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Back to Coldstream News here |
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 The
following newsletter has been received from Number 2 Company, who are currently serving in Afghanistan on Op
Herrick 11.
We hope you enjoy the read and thank Number 2 Company for sending us
the newsletter and hope to receive more very soon. Don't
forget, whilst you read this newsletter of Coldstreamers in
Afghanistan, we also have
Coldstreamers from Number 7 Company who are marching from
Coldstream to Scotland ON FOOT to raise money for the Army
Benevolent Fund, read more here.
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 You
can also download this newsletter by
clicking here.
You will need a PDF reader
installed to read the document |
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NUMBER 2
COMPANY
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR UPDATE
First of all, a Happy New Year to all friends, families and loved
ones! We hope that you have had a fantastic Christmas. Time flies
and with the tempo out here Christmas already seems a long time ago,
but spirits remained high throughout the company, and I am sure
those on R&R over Christmas and the New Year were very well received
back home!
Our thanks to you all for all the support you continue to give us.
Every letter, parcel, bluey and email bring immeasurable morale to
each and every one of us, and we cant thank you enough. What is even
more humbling is the support we receive in terms of welfare parcels
from the general public in general. It is staggering.
All the Multiples have provided an update, as they see it, for
you to read, which you can enjoy below. Those that I have spent
time with have been doing a fantastic job. Professional as ever,
committed, enthusiastic and an absolute privilege to command, you
have every right to be extremely proud of what the company have
achieved so far.
We are already in the planning stage for our handover – who takes
over from has not yet been confirmed, but we are hoping that the
company will be back in the UK by the end of April at the latest.
Have a fantastic 2010!
Major Jeston Na Nakhorn
Company Commander
Number 2 Company
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SILICON
11
Silicon 11 has been a very busy multiple since we arrived in Helmand.
We have operated all over the Lashkar Gah area of operations as well
as in Nad e Ali. Our first patrol took us to four ANP check points
North of Lashkar Gah and gave us a good chance to see the ground we
would be operating on. It was also our first encounter with the
Afghan National Police (ANP).
The ANP dress is (when worn) a blue-grey uniform carrying
Kalashnikovs and a few magazines. Very rarely do you see a member of
the ANP wearing a helmet. Their look is somewhat scruffy and their
body armour is thin as they do not carry armoured plates in it. All
the ANP that Silicon 11 have encountered so far have worked hand in
hand with the Guardsmen whilst on patrol and are keen to impress at
every opportunity.
ANP Check Points are little outposts, some without walls, but are
very defendable with sangers made from sand bags and planks of wood.
Sangars are mostly built on top of roofs and the checkpoints on the
highest points on the ground.
.jpg)
Image above: Lt Rutt conducting an impromptu shura with some NDA
locals.
Within the first week of arriving in Lashkar Gah we took part in our
first deliberate operation, a block and vehicle check point on
Highway 601. Fortunately this proved to be a very quite 24 hours but
served as a good introduction and reality check for the multiple.
After a quite few weeks Silicon 11 were keen to test out our two new
Ridgeback vehicles and were tasked to embed at an ANP checkpoint on
Highway 601. On route to the checkpoint we were channelled North
into unknown territory and whilst moving through a quiet village
were ambushed by small arms fire and RPG’s. The decision was quickly
made to break contact and extract out of the killing area. The
Ridgebacks proved their worth in terms of both protection and speed.
Unfortunately the same level of protection was not afforded to the
tyres and when out of contact the multiple quickly realised that
between the two vehicles they had four flat tyres. While returning
to base both vehicles became bogged in and after five hours of
digging on it was decided that a recovery vehicle was needed. A
cramped and cautious night stagging on followed until the recovery
assets arrived in the morning and all call signs were able to limp
home. A challenging time for all but one during which all the
members of the multiple shone.
.jpg)
Image above: LCpl Jacobs on patrol near Bolan Tank checkpoint.
Silicon 11 is currently based in Nad E Ali where we are mentoring
the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) who have temporary
replaced the ANP while they get retrained. This has proved to be
busy and kinetic time with a number of small arms contacts and the
constant challenge of working and living alongside our Afghan
partners. Morale remains high within the multiple and we are looking
forward to finishing our current task and returning to Lashkar Gah
to continue partnering the ANP.
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PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS
IN AFGHANISTAN
CLICK HERE
TO VIEW INFORMATION ON THE WRISTBAND APPEAL AND IMAGES OF
CELEBRITIES WHO SUPPORT COLDSTREAMERS |
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SILICON 12
Silicon 12 (now Cobra 43) are currently based in CP 9
(W) in the BJI (BG) AO. Shortly after our arrival it
became very apparent just how basic life was going to be
at the CP. The compound we occupied was approximately
20m x 15m square with one sangar and the accommodation
consisted of three pods housing six cot beds in each.
Only one pod was equipped with a roof. There was no
electricity or running water unless you counted the
stream and plunge pool to the rear of the checkpoint.
Although a source of water, it was unfortunately located
downstream from our partnered ANP checkpoint…..
Thanks to BG HQ and with the help of the Royal Engineers
the call sign were able to winterise the checkpoint
before the winter rains arrived. This consisted of
putting roofs on the remaining two accommodation pods,
building a store for the rations, kit and ammunition and
we also got aggregate spread on the floor to prevent it
getting too muddy in the rain.
Our partnered Afghan National Police (ANP) are split
between two checkpoints about five hundred metres apart
on each side of a wadi, with about eight policemen in
each at any one time. There were obvious problems with
the ANP in the early days: they had not all been through
the required eight week training course and few had ID
cards. The multiple have worked hard to mentor the ANP
and improve there skills sets. This has included weapon
handling, basic first aid, compound clearance and
searching.
The relationship between the multiple 12 and the ANP has
flourished since we first arrived. There is partnering
at all levels from the joint patrols to the joint arrest
and restraint lessons which saw the Guardsmen and the
police laughing and joking as the put each other in
various holds.
We’re hoping that our efforts here will lead to the
local population trusting the police more and see that
they are there for the protection and security of the
area. This will also lead to the locals rejecting the
Taleban way, ensuring a peaceful and trouble free
Afghanistan for the future.
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THE SHINY SHOP
  
"If your attack is going too well,
your walking into an ambush."
“Guardsmen usually win the battles - whilst Officers get the credit
for them. ”
“Being in the Guards is like being in the Boy Scouts, except that
the Boy Scouts have adult supervision. "
PLUS LOTS MORE!
[VISIT
THE SHOP HERE]
EXCLUSIVE TO SHINYCAPSTAR
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SILICON 13
Based out of Lashkar Gah, Silicon 13 has conducted a
number of varying tasks. Everything from embedding at
ANP checkpoints to long range desert patrols in our
Ridgebacks. The majority of the three months of our tour
have been spent gathering details of all the checkpoints
in the Lashkar Gah area including the number of ANP
present, their levels of training and the extent of the
defences at each checkpoint. We have also been kept busy
employed as an escort service for the ANP between Camp
Bastion and FOB Price.
Silicon 13 has proved to be one of the most flexible
call signs and have provided support to engineer assets
conducting recces and builds of checkpoints in need of
defensive development. By far the most enjoyable and
demanding of their tasks has been the embedding with and
mentoring of the ANP at checkpoints. We have spent a
reasonable amount of time in all the areas surrounding
the Lashkar Gah PRT including a few long embedded
mentoring sessions in the Bolan area, a short embed at
Shindac, a week long embed in Zarghun Kalay in the Nad e
Ali area and by far their longest embed was ten days in
the Popalzai area.
.jpg)
Image above:
Silicon 13 move through the desert.
One of our first patrols saw us embed at the Bolan
T-Junction checkpoint, a well established checkpoint
with good defensive positions with the Forward Line of
Enemy Troops within touching distance. Shortly after
arriving the multiple experienced their first contact
with the Taliban in a 2 hour sporadic contact, allowing
LCpl Harris to get some hands-on experience with the HMG
mounted on the RWS on one of the Ridgebacks and the GPMG
gunners showing their worth suppressing the enemy firing
points.
Midway through November Silicon 13 moved to Nad E Ali to
embed at Zarghun Kalay, bringing new challenges to
Silicon 13. The main effort was to support the ANP to
allow the freedom of movement through the area for both
ISAF and ANP call sign’s. This was a direct result of an
incident in the area regarding a rogue ANP attack on
ISAF and a crack down on the ANP. It soon came apparent
how much insurgent activity was present in the area, as
during the route back in from a foot patrol, the call
sign was hit by an IED strike, a close shave, but one
that was overcome by the skills and drills of the
guardsman. This was followed by a number of shoot and
scoot small arms contacts on the checkpoint we had
occupied and on foot patrols we launched in the area.
Image above: A quick pause for a photo shoot with the
ANP
More recently we worked with Silicon 19, an engineer
call sign and a Desert Hawk detachment to build and
later occupy a completely new checkpoint on route 601
heading East out of Lashkar Gah. The checkpoint is
designed to overwatch not only a dangerous crossing
point on the 601 but also the area of Popalzai which has
seen a large amount of insurgent activity. Once the
check point was established the multiple quickly set
about defending it and making it home for the ten days
we were there. The atmosphere was good and the multiple
managed to conduct some GDA patrols with the ANP North
into Popalzai which gave us a good opportunity to
introduce the new ANP to the locals and to find out how
they felt about the build.
All in all Silicon 13’s tour of Afghanistan has been
enjoyable so far and the morale of all the ranks is
high, we have been lucky enough to have seen a lot of
southern Afghanistan and have had the chance to work
with a wide variety of different nations and units. Most
importantly this has given every man and woman in the
multiple something positive to remember and take away
with them at the end of the tour.
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SILICON 14
Silicon 14 have been based in or around Lashkar Gah for
the duration of our tour so far and as with all of the
other multiples we have been extremely busy with a
variety of taskings. Initially they were very busy
patrolling and embedding at various ANP checkpoints each
of which has its own particular characteristics. Most
are keen to have ISAF stay and are happy to share the
chi and keen to tell stories of their time fighting
against the Russians with the Mudja Hadeen. However some
are less receptive and it took some real diplomacy and
skill on the part of the interpreter to win their
confidence.
.jpg)
Image above:
The interim Helmand Police Training Centre (iHPTC) in
its infancy.
The multiple have had our fair share of activity. Early
on in the tour, while embedding at an ANP checkpoint in
the Bolan area, the multiple came under contact from
small arms fire and RPG. After a brief fire fight the
Taliban broke contact and extracted. It was a good first
taster of a direct fire contact and gave the multiple
some early experience.
After a short week of covering for the Grenadier Guards
in Nad e Ali Silicon 14 found themselves permanently
based at the Interim Helmand Police Training Centre. The
multiple were responsible for the security and build of
the training centre while it was in the construction
phase. A dull but crucial job. Soon we would be longing
for the routine of the build phase because we were
quickly tasked with training 150 Afghan recruits hoping
to join the ANP. Split into platoons of 30 the recruits
are escorted around by 2 members of ISAF who are also
responsible for teaching certain lessons. Since the
course started the multiple has been rushed off our
feet.
We are now looking forward to the graduation of our
recruits at the end of January and beginning whatever
task might be thrown at us next.
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SILICON 15
On the 19th October, and having completed RSOI, we said
our goodbyes and wished each other luck as each multiple
of Number 2 Company went our separate ways. Silicon 15
had been tasked as the Police Mentoring Team for the
whole of Gereshk, a city with a population of over 50
000 and with nearly 300 ANP to mentor and train. Since
October we have found ourselves involved in numerous
fire fights with Taliban as well as locating and dealing
with IEDs on a weekly basis. The highlight so far has
been locating and disposing of an IED factory where
there was enough HME to make at least 10 IEDs.
Despite being under a constant threat from suicide
bombers as well as enemy fire we are, as always,
undeterred and professional. As we near the half way
point of our tour morale remains high and the multiple
are looking forward to the New Year but more importantly
to getting back and having that well deserved cold beer
with our loved ones and friends.
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SILICON 16
Based in Sangin in the Northern part of Helmand Province
Silicon 16, led by Sgt Thompson, are responsible for
training, mentoring and partnering the Afghan National
Police. During our time we have faced many challenges
which have proved rewarding and frustrating in equal
measure.
During our initial encounters with the ANP, the first
thing the multiple noticed was their shabby appearance
and poor weapons handling skills. They were quite happy
to leave loaded weapons lying around in camp and
struggled with simple drills such as loading and
unloading their personal weapons. However during our
time, the multiple have taken great pleasure in seeing
things slowly but surely improve. The ANP are now keen
to learn and have even started parading in the mornings
for roll call after following the examples set by the
men of Silicon 16.
There has been a marked improvement in the ANP NCOs who
have started taking the initiative in passing on their
skills and experience to the newer members of the ANP,
such as drill and weapons handling. Silicon 16 have also
been teaching them first aid skills, headed up by our
own medic, LCpl Constantine as well as VCP lessons and
patrolling skills to name a few.
.jpg)
Image above: LCpl Age (RMP) conducting a lesson on
person search with the ANP.
Most importantly the multiple have been focusing on
imparting our vast knowledge of foot drill to members of
the ANP and after a painstakingly frustrating 45 minutes
of telling them to “Pin the arms in to the side of the
body!” and “Raise the chin!” there was a vast
improvement, which was a small victory.
Silicon 16 have taken advantage of the renowned Afghan
hospitality and are constantly being offering the cups
of ‘chi’ (or a brew to you and me) when we visit the ANP
at their check points. We were even invited to a special
meal for the festival of Eid which is enjoyed by all.
.jpg)
Image above:
The FOB Jackson tree and basic living conditions.
The multiple continue to work hard and look to remain in
Sangin mentoring the ANP for another 4 months and
although, naturally, we all miss our loved ones back
home, we are excited about the new challenges that lie
ahead. There is a real belief within the multiple that
the ANP are improving and that by the end of Op Herrick
11 there will be a noticeable change.
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SILICON 19
As part of Number 1 Company, Silicon 19 we were
initially assigned to the Roshan tower where the fire
support group would be based. The remainder of the
company were to be in PB Woqab. On arrival to
Afghanistan we again completed the mandatory safety
briefs and training and were ready to deploy onto the
ground.
However not long after arriving in theatre plans changed
for Silicon 19. The Battalion became a Battle Group in
the BJI AO and fourteen hours before 1 Company deployed
to PB 4, Silicon 19 was formed to become a Police
Mentoring Team. As we watched the remainder of the
company fly out Silicon 19 moved by Mastiff to FOB
Price. We quickly deployed onto the ground, including
RMP attachments to Checkpoint Lion in the BJI AO
surrounded by a mix of green zone and generic Afghan
compounds and villages.
On arriving at the checkpoint there was little in the
way of creature comforts and only the bare minimum of
facilities: a toilet area complete with WAG bags, a make
shift wash and shower area and a cooking area. This was
going to be hard work. Over the next few weeks we
improved these by cleaning and doing some building. This
included an ops room, defences and sleeping areas. The
Coldstream way of operating was a shock to the attached
RMP. We would start with a 0700 hours reveille and
areas. This included litter sweeps, burning the toilet
bags, cleaning tables and sweeping the dust out of the
compound. This however was not our main job the
improving of defences and living accommodation fell
second to patrols, mentoring the ANP and completing MSST
taskings.
.jpg)
Image above:
Checkpoint Lion Pre
Build.
The clearance patrol was a 2 kilometre stretch of road
which required clearing so the Logistic Patrols could
transit through safely. The multiple were often
responsible for picketing the route and searching local
nationals with the aid of the Afghan National Police.
Then it would be onto any MSST patrols required. These
patrols were very ‘hearts and minds’ orientated and
focused on talking to the locals to see if they needed
any help with repairing wells, building hydro-electric
generators and flood defences. The multiple also
provided them with speakers for prayers and prayer mats
for the mosques.
After a number of weeks the Royal Engineers arrived at
the Checkpoint to build up proper defences and to
improve the defences already in place. Over the few days
they were there they transformed our basic checkpoint
into a well defended checkpoint with a good standard of
living accommodation. All they required was to be fed
well and cleaned up after; it was a top job even by the
Coldstream standards.
.jpg)
Image above:
Checkpoint Lion Post
Build
With the completion of the checkpoint Silicon 19 were
then able to crack on with their patrols and continue to
mentor the ANP. Mentoring the ANP is the primary role of
the Royal Military Police headed up by LCpl Mitcheson
and Cpl Harwood.
Despite attending an eight week training course the ANP
arrive at a checkpoint at square one and must be built
up from the bottom. Lessons consisted of basic patrol
skills, first aid, search techniques for both person and
vehicle searches and policing techniques. They would
then demonstrate these skills out on patrol. The ANP are
good at this but without ISAF prompting they just tend
to stay in a fixed location. However it was good to
watch how they progressed.
After living and working in Checkpoint Lion for
approximately six weeks the multiple once again proved
our flexibility when we were given 12 short hours notice
to move. We quickly collapsed the checkpoint stripping
it to a bare minimum and handed it over to the ANP to
operate from. It came as a bit of a shock but once
completed we moved to Lashkar Gah to join Number 2
Company HQ and a couple of the other Silicon multiples.
From there we were tasked to move to the Afghan National
Civil Order Police (ANCOP) barracks and partner the
ANCOP.
From this location we operate on 3 to 5 day patrols
visiting various Police Checkpoints within the Lashkar
Gah AO, continuing with our role of mentoring and
partnering with the ANP.
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and Customised Images copyright, designed and maintained by A.J
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