Afghanistan CO's Update 8

CO'S UPDATE
Update No 14 – 14 Jan 08

A Happy New Year to all readers of my Blog. As many of you will already be aware, 2008 has started in much the same vein as 2007 finished, with the Battalion being required to continue its support to operations in Afghanistan through its role as the TRB. The breaking news is that A Company Group (A Company, Fire Support Group 2 (FSG 2) and individuals from HQ Company, including the RMO, medics, signallers and chefs) is about to deploy to Afghanistan in support of operations in Helmand Province. Whilst security requirements prevent me from providing details of the operational role that the Company Group will be undertaking, they are likely to have their own Area of Operations (AO) within which they will be responsible for the provision of security so that the local population can carry on with their normal pattern of life and also so that external investment and development can be conducted. There is no doubt that this will be a demanding deployment, not just because of the operational risks and threats, but also because of the harsh weather conditions that Afghanistan is currently experiencing, which can drop well below freezing overnight whilst only rising up to 5 or 6 degrees Centigrade during the day, with heavy rain and even snow and sleet falling. The dust that we experienced during the summer has now turned into mud and the dry wadi beds have now turned into fast flowing rivers.

The Company Group is due to depart RAF Akrotiri at 1050hrs on Tue 15 Jan. On arrival in Afghanistan, it is highly likely that an advance party will be required to fly forward to the AO in order to take-over the area and provide an enduring presence whilst the remainder of the Company Group should have a couple of days to undertake realistic in-theatre operational training before flying forward to rejoin those who have previously flown forward. The deployment is due to last for 6 weeks and I am expecting that the Company will have returned to Cyprus by St David’s Day on 1 Mar 08, although, as St David’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, we are holding the Battalion celebrations on Thu 28 Feb. Hopefully, all in A Company Group will be able to join us in this celebration.

You will all be aware that D Company has been in Afghanistan since mid Nov 07 in order to provide training for a company from the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) and also in order to provide force protection and mentoring for the Afghan National Police (ANP). The training task for the JAF was completed in late December, at which point those conducting the training joined the remainder of the Company for the ongoing force protection and mentoring tasks for the ANP. The Company has now been relieved of all of their operational tasks and are reforming in Camp Bastian in order to conduct final administration and to hand back stores and equipment before flying to Kandahar Airfield in order to catch their return flight to Cyprus. They are due to land at RAF Akrotiri at 0310hrs on Wed 16 Jan 08 on the same aircraft that A Company Group is to use to fly to Afghanistan. This is 4 hours earlier than originally expected. Once landed, they will move to the Joint Dining Facility in Episkopi in order to be processed through a short administrative process to confirm their return so that their pay and allowances are adjusted and payment of their Operational Bounty is actioned. After this, breakfast will be available and the Company will be required to undertake some administration before being fallen out for the day under Company arrangements.

D Company has performed extremely well in difficult circumstances, with limited resources and with the company split over 4 disparate operational locations, and with the CQMS’ party based in a 5th location. Nevertheless, all members of the Company have simply got on with their tasks and they have been highly successful in doing so, although bringing the ANP up to an acceptable level of policing skills in an environment where they can operate independently is a long term task and there was no expectation that D Company would do anything more than start the process. We look forward to their return and to hear the details of the operation.

welcome back D Coy and good luck A Coy

Welcome back to D Coy and our very best wishes for a successful and safe return to the Composite Company headed up by A Coy.
From all members Aberystwyth branch RWFCA

Hingey

Hello,
Welcome back D coy.Well done.Best wishes to all Bridgend & District branch RWFCA
RBD aks "Don"