In what ways will the Military provide support?

[SuperlativeScrubs]

There is a lot of scare mongering going on on facebook right now, people saying they will be on the streets with the police enforcing lock-downs and isolation, they they have already seen them driving and walking around, which I know is complete BS.

Does anyone know, so we can alleviate these fears, what ways will the Military are likely to do to help?

They'll hopefully prevent antisocial behaviour and unrest. I know we've all seen the movies where the army Go Bad but I am ex forces and feel reassured that we still have a force who can be utilised to help keep us functioning at this time. Sadly we don't have enough police thanks to the vicious cuts so this is how it has to be.

Deliver food parcels etc.

They will clear the roads to keep emergency services moving as that’s a priority right now

Keeping people off the streets, supporting law and order, civic unrest. Help with deliveries if too many off.
Dh friend another musician who has lost everything walked into Asda and got a delivery job in 10 mins, they're desperate.

They would stop the arseholes who would rebel against a lockdown.

Antisocial behaviour and unrest are far down the line at this stage. Anyone who thinks the army will be called out to shoot people is a hysterical idiot.

The army take over food deliveries to supermarkets if supermarket drivers get sick. This is routine civil defence planning and it isn't anything to be alarmed about (family member used to work for a supermarket). They will also help people get to hospital if there aren't enough ambulances and take over firefighting like they did in the last firefighters strike. Army medics and nurses might help out as well. There is a huge skillset within the army - engineers, medical staff, logistics, you name it. They can and will do what's needed to keep society ticking over.

They have been brought in to assist the labs with the increased testing going forward

Here’s a first hand witness story. I witnessed a pedestrian crossing the road in front of a blue light high speed ambulance a month ago. The paramedic was trying to save that person and in the process the ambulance hit the curb and turned over. The pedestrian flew up in the air and hit the road and stopped moving. Ambulances were called. Very narrow roads. Traffic everywhere and the ambulances couldn’t move. I suspect that time was crucial in saving the lives or dying. The roads needs to be clear otherwise emergency services cannot move.

The medical staff in the military generally work in NHS hospitals already unless they are deployed. There are no military hospitals left in the UK.

I wonder if we can make ventilators out of Trident ?

I think the current food situation will get worst, there will be shortages and limits, and supermarkets won't be able to cope with the demands and pressure put on them. Staff will have to take time off sick. Somehow the army might have to manage better food distribution. The current situation of huge queues and elderly people not having easy access to food is crazy.

@PlomBear

They are returning from deployment.

There are no military hospitals left in the UK.

Which is probably the best thing ever for the soldiers ... they get treated in general wards that are as up to date as possible with all the latest techniques, rather than being stuck in military hospital where the staff are years out of touch with developments.

You get a lot of military personnel in the QE in Brum, so get chatting a lot.

Kneecap the knobs who sell goods on at a profit.

They can set up field hospitals, provide medical staff, fly people home if they are stuck abroad, provide military police and guard force, help public services continue to work, provide administration, support staff, logistics and equipment, humanitarian need and so on....

Just look at any of the navy/army/RAF career websites and it will tell you what they provide how capable they are. They step in when public services go on strike such as the firefight strikes and ambulance strikes etc.

I don’t think ships and submarines are returning are they? Not sure there is room for them all!

@PlomBear ships and submarines would be the navy not the army.

And Prisons.
I'm worried it will be bad too.
My ex was mil it's surprising what they are trained fof.

SuckingDieselFella - yes I realise that, DH is military. This thread does say military not just army.

Thank you very much for sharing. I had a fair idea of what they would do but it is nice to get a bit more insight into it. For example I had no idea the military stepped in to cover firefighting services or food distribution but it makes perfect sense!

Green goddess! Have a Google they even have their own fire engines

For example I had no idea the military stepped in to cover firefighting

Showing my age, but "Green Goddess" anyone

Current plans show
Backfilling public sector roles such as fire fighting, ambulance crew and walking the beat.
Engineering and logistical support
Security
Setting up emergency mortuaries
Field hospitals
Transport of essential people and equipment
Maritime security of fishing waters and fleet
Border control

DGRossetti I remember the Green Goddesses