Friday 3rd October
It’s been busy the last few days as we are now well into our hand-over with the outgoing gun troop. We’ve also been working on the guns and moving ammunition during Fire Missions to support our Fire Support Teams (FSTs) on the ground within the North Western Area of Operations. The rounds (shells) fired from the guns were gratefully appreciated by the troops on the ground. You could actually hear the firing from the area of the contact (firefight) about 10 km away as well as the FST signaller on the radio sending down the target location and all the relevant information required enabling us to fire at the enemy forces that had attacked the troops out on patrol.
Our other efforts at this time remain with documenting all the equipment and stores that will be needed when the rest of my troop arrives. As soon as they arrive we will need to be ready to support anyone who might need the guns of D Troop 8 (Alma) Commando Battery Royal Artillery.
Sunday 5th October
It’s been a lonely weekend so far as I’ve had a lot of time to think about my family back home in Plymouth, which always causes me to feel really homesick. This is why I like to keep as busy as possible as it helps to pass the time that little bit quicker. You are always going to get those quiet moments on a tour of this length. I’ve been deploying on operations or long exercises with my Regiment since joining 15 years ago and you’d expect it to get easier every time you went away. I think that this, unfortunately, is never true as it’s always hard to leave your family for such long periods, even more so when in such a hostile environment as Afghanistan.
Wednesday 8th October
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME” … yep 33 years young today! It’s now a chance to open all those cards that I have had sitting in my bag since I arrived in Afghanistan. It was a big morale boost to be able to read the cards that Sophie, Emily and Amy had written. Most of all, the words that my wife Sandra had put in her card brought a very big smile to my face. I just wish I was able to enjoy this day with them but I shall use the phone later to thank them all.
Today was an interesting day as we got to fire the guns in support of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) today as they were on patrol in a nearby town. It was only a smoke screening mission but it allowed the ANA on the ground to move safely through a known hostile area. Part of the commitment to the ongoing deployment of British troops in Afghanistan is to also assist in the training and development of their own military and security forces so that eventually we can withdraw and allow them to provide the security and legal system that is required to develop this fragile country. Over the last couple of years since this assistance started we have already seen a big improvement in the ANA’s ability to operate as professional soldiers.
Friday 10th October
Things have been relatively quiet the last few days. With the handover now complete we are just waiting for the arrival of the rest of the Troop so that we can assume full command of the gun position. However, the massive transport commitment needed to successfully carry out the OP HERRICK 9 relief in place means that some delays are inevitable. We have to get all the incoming troops of 3 Commando Brigade out to the forward locations as fast as possible and all those from 16 Air Assault Brigade back home to their families. There is always some waiting around but with all this free time it allows me to do some good Physical Training (running etc.) and some paper work. You can always rely on your administrative chain to continually pass work onto you, wherever you may be!
Sunday 12th October
Well today was planned as the first day for the whole of D Troop to be in location at FOB Edinburgh, however due to some intense fighting throughout the night in other parts of the province all aircraft were redirected to assist in the movement of soldiers to counter these attacks by the Taliban. This increased demand for helicopters in other areas meant that our Troop could not fly into the FOB today and those from F (Sphinx) PARA Bty, 7 (PARA) RHA could not fly out.
The sheer number of personnel involved on OP HERRICK 9 means that the number of aircraft available for our troop movement is sometimes less than was expected and you soon get used to sudden delays and cancellations. Well now it’s time to get on with some work, and hopefully the good news about available seats on helicopters and the date when our Troop will join us should come through later on today.
Thursday 23 October 2008
Monday 20 October 2008
'Death by powerpoint' and training in Afghanistan
Saturday 27th
After a long 24 hours of travelling I have arrived in Afghanistan and now started my continuation training and a series of briefings. It is designed to bring us up to speed with all the current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as well as the threat levels in Helmand province, south Afghanistan. In my opinion this introduction was a prolonged 7 hours of what we call “death by power point” but it kept my interest due to the importance of what was being discussed.
Sunday 28th
The arrival package consisted firstly of re-zero our personal weapons. We conducted this today on a very warm firing range with temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius! When you are continuously working in that kind of heat you begin to realize how harsh the conditions are out here. Thankfully the temperatures for us will be considerably cooler as we pass into the winter months but these themselves will bring their own problems. This will include very heavy rains which will turn the soft and dusty sand into deep sodden mud.
Since my last deployment to Helmand the threat has changed considerably, on Herrick 5 we faced an enemy that wasn’t afraid to take you on in a conventional fire fight. The Taliban have now changed their tactics to counter our superior fire power and the number of troops we are able to deploy onto the ground. Unfortunately the new tactics that the Taliban have adopted can be deadly and effective. They are using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which are cheap, easily constructed and made from materials which are available in abundance within Afghanistan. Thankfully with the correct training and drills these devices can be detected and avoided. As I mentioned last week, we are now issued with some of the best equipment and this equipment saves lives on a daily basis in the badlands of the Helmand province.
Wednesday 1st October
Today, myself and the other two members of my troop Troop Commander Capt Adrian Ford and Gun Line Section Commander Staff Sergeant Matt Williamson deployed to our troop location to start the “hand over take over” from F Bty 7 Para RHA. We arrived on a helicopter flight from Camp Bastion to a warm welcome from our outgoing colleagues. You can imagine after a long 6 months out here that they were glad to see those who will be replacing them. The next few weeks will allow us to take over the equipment used by the Gun Troop in the FOB (Forward Operating Base) before the rest of the troops arrive.
When we arrived at the FOB we firstly received an up to date intelligence brief as well as a security brief covering our local area. We are located in an important supply hub that supplies the patrols and other satellite stations in the area. The guns I work with will be supporting the FST’s (Fire support teams) who our attached to the Gurkha’s, a fearsome fighting unit who originate from the mountains of Nepal. The Fire Support Teams are also from 29 Commando Regiment and their role is to control any indirect fire assets ranging from artillery fire to calling in air support.
It’s been nearly a week now since I left Sandra and my girls but with the welfare system in place I have been able to use the phone and email since arriving in Afghanistan. We get 30 minutes a week to use on the phone and we are also able to send text messages via a satellite text link system if it is available to you. After only a week I am missing them all terribly and so keeping a busy work routine will be my main priority to help pass the time whilst I’m over here for the next 6 months.
After a long 24 hours of travelling I have arrived in Afghanistan and now started my continuation training and a series of briefings. It is designed to bring us up to speed with all the current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as well as the threat levels in Helmand province, south Afghanistan. In my opinion this introduction was a prolonged 7 hours of what we call “death by power point” but it kept my interest due to the importance of what was being discussed.
Sunday 28th
The arrival package consisted firstly of re-zero our personal weapons. We conducted this today on a very warm firing range with temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius! When you are continuously working in that kind of heat you begin to realize how harsh the conditions are out here. Thankfully the temperatures for us will be considerably cooler as we pass into the winter months but these themselves will bring their own problems. This will include very heavy rains which will turn the soft and dusty sand into deep sodden mud.
Since my last deployment to Helmand the threat has changed considerably, on Herrick 5 we faced an enemy that wasn’t afraid to take you on in a conventional fire fight. The Taliban have now changed their tactics to counter our superior fire power and the number of troops we are able to deploy onto the ground. Unfortunately the new tactics that the Taliban have adopted can be deadly and effective. They are using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which are cheap, easily constructed and made from materials which are available in abundance within Afghanistan. Thankfully with the correct training and drills these devices can be detected and avoided. As I mentioned last week, we are now issued with some of the best equipment and this equipment saves lives on a daily basis in the badlands of the Helmand province.
Wednesday 1st October
Today, myself and the other two members of my troop Troop Commander Capt Adrian Ford and Gun Line Section Commander Staff Sergeant Matt Williamson deployed to our troop location to start the “hand over take over” from F Bty 7 Para RHA. We arrived on a helicopter flight from Camp Bastion to a warm welcome from our outgoing colleagues. You can imagine after a long 6 months out here that they were glad to see those who will be replacing them. The next few weeks will allow us to take over the equipment used by the Gun Troop in the FOB (Forward Operating Base) before the rest of the troops arrive.
When we arrived at the FOB we firstly received an up to date intelligence brief as well as a security brief covering our local area. We are located in an important supply hub that supplies the patrols and other satellite stations in the area. The guns I work with will be supporting the FST’s (Fire support teams) who our attached to the Gurkha’s, a fearsome fighting unit who originate from the mountains of Nepal. The Fire Support Teams are also from 29 Commando Regiment and their role is to control any indirect fire assets ranging from artillery fire to calling in air support.
It’s been nearly a week now since I left Sandra and my girls but with the welfare system in place I have been able to use the phone and email since arriving in Afghanistan. We get 30 minutes a week to use on the phone and we are also able to send text messages via a satellite text link system if it is available to you. After only a week I am missing them all terribly and so keeping a busy work routine will be my main priority to help pass the time whilst I’m over here for the next 6 months.
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