‘We won’t win a war like this!’ Tom Harwood erupts over Royal Navy’s woke training exercises

‘We won’t win a war like this!’ Tom Harwood erupts over Royal Navy’s woke training exercises

WATCH: Tom Harwood rants about Royal Navy training exercise names

GB NEWS
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 12/09/2024

- 14:13

The Royal Navy are reportedly changing the names of some training programmes

GB News presenter Tom Harwood has criticised the Royal Navy's decision to rename several training exercises, calling the changes unnecessary and potentially harmful to military preparation.

Speaking on the programme, Harwood expressed his disappointment: "When I heard that the Royal Navy would be changing names, I expected them to be genuinely, like, outdated or bad. I expected perhaps there to be racial connotations, but. No, it's just a bit of sexual innuendo."


He added: "You're in the Navy. I mean, isn't it the entire purpose of being in the armed forces that you do violent entry?"

The Royal Navy's decision affects exercises at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon.

According to GB News, the ultra-tough course "Direct Action" is now called "Dragon Warrior", while "Violent Entry" has been renamed "Green Salamander".

The exercise formerly known as "Final Thrust" is now "Commando Forge".

A former instructor at the Lympstone base told The Sun: "The woke police have nailed us — and it's ridiculous. We're preparing young men and women to go to war and what we do is violent and aggressive."

The Free Speech Union described the renaming as "typical of the woke double-think that has infected our Armed Forces".

Tom Harwood and Emily Carver

Tom Harwood and Emily Carver were left baffled by the changes

GB NEWS

In response to the criticism, a Royal Navy spokesman said: "All aspects of training exercises are regularly adapted and updated, including to align with standard naming protocols."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The changes are part of a broader trend across UK Armed Forces to adopt more inclusive language.

A Royal Navy bomb disposal team investigate George V DockA Royal Navy bomb disposal team investigate George V DockGETTY

Earlier this year, the Royal Navy replaced "seaman" with "seafarer", while the Royal Air Force now uses "aviator" instead of "airman" or "airwoman".

Despite the controversy, the Royal Marines continue to demonstrate operational effectiveness.

Recently, a Strike Team from 40 Commando's Alpha Company participated in Exercise Ssang Yong on the Korean Peninsula, conducting covert raiding, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions alongside US and South Korean forces.

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