Ladies and Gentlemen, I particularly wanted on this occasion, to congratulate the nominees and award winners because their stories really are inspirational and prove how courageous, skilled and exceptional our Armed Forces are. Above all else, these awards recognise the astonishing achievements of our Servicemen and women in all fields of military endeavour, both at home and abroad. After 13 years deployment in Afghanistan and immense sacrifice on the part of our Armed Forces and their families we will never forget those who lost their lives during the course of their unending and selfless duties.
I wanted to take this opportunity to draw your attention to what is sometimes forgotten in all this, and that is the extraordinary contribution our Armed Forces have made to the reconstruction and development of Helmand, and the impact these projects have had on the local population. Since 2006, working alongside the Department for International Development and the Provincial Reconstruction Team, our Armed Forces have helped to build 89 schools and raise the number of children in education from under 55, 000 in 2008 to over 147,000 in 2014; including 30,000 girls (there were zero in 2001). They have built numerous bridges over the River Helmand and local canals to enable traffic and access to markets. They have also supported local agriculture, in areas too dangerous for civilians to access, with expertise from serving military veterinary and agricultural teams. All this of course, and much more but Ladies and Gentlemen, as one conflict draws down, this uncertain world raises further challenges. The extraordinary skills and courage of our Regular, Special and Reserve Forces are constantly in demand and continue to be on display day after day across the globe. Whether it's tackling the Ebola crisis in West Africa; tackling piracy in the Gulf or the Caribbean; counter terrorist operations, including air strikes in Iraq and Syria; counter narcotics operations; Training the armed forces of our key allies in Africa and Eastern Europe or support on the home front to emergency service and the enormous difference that the Armed Forces have made to flooded areas and the people who were affected.
I must say I am incredibly proud of what my younger son has achieved with the Invictus Games and the boost they have given to the morale and self-confidence of so many wounded and injured military personnel. And of course, at the end of the day, Britain won!
Ladies and Gentlemen, we should be endlessly proud of the Intense and specialist care provided by Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Headley Court and all those unsung heroes and heroines there who make such a fantastic difference. I don't know about you but I think we are all unbelievably proud of the continuing support of families who have to endure so much separation and anxiety.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, these awards have allowed us to recognise what so often goes unknown and give us all a chance to offer our profound gratitude to those who serve this country so outstandingly well.
I must say I am incredibly proud of what my younger son has achieved with the Invictus Games and the boost they have given to the morale and self-confidence of so many wounded and injured military personnel. And of course, at the end of the day, Britain won!
