In the run up to the very exciting prospect of the Vintage & Valour fundraising event upon our return in November, this is the first introductory message in what will hopefully be a series of blogs to try and convey what life is like out here serving in Afghanistan.

I am currently serving as a rifle platoon commander in The Black Watch, 3^rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Our job out here is as the Reserve Battlegroup for the southern sector of Afghanistan and due to this we are slightly separate from the vast majority of British personnel out here as we operate not only in Helmand Province, but we have also conducted operations in Kandahar Province. We have worked with Canadians, Americans and of course Afghans.

We have completed over three months of operations, having arrived in late March. These are primarily but not exclusively air assaults out of the back of Chinook helicopters. The last operation we took part in was the initial assault on Operation Panchai Palang or Panthers Claw, with a 10 chinook assault into the Taliban heartland in Helmand. We had an ITV crew with us for the duration and publicity of a level none of us were accustomed to. My platoon had a relatively quiet time compared to the remainder of the company, but had it evening of excitement when 14 Taliban were spotted crawling up a hedgeline up to 130m from our position. A lively engagement ensued with mortars providing the final decisive touch.

My company, Alpha (Grenadier) Company has now sadly finished our two weeks R & R at home, and so now we are having to brush away post-holiday blues and get focused for the next three and a half months of operations. We will have a small amount of time training and acclimatising to the heat again, which will include some time on the ranges and in the gym before getting stuck in wherever we are tasked to go to.

Until next time.