But his efforts have been repeatedly stonewalled, with British government officials refusing to provide any details on the grounds of national security. RAF Menwith Hill: 01638 544138: RAF Mildenhall: 01638 545704 01638 544138 01638 543071 01638 543074: Stavanger: 01638 543074: Support Team : 01638 543540: Allowances: 01638 546101 01638 543065: Local National Direct Hire (LNDH) EMAIL APPLICATIONS TO: 01638 545036 01638 542677 01638 542292 01638 543662 100fss.fsmc3@mildenhall.af.mil: RAF Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Snowden Documents Reveal NSA's Quiet Presence at Base in England "It seems likely that its name is in fact ECHELON." - Assisting in establishing utility services This RAF Menwith Hill directory features the critical info youll need to navigate through the many facilities and recreational opportunities available on base. For this reason, according to the NSAs documents, in the mid-1990s the U.S. intelligence community was convinced that satellite communications would soon become obsolete, to be fully replaced by fiber-optic cable networks. A number of other individual protests have also taken place, predominantly related to nuclear proliferation and strategic missile defense. The United States Army Security Agency established a high frequency radio monitoring capability, monitoring communications emanating from the Soviet Union, operating from 1958. The first service on site included a high frequency monitoring system, dealing with intercepting the signals throughout the Soviet Union. Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? But the site also houses a self-contained community, accessible only to those with security clearance. And were not being informed. The location of the target who was known by several names, including Abu Sumayah was traced to within a few hundred meters based on intercepts of his communications. This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army. Between 2009 and 2012, Menwith Hill spent more than $40 million ona massive new 95,000-square-foot operations building nearly twice the size of an average American football field. The American Air Force unit hosted on site is the 421-st Air Base Group. He said: "The UKs providing a facility here thats involved in drone attacks that we know, from independent assessments, are killing and injuring thousands of civilians, and because of the covert nature of that warfare, its very difficult to provide information and accountability through the UK parliament. Most of the worlds international phone calls, internet traffic, emails, and other communications are sent over a network of undersea cables that connect countries like giant arteries. Before purchasing your insurance, please consult the MHO for more information about coverage. This visit is necessary to obtain housing, verify your eligibility for Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), and receive counseling and guidance before entering into any written lease or rental/sales contract for housing. RAF Menwith Hill to Harrogate - 2 ways to travel via taxi - Rome2rio Royal Air Force Menwith Hill or more simply RAF Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It was equipped with large high frequency (HF) directional rhombic antennas that could detect signals from around the globe. They confirmed that Menwith Hill was "linked directly to the headquarters of the US National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade in Maryland. Where can I find an application for housing? The Committee raised concerns about the incompatibility of the interception of private and commercial communications with the fundamental right to respect for private life (Article 8 of the ECHR). In OCONUS, if you choose to use realtor services, discuss fees up front, as some realtors charge a finder's fee and government reimbursement is rarely authorized. Travel within United Kingdom is: Unrestricted . The Menwith Hill . [26][27], Extension of the site means that it now covers 605 acres (245ha). RAF Menwith Hill is a co-base run by the United States of America and the United Kingdom. There are only 10 RAF personnel at Menwith Hill but there are around 1,000 US military and civilian personnel. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Prince Charles alongside Sqn Ldr Geoff Dickson (left) and director general of technology at GCHQ Gav Smith. Sun. Most of the protests targeted the missile defense strategies. RAF Menwith Hill was established in 1954 to act as a "communication intercept and intelligence support service" for both the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the documents. In another case in 2007, GHOSTHUNTER was used to identify an alleged al Qaeda weapons procurer in Iraq named Abu Sayf. Use the resources provided to become familiar with the housing options and support services available to you. The main mission on base is to monitor communications and provide intelligence support service to the UK and the US. [19] Actions continue into 2006. The technology was cheaper than satellites and could transmit data across the world much faster than ever before, at almost the speed of light. What housing allowances am I eligible for? [17], According to an article in a 2003 issue of an internal NSA newsletter, "Menwith is a large site (several hundred NSA civilians)". [17], The US Air Force's 6951st Electronic Security Squadron was formed at Menwith HIll on 1 May 1991. At spy outposts across the world, the NSA and its partners tap into these cables to monitor the data flowing throughthem. But they have also aided covert missions in countries where the U.S. has not declared war. Surveillance tools such as the GHOSTHUNTER system were developed to directly aid military operations, pinpointing the locations of targeted people or groups so that they could then be captured or killed. [7] The site was considered by the US as suitable for gathering signals intelligence from the northern parts of Western Europe and Eastern Europe, specifically the Soviet Union and its associated Warsaw Pact countries. The intercepted communications were funneled into a variety of different repositories storing phone calls, text messages, emails, internet browsing histories, and other data. [24], During the 2009 G-20 London Summit NSA intercept specialists based at Menwith Hill attempted to target and decode the encrypted telephone calls of the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. In 2000, the group added a second company and was re-designated as the 109th Military Intelligence Group. But on the horizon, massive white golf ball-like domes protrude from the earth, protected behind a perimeter fence that is topped with piercing razor wire. [3] In 2014, the number of American personnel was reduced as part of a streamlining of operations due to improvements in technology. Richard Kolko, a spokesperson for the DNI, said in a statement: The men and women serving the intelligence community safeguard U.S. national security by collecting information, conducting analysis, and providing intelligence for informed decision making under a strict set of laws, policies and guidelines. Find all the transport options for your trip from RAF Menwith Hill to Harrogate right here. The squadron is part of the 423rd Air Base Group which in turn is part of the 501st Combat Support Wing, both of which have their headquarters at RAF Alconbury in Cambridgeshire. The MHO can assist you by: [2], RAF Menwith Hill is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), but made available to the US Department of Defense (DoD) under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951 and other, undisclosed agreements between the US and British governments. Read about our approach to external linking. Civilian Personnel Office - 100th Force Support Squadron - RAF Mildenhall But the British government has publicly asserted as recently as 2014 that operations at the base have always been, and continue to be carried out with its knowledge and consent. Moreover, roughly 600 of the personnel at the facility are from U.K. agencies, including employees of the NSAs British counterpart Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ. - Providing translation services to establish appointmentsto view available units In CONUS, fees for realtor services are not reimbursable. The 421st Air Base Group provides the majority of support services but the base is commanded by an officer of the RAF. [15] Protests also occurred at other US military locations in the UK such as Greenham Common. The NSA National Security Agency decided to take over the base. Welcome Letter, Where can I find an application for housing? What should I do to start planning my move to an overseas location? [13], In 1976, 21 years after the initial tenure arrangements were agreed with the US, the British Government renewed assurances that the site would continue to be available for a further 21 years. Find BAH, PCS, TLA, & ETS Military Housing near Hill AFB. Transfer to the National Security Agency (1966 1996), US Army Intelligence and Security Command, Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System, United States Air Force in the United Kingdom, "Unknown territory: America's secret archipelago of UK bases", "Technology led to decision to cut Menwith Hill personnel", "Interception Of Communications - Hansard", "Menwith Hill Station (Hansard, 12 July 1995)", "RAF Menwith Hill (Hansard, 13 May 1996)", "BT condemned for listing cables to US sigint station", "Spanning the GlobeMisawa to Menwith Hill: Part 1", "Lifting the Lid on Menwith Hill: The Strategic Roles & Economic Impact of the US Spy Base in Yorkshire", "Menwith Hill eavesdropping base undergoes massive expansion", "GCHQ intercepted foreign politicians' communications at G20 summit", "Spy base 'golf ball' radar shelters approved", "Report on Planning Application 19/02389/FUL", "Spy base plans for extra radar antenna shelters", "RAF Menwith Hill:Written question - 112002", "The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites) Order 2005", "Report on the existence of a global system for the interception of private and commercial communications (ECHELON interception system)", "Menwith Hill - The Campaign of Opposition", "From Greenham to Menwith: The women's peace campaign at Menwith Hill", "Menwith Hill protests continue for second day", "Why has the US base at Menwith Hill created such a political storm? For information about the housing allowances that financially support your move, see Referral and Relocation Assistance. Situated right at the hub of Britain's world-beating telecommunications system, Menwith Hill is one of the secret treasures of American heritage. An environmental screening statement submitted as part of the planning application to Harrogate Borough Council says: "Due to the classified nature of the operations at the base, security is a prominent concern. RAF Menwith Hill - Air Force Housing And for the last 16 years, its members have held a small demonstration every Tuesday outside the bases main entrance, greeting NSA employees with flags and colorful homemade banners bearing slogans critical of U.S. foreign policy and drone strikes. Housing Early Assistance Tool (HEAT)creates an easy on-line experience to connect you, the Service Member, with your future destination and offers an on-line venue to obtain housing assistance prior to a PCS transfer. [11] The first two radomes, designed to protect satellite receiver and transmission dishes (colloquially known as 'golf balls' and now synonymous with the station) were installed in 1974, at which point around 800 personnel were believed to work there. The other two sites are located in America and Australia, having similar roles and working together with RAF Menwith Hill to develop knowledge around American, British and Australian interests. Units - AF Security regulation for US and UK military operations have "tightened considerably," the MoD says. Homes in the UK are generally smaller than homes in the US and staircases are usually much narrower. RAF Menwith Hill Air Force Harrogate, United Kingdom Read about our approach to external linking. Rome2rio makes travelling from RAF Menwith Hill to Harrogate easy. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? [7], Operationally, Menwith Hill was assigned to the USASA Headquarters in Frankfurt, West Germany, whereas for logistical support it was attached to the US Air Force's Third Air Force, which at the time had its headquarters in the UK. Jemima Stratford QC, a leading British human rights lawyer, told The Intercept that there were serious questions to be asked and serious arguments to be made about the legality of the lethal operations aided from Menwith Hill. Units > RAF Menwith Hill - Air Force Housing > Home Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. [39], In 1996 author and investigative journalist, Nicky Hager in his book entitled Secret Power: New Zealand's Role in the International Spy Network, provided a detailed account of ECHELON, the worldwide electronic surveillance system used by an intelligence alliance of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. With all these, the European Parliament decided it is legit and actually useful for the overall safety measures in the area. [40], On 3 November 1999, the BBC reported that they had confirmation from the Australian Government of the existence of a powerful "global spying network" codenamed Echelon, that can eavesdrop on every single phone call, fax or e-mail, anywhere on the planet" with Britain and the United States as the chief protagonists. The site is one of three main sites operated by the United States across the globe as a major satellite monitoring station and intelligence gathering location. Where will my children go to school at my new location? AHRN.com | Connecting the military community with housing Find military housing by Hill AFB, apartments and homes for rent, and houses for sale with AHRN.com. The revelations are yet another example of the unacceptable level of secrecy that surrounds U.K. involvement in the U.S. targeted killing program, Kat Craig, legal director of London-based human rights group Reprieve, told The Intercept. The base "does not attract the kind of press attention lavished on RAF Menwith Hill to the north and long may that continue," one NSA employee wrote in a March 2005 article for SIDtoday . Rome2rio makes travelling from Hatton Cross Underground Station to RAF Menwith Hill easy. Planning application documents say it does not meet the security standards required by the US and UK armed forces. The commercial satellite communication business is alive and well and bursting at the seams with increasingly sophisticated bulk DNI (Digital Network Intelligence) traffic that is largely unencrypted, the NSA reported in a 2006 document. The whole system started working after 1958 only. It was later re-designated as the 451st Intelligence Squadron on 1 October 1993. How do I begin out-processing from housing? When you arrive in the UK your sponsor should show you around the area and help you find local realtor services. Its role was to intercept communications flowing across commercial satellite uplinks, according to NSA documents. The outpost was built in the 1950s as part of a deal made by the British and American governments to house U.S. personnel and surveillance equipment. Once known only by the code name Field Station 8613, the secret base now called Menwith Hill Station is located about nine miles west of the small town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson told the military newspaper Stars and Stripes that the decision was based on technological advances, which he declined to discuss, though he mentioned improvements in server capacity to the hardware that were using; were doing more with less., The documents provided by Snowden shine light on some of the specific technological changes. [11], In 1999 he wrote a report on COMINT entitled Interception Capabilities 2000 for the European Parliament. PDF WELCOME ABOARD! - Headquarters Marine Corps The 70s saw a new round of updates. Although nominally an RAF. [36] Duncan Campbell presented a report commissioned by STOA concerning the ECHELON system, at a "hearing of the Committee on Citizens Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs on the subject the European Union and data protection" which prompted the European Union to set up the Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System. They confirmed that Menwith Hill was "linked directly to the headquarters of the US National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade in Maryland. INSCOM transformed A Company, 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion into the 713th Military Intelligence Group. It is located in the central part of the kingdom, in North Yorkshire. Why cant we collect all the signals, all the time? he said, according to NSA documents. The MHO monitors off-base rental listings to ensure that they are safe and adequate. Store Phone: 01423 777759/777758. Most notably, they show that there has been significant investment in introducing new and more sophisticated mass surveillance systems at Menwith Hill in recent years. Menwith Hill Tours - Setec ", "Keighley grandmothers arrested over spy base protest", "Veteran peace protester sent to jail despite prisons crisis", "Protest camp looks to raise awareness of Menwith Hill", "Menwith Hill Station: A Case Study in Signal Intelligence Gathering During the Cold War", "The Billion Dollar Phone Tap America's Big Ear in the Heart of Yorkshire", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RAF_Menwith_Hill&oldid=1143070985, This page was last edited on 5 March 2023, at 19:52. Menwith Hill has many of the services offered on larger military bases. According to top-secret documents obtained by The. "[7], During the 2009 G-20 London Summit NSA intercept specialists based at Menwith Hill attempted to target and decode the encrypted telephone calls of the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. The narrow roads are quiet and winding, surrounded by rolling green fields and few visible signs of life beyond the occasional herd of sheep. The site was improved with a huge satellite dish for communications. Drive 37 min. The site was then one of the earliest to receive sophisticated early IBM computers, with which NSA automated the labour-intensive watch-list scrutiny of intercepted but unenciphered telex messages. In a single 12-hour period in May 2011, for instance, its surveillance systems logged more than 335 million metadata records, which reveal information such as the sender and recipient of an email, or the phone numbers someone called and at what time. Most visible from the outside are a cluster of about 30 of the giant white domes. Menwith Hill: Spying and Killing for the US? | Stop the War [25], The 451st Intelligence Squadron, was inactivated on 24 June 2015. This mission protects our nation and others around the world.. Find the travel option that best suits you. Craig, the legal director at Reprieve, reviewed the Menwith Hill documents and said that they indicated British complicity in covert U.S. drone attacks. Successive U.K. governments have publicly stated that all activities at the base are carried out with the full knowledge and consent of British officials. Targeted Killing, Elegant Chaos: collect it all, exploit it all, Elegant Chaos: collect it all, exploit it all (plus notes), UK special forces Reaper drone (Jan-Feb-2012), Afghanistan 30 enemy killed (Jan-Feb 2012), Project Sandstorm wifi geolocation (Jan 2011), Yemen backhaul comms collected (Jan 2011), New ops building at Menwith completed, fit up begins, New technique geolocates targets active at Yemeni cafes, Work is progressing on Menwith Hill Stations new operations building, Ghosthunter and the geolocating of internet cafes, Traffic series: is your collection surveyed or sustained, APPARITION becomes a reality new corporate VSAT geolocation capability sees its first deployment, Menwith continues successful counterterrorism survey along Af-Pak border, SIGINT target package leads to USMC capture of al Qaeda weapons procurer, Menwith initiatives maximizing our access, GSM tower mapping made easier and more accurate with new tool, New tool combines multi agency databases for complete target snapshot. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brixton (Station) to RAF Menwith Hill right here. Get in Touch. [10] The operations building was located inside a secure compound, within a large antenna field, approximately 1.6 kilometres (0.99mi) from the main site. - Providing furnishings support. [53] Protesters said they hoped the camp would "reignite the debate locally, nationally and globally about whether the subversive and undemocratic nature of activities at the base are acceptable, or indeed accountable, to the British public. The base's operations and location have frequently attracted controversy, with local and national objectors protesting about the nature of work undertaken at the site, as well as the presenceof international military personnel. [18], In 1995, the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) became the executive agent for Menwith Hill on behalf of the National Security Agency. See Furnishings Management for a list of the Duration of Tour Items available. Our programs include activities as diverse and challenging as membership clubs, bowling centers, family care facilities (youth, infant, and child), lodging . Civilian Personnel - RAF Mildenhall Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, United States Air Force in the United Kingdom, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6916262.stm, "Lifting the Lid on Menwith Hill: The Strategic Roles & Economic Impact of the US Spy Base in Yorkshire", http://www.natowatch.org/sites/default/files/liftingthelid.pdf, "Menwith Hill eavesdropping base undergoes massive expansion", http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/01/menwith-hill-eavesdropping-base-expansion, "Occupy 'spy base': UK activists cry espionage over US surveillance center", http://rt.com/news/protesters-occupy-menwith-base-429/, "GCHQ intercepted foreign politicians' communications at G20 summit", http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/16/gchq-intercepted-communications-g20-summits, http://www.duncancampbell.org/menu/journalism/newstatesman/newstatesman-1988/They%27ve%20got%20it%20taped.pdf.+Retrieved, "Report on the existence of a global system for the interception of private and commercial communications (ECHELON interception system)", http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A5-2001-0264+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN, http://www.cyber-rights.org/interception/stoa/interception_capabilities_2000.htm.+Retrieved, http://www.nickyhager.info/secret-power-new-zealands-role-in-the-international-spy-network/, "Menwith Hill - The Campaign of Opposition", "From Greenham to Menwith: The women's peace campaign at Menwith Hill", http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2003/09/from_greenham_to_menwith_the_womens_peace_campaign_at_menwith_hill, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1422426.stm, "Menwith Hill protests continue for second day", http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/jul/04/3, "Why has the US base at Menwith Hill created such a political storm? DSN: 262-7759/7758. The government housing team will provide you the latest information on the local housing situation as well as local laws governing off-base housing. A few days later, a special operations unit named Task Force-16 stormed two properties, where they detained Sayf, his father, two brothers, and five associates. Over the past decade, the documents show, the NSA has pioneered groundbreaking new spying programs at Menwith Hill to pinpoint the locations of suspected terrorists accessing the internet in remote parts of the world. In 1992, the detachment became A Company of the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade. Hamilton told The Interceptthat he found the secrecy shrouding Menwith Hill to be offensive. The revelations about the role it has played in U.S. killing and capture operations, he said, showed there needed to be a full review of its operations. These cables were capable of transmitting over 100,000 phone calls simultaneously. Regular protests are held at the station by groups against activities on the base and the presence of international military personnel, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. MENWITH HILL is ostensibly an RAF base. RAF Menwith Hill Stavanger 423d ABG Helpful Agencies 501st CSW Wing Staff Agency The 501st CSW WSA are comprised of 17 different agencies, located at RAF Alconbury and Croughton, that provide a wide range of mission support from finance to chapel services which facilitate operations and assist Airmen and their families across the wing.
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