'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.