I Company Blog

10th October 2011

I company have now finally settled and established a battle rhythm in Afghanistan.!

 The first lead elements departed the UK at the end of August with the Coy 2IC going forward to learn more about our Afghan National Army (ANA) Unit, who we have been working with before our arrival and the Main Body departed mid-September. It is not always a straight forward flight out to theatre, some stop to refuel in Cyprus before bouncing on the BASTION, while others stop at Minhad only to get loaded on to Hercules to complete the journey! Both options result in a journey time of 10-15 hours (RAF dependant!).

On arrival at BASTION we all get a full day to relax, catch up on sleep and to fiddle with kit before starting an intensive 7 day new arrivals training package. Because of the nature of our pre-deployment training, it was one of the first opportunities for us all to be in the same place at once. A lot of the training was a reminder, however procedures are ever evolving, so it was a great confidence boost to be trained in up to date tactics that are working out on the ground. Of course there were mandatory arrival briefs on environmental health and dess policies, but there were lots of hands on serials involving vehicle roll over drills and medical training.

Once the training was complete, the I Company Riflemen who will be working with the ANA, all flew out to their respective Patrol Bases which are all over the Gereshk District of Helmand Province. We completed the handover from D Company 3 MERCIAN, who deployed out to Afghanistan back in March '11, and after a few days our predecessors departed leaving the reigns of advising the ANA in the Nahr-e Saraj North region in the hands of I Company 2 Rifles.

The role of advising is unique and a completely different challenge for those who deployed with the Battalion on OP Herrick 10. Your Riflemen are charged with either ensuring the institutional development of the ANA or providing protection for commanders who are advising and there is a lot of cross-over so we will find ourselves dipping into both fields. Some of the development we will be focussing on, is improving their resupply chain, planning capability and communications when deployed on operations, so there is a lot to get our teeth stuck into and we will be taking on the good work achieved by our predecessors. We have also had attached to us personnel from Int. Corps, REME, Logisitics, REs, RAMC, R Signals and Danish Army who are all very welcome and playing their part in the institutional development of the ANA.

The majority of the Patrol Bases and Check Points that we find ourselves in, are more comfortable than previous tours though clearly couldn't be described as luxury! At best, food is all fresh and at worst, some are on rations which are supplemented by fresh food, all have camp beds to sleep on and we are all sleeping in a mixture of tents or compound rooms. All have access to showers, be it in shower bags or container showers, some of the advisors in one of our more austere locations, are even washing clothes in cement mixers!

The really encouraging news, is that even though we have only been in-country for two weeks, everyone has got stuck into the role, questions and requests are flying in from the advisors to Company Headquarters querying everything from ANA generator maintenance to ANA warm kit for the winter that will be upon us soon.

Clearly not all of I Company who have deployed are working with the ANA, for instance, the Mortar Platoon arrived in theatre this week and will be operating in the same area as us and we will no doubt be able to meet then at some point soon, as our paths cross for reasons of operations and patrols. Snipers and force protection sections have also been deployed from I Company to work around the Nahr-e Saraj North region and, though it would be nice to all be together, it does mean we all keep bumping into friendly faces wherever we go in this region. The Recce Platoon too are detached from the remainder of I Company, though we should get to see them at stages throughout the tour too.

We will aim to keep this blog updated roughly every fortnight, with everyone from the OC to the most junior Riflemen being welcome to take a turn writing and providing photographs. Also, once the Recce Platton, Snipers and Mortars, who are attached to different Companies are settled, they will be contributing to ensure you all get a snapshot of our experiences on OP Herrick 15.