”
Letters can be composed in any
popular word processing system and
pasted into an e-bluey, or one can be
downloaded from the e-bluey website.
Photographs can be attached, while
there is also a fax-bluey option.
When the message reaches its
destination it is downloaded, printed
and sealed like any ordinary letter by
one of more than 60 special machines
near front line units.
The number of machines is
growing – equipment has recently
been installed in the Fijian High
Commission in recognition of the
increasing number of Commonwealth
troops on operations.
Hi Dad. Hope your Christmas will
be great. Sorry you won’t be here
with me and mum when we open
our presents on Christmas Day.
Hello to our troops in
Afghanistan and Iraq. I think of
you always. God bless you and all
those away at Christmas.
Left: Sgt Kevin Pellington
of BFPO shows staff at
Andover how to send an
e-bluey while, below,
Quentin Davies, Minister
for Defence Equipment
and Support, sends his
message to the front line
and, bottom, staff at Abbey
Wood got on line to send
messages as sessions
began on 9 December
Pictures: Allan House,
Andrew Linnett and
Alan Casperd
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Log on to www.bfpo.mod.uk,
go to the e-bluey link, create
a new account, complete
some required security
questions and add in your
personal details.
As long as you have the
name, rank and BFPO
number of the person you
wish to write to, and details
of regiment/unit/ship etc
and location you can then
compose a message and
send it. It will be delivered
in sealed, secure form.
To all who will be away at
Christmas, I hope you can make
it as enjoyable for yourselves as
possible.
UK forces abroad at Christmas 2008: Afghanistan 8,050; southern Iraq 4,100; Baghdad 250; at sea 1,050; Falklands/
South Atlantic 1,500; Qatar 700; Cyprus 300; Kuwait 550; Kosovo 150; Bahrain 50; Bosnia less than 50; others 150.