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3 Company Sit Rep as at 2nd Dec 07
(Archive)
3 COMPANY REPORT FROM 3 COMPANY - 11 PLATOON
Well, its about time for a little more news from the front...The
Company has had an interesting few weeks since the last
bulletin, and continues to go from strength to strength- that is
if you ignore the fact that we waved a jealous goodbye to the
first group heading back to England for R+R yesterday (consoled
only by the fact we know how long they have out here when they
get back..!)
Since you last heard from us there have been some significant
changes to our situation up here at PB Keenan. In order to free
up some manpower a checkpoint was folded from down by a bridge
not far from the base itself. However, the Taliban spotted this
and did their best to stop us from using it in the future.
Undeterred, the engineers built a brand new bridge with a ‘pimp
my checkpoint’ feel. It now makes Fort Knox look like a
children’s doll house. It’s been met with universal approval and
has the added bonus of being even closer to the canal for a
quick swim. The aim is to get the highly regarded ANA (Afghan
National Army) to take over the checkpoint in the near future,
providing the all important ‘Afghan face’ to our operations out
here.
We’ve been on the receiving end of a vast amount of supplies
too, making life here at the patrol base far more comfortable.
All the basic supplies were well stocked up on, making for a
happy Company Sergeant Major, and additional equipment came in
to make us far more effective in what we do. But lets face it,
that’s all a little boring, lets get on to the interesting
stuff. We now have an up and running computer with internet
access, a ‘welfare’ room with a TV and DVD player, gym
facilities, and plenty of power sockets now to make sure those
PSPs are always ready to entertain. More satellite phones should
be reaching us in the near future to, so look forward to more of
those crackly, delayed conversations that make you wonder how
much of your free 30 minutes was spent saying ‘what was that?,’
‘can you here me now..?’ and the people at both ends of the line
answering different questions at the same time..! The mail
continues to provide priceless morale and is eagerly
anticipated, and is surrounded as soon as it leaves the
helicopter. The helipad in the patrol base has the added bonus
of giving us all the chance to offer Chinook pilots with years
of training and experience a little advice, cries of ‘he’s far
too low,’ and ‘what’s that approach angle all about?’ are heard
until the dust starts flying and everyone is running for cover.
In the last week or so we’ve had visits from the Brigade
Commander, our own Commanding Officer and the Regimental
Sergeant Major. The Commanding Officer and the Sergeant Major
experienced first hand what we we’re faced with up here in the
Green Zone- as the Sergeant Major commented; we certainly know
how to treat our guests..! There’s still no real sign of Winter
setting in yet out here, although it can get rather chilly at
night. The first signs of the festive season are appearing out
here, advent calendars, twinkly lights, Christmas cards, and
LCpl Dwyer strutting around half naked in a Santa hat, which was
enough to put me off Christmas for good...(I still want presents
though.). Regards to everyone back home from us all out here,
more news to follow..
G NEWTON
Second Lieutenant
11 Platoon Commander
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