Priti visits phenomenal 16 Air Assault Brigade
Witham MP Priti Patel has visited the 16 Air Assault Brigade based at the Colchester Garrison in her latest engagement in the Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme. The Scheme gives MPs a chance to spend time with the Armed Forces and learn more about life in the military and operations. Priti, who took part in paratrooper training, met bomb disposal teams and discussed operational readiness, said:
“It is a great privilege to spend the day with the phenomenal men and women of the 16 Air Assault Brigade in Colchester. The paratrooper training was incredibly tough and challenging and those who complete it and qualify are the finest in the world. The bomb disposal teams have such a high level of expertise and courage and I was amazed to hear at first-hand how their operational work and readiness means that they are ready to be deployed anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.”
“Their leading role providing rapid response capabilities mean that they have a proud record supporting peace keeping work and military operations across the world. The men and women I met today are incredibly impressive and we should all be very proud of what they do to keep our country safe.”
“This part of Essex has a strong heritage and connection to our Armed Forces with the Colchester Garrison and a number of former airfields used to defend our country from dictatorship and aggression from Europe in the last century. We should always remember and reflect on their courage and bravery and the freedoms we enjoy today because of them.”