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Battalion Sitrep as at 21 Oct 07
(Archive)
1 Coy: Camp SOUTER - KABUL
Number One Company successfully deployed up to Kabul and is now
settled in. The Commanding Officer & Regimental Sergeant Major
have visited the company and found it to be in excellent order.
The company are clearly relishing the challenging environment in
KABUL and they are getting to grips with the layout of their
patch. There will be plenty of operational opportunities for the
Company to get their teeth into over the next 6 months. The
overriding threat is that of suicide bombers of which there have
been a number in the recent past.
Camp SOUTER is comfortable and well set up with good access to
welfare facilities.
However postal operations remain slow due to problems at home.
Company routine would be familiar to anyone who is familiar with
NI tours of old, with a rotation between guarding, patrolling
and Quick Reaction Force (QRF) duty. Patrols are both vehicle
and foot-borne. If the patrol that the Commanding Officer and
the Regimental Sergeant Major went on is anything to go by the
locals are extremely friendly and the Company should be able to
engage with them very quickly. The Americans in the next door
base were amazed to see the Guardsmen patrolling in berets.
3 Coy: FORWARD OPERATING BASE KEENAN
Number Three Company moved the main body of the company up to
Forward Operating Base (FOB) KEENAN on Thursday 18 October with
a take over on the 20 October despite delayed freight issues.
They are in the process of learning the nuances of working with
the Danes. Even at this early juncture the seeds of a fruitful
relationship have been sown.
Experiences of those serving in FOB KEENAN are likely to be very
different to the experiences of those in KABUL. The layout of
the camp is officially described as ‘austere’ – and you know
when that is the military description then there really isn’t a
lot there. I think the idea is that the Guardsmen are not
encouraged to remain in the FOB but to get out to find the
Taliban. The good news is that the FOB is currently being
winterised (9x9 tents and puffing Billy’s should be enough to
combat the forecast -10°C).
RIGHT FLANK: FORWARD OPERATING BASE
ARNHEM
The company continues with operations from FOB Arnhem on both
foot and from Warriors.
They have had considerable success over the last month or so but
this has not been without cost. An Improvised Explosive Device (lED)
strike on a Warrior on the 18 October resulted in 2 x Coldstream
injuries; Gdsm Blakeway suffered minor flesh scratches and
returned to duty that day. LCpI Rees however did not escape so
lightly. He sustained several minor shrapnel wounds to the face
and arms and was evacuated to UK for further medical treatment
to remove small pieces of shrapnel from his right eye. When I
visited him in hospital he was on good form and hoped to return
to theatre soon. Despite this the Company’s morale remains high.
RECCE Pl: GARESHK/LASHKAR GAH/ CAMP
BASTION (with HCR)
The Recce platoon has been temporarily split. 28 of them are
assisting ongoing tasks in LASHKAR GAH and GARESHK. They are
providing Police Mentoring Teams (PMTs) in order to bring on the
currently woeful standards of the local police. Security Sector
Reform (SSR) which is very much the main effort of higher
command to enable the longer term ownership of security issues
by the Afghans themselves. Ultimately successful SSR will
provide the exit strategy. The platoon is looking to reform in
early December and will, on current plans it will move south
join Household Cavalry Regiment in Battle Group South (BG(S)).
MOR Pl: KAJAKI/SANGIN
The mortar platoon has been split with 4 barrels being allocated
to Battlegroup Centre (Danish) and the remaining with
Battlegroup North (40 Commando). They are having and extremely
busy deployment so far and have already had considerable effect
during operations.
SSR: LASHKAR GAH
The Commanding Officer is heavily engaged in Security Sector
Reform cell with a number of others, mainly from Battalion
headquarters. The cell is aiming to ensure that the Afghan
National Army, Afghan National Police, Rule of Law issue and
Counter Narcotics activities are all coordinated in a meaningful
way. No small task but it does mean there is little danger of
him becoming bored and bothering others unduly. I have also been
lucky enough to enjoy the hospitality of the locals on several
occasions. The inevitable consequences of the Afghan diet have
not been so welcome but doubtless my stomach will acclimatise in
due course.
HCR: LASHKAR GAH/CAMP BASTION/FORWARD
OPERATING BASE DWYER & DELHI
The Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) remains split between
LASHKAR GAH (Main), Camp Bastion (rear) and Forward Operating
Bases DWYER and DELHI (fwd). They envisage moving main into the
FOBs soon. The Adjutant First Coldstream Guards has also now
taken on operational Adjutant for the HCR.
2 YORKS: LASHKAR GAH
The platoon has recently returned from a mini-Manoeuvre
Operations Group (MOG) in the desert some 17kms out of LASKAR
GAH town and is now enjoying a couple of days in camp. They are
being well looked after by 2 YORKS and have integrated well.
OMLT: CAMP SHURABAK
Major Brinn and his team continue to train the 4th KANDAK
(Battalion) of the 3~ Brigade and are on excellent form. This is
a first class role and all are enjoying the challenges of
getting an Afghan battalion up to speed operationally.
G4: CAMP BASTION/LASHKAR GAH
Two G4 teams were sent out to assist 9 Regiment RLC and 256
Signals Squadron with their administrative/supply needs. They
have made themselves invaluable and have impressed the staff who
they work for. The Quartermaster will soon deploy to theatre as
part of the Equipment Table Audit Team (ETAT) to evaluate
equipment distribution across theatre.
Med: Through 5 Medical Regiment.
Our medics remain spread across the entire theatre. Medics are
in high demand and so they can look forward to seeing most of
the HELMAND province as they move around as operations dictate.
SUMMARY
Now that the Relief in Place has almost finished and
Coldstreamers now embedded with their temporary units we can now
focus on what lies ahead. Although the Battalion appears spread
to the wind all of the Guardsmen are getting stuck in to the
jobs at hand and relishing the opportunity. Clearly the tour
will provide a wealth of very different experiences over the
tour but all are looking forward to whatever adventures the
future may bring.
George Waters
Lt Col
Comd Offr.
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