Letter from the desert
Posted: Fri 06 Oct, 2006 6:36 am
Finally got a few minutes to meself and having appeased the missus and family with a few e-mails thought I'd stick me head in. Pretty certain I'm not giving away any state secrets, but mods feel free to edit if required.
We've been in Bastion just over two weeks, and just about settled in and taken over from the Para battlegroup. This 5-star resort is situated on one of the world's largest water-less beaches, boasts air conditioned tented accomodation and better scran than the galley back home. Whilst swimming pools are sadly lacking, the sunbathing is excellent and entertainment comes in the form of trying not to get killed
Just joking; this is meant to be one of the most secure locations in Afghan and as yet that seems to be the case. Excellent visibility in all directions means it's nigh on impossible for anyone to get close, unlike Kandahar which is taking incoming on almost a daily basis. The main risk to the camp itself is from vehicle borne IEDs, and guess whose job it is to hold, search and escort the local 'jingly' wagons that supply us? Yours truly Got pinged for it due to doing that language course before leave so myself and a couple of other lads can communicate with the drivers better than the TA lads who are running the rest of the camp security.
Our squadron had it's first contact two days ago, in the Sangin valley, an IED detonating 50m behind it - the ECM bubble obviously works anyhow, stopping the bomb detonating til the wagons were out of range. Engaged two minutes later with long range small arms fire, but return fire and foot-down led to safety quickly. No-one hurt, in fact the wagons didn't take a single round.
Temporary 'gentleman's agreement' ceasefires have been negotiated between local commanders and village elders in two hotspots, although obviously they're rather fragile to say the least.
All in all, the camp's a lot better than we were lead to believe, and is still under massive construction; the rip seems to have gone pretty smoothly, with ourselves, 42 and 45 fully taking over now in the area. Everyone's keen to get into the swing of things and out on the ground, and things are looking hopeful in that respect. Wartime RoE are in force in areas of the province where it's deemed all civilians have left the area and anyone with a weapon can be deemed hostile, whilst other areas which still have a semblence of normality are under peacekeeping RoE.
Met Shrek briefly as he passed through on his way to one of the FOBs, he does live up to his name
No offence mate 
Some of you will know about the nod troop that went through Lympstone recently and was filmed all the way through; apparently they're being flown out here as a troop to be attached to 45, complete with film crews. Could be interesting. Has any of that footage made it out on TV yet? When it does, if anyone's taping it, I'd like to get hold of a copy just to see what they show and what they don't!
Got to run anyhow, will try and stick me head in every now and then.
We've been in Bastion just over two weeks, and just about settled in and taken over from the Para battlegroup. This 5-star resort is situated on one of the world's largest water-less beaches, boasts air conditioned tented accomodation and better scran than the galley back home. Whilst swimming pools are sadly lacking, the sunbathing is excellent and entertainment comes in the form of trying not to get killed
Just joking; this is meant to be one of the most secure locations in Afghan and as yet that seems to be the case. Excellent visibility in all directions means it's nigh on impossible for anyone to get close, unlike Kandahar which is taking incoming on almost a daily basis. The main risk to the camp itself is from vehicle borne IEDs, and guess whose job it is to hold, search and escort the local 'jingly' wagons that supply us? Yours truly
Got pinged for it due to doing that language course before leave so myself and a couple of other lads can communicate with the drivers better than the TA lads who are running the rest of the camp security.Our squadron had it's first contact two days ago, in the Sangin valley, an IED detonating 50m behind it - the ECM bubble obviously works anyhow, stopping the bomb detonating til the wagons were out of range. Engaged two minutes later with long range small arms fire, but return fire and foot-down led to safety quickly. No-one hurt, in fact the wagons didn't take a single round.
Temporary 'gentleman's agreement' ceasefires have been negotiated between local commanders and village elders in two hotspots, although obviously they're rather fragile to say the least.
All in all, the camp's a lot better than we were lead to believe, and is still under massive construction; the rip seems to have gone pretty smoothly, with ourselves, 42 and 45 fully taking over now in the area. Everyone's keen to get into the swing of things and out on the ground, and things are looking hopeful in that respect. Wartime RoE are in force in areas of the province where it's deemed all civilians have left the area and anyone with a weapon can be deemed hostile, whilst other areas which still have a semblence of normality are under peacekeeping RoE.
Met Shrek briefly as he passed through on his way to one of the FOBs, he does live up to his name
No offence mate Some of you will know about the nod troop that went through Lympstone recently and was filmed all the way through; apparently they're being flown out here as a troop to be attached to 45, complete with film crews. Could be interesting. Has any of that footage made it out on TV yet? When it does, if anyone's taping it, I'd like to get hold of a copy just to see what they show and what they don't!
Got to run anyhow, will try and stick me head in every now and then.
Many thanks to you all, the old and bold know how far a little morale goes so far away from home.