C Company News

23rd October 2011

C Company has now arrived in Afghanistan and all the Platoons have deployed into their Check Points. Since arriving we have completed 7 days of final training before deploying forward.  The training has been good as it is the environment we are now operating in rather than the grassy fields of the UK.  By the end everyone has been itching to get forward as getting up at 0530 to start training felt like we were starring in Groundhog Day! On arrival K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines have been absolutely excellent in providing a handover to us which has stood us in good stead for a successful tour.  We are very much in their debt. 

Of course all the Platoons have been happy to get into their Check Points and away from Company Headquarters.  The Check Points are in generally good nick and will allow comfortable living.  All have Satellite Phones and should receive mail on at least a weekly basis.  10 Platoon are lucky enough to have access to text link which will allow them to e mail and text while 9 and 11 will have intermittent access to the internet when they patrol back to the Patrol Base.  BFBS is due to be delivered to 9 and 10 Platoons in the next week.  11 Platoon are alright, jack and have a system already.  Those based within PB5 are lucky enough to have access to internet, text link and welfare phones as it is a main base location.

We have started the tour by patrolling all of our local villages, getting to know the ground and also the local population.  They have been very welcoming as the majority support ISAF in what we are doing and happy that we provide them with a good level of security.  We have also conducted our first joint patrols with both the Afghan National Army and Police, both of whom are still developing as forces and we will work very closely with.

 There have been some comedy moments even though the serious business of operating here has begun. Rfn Joseph Bentley has been fined two crates of coke for the remainder of 11 Platoon having tried to fire a flare from his sanger which hit the roof of the sanger and ricocheted off in completely the wrong direction. Rfn Robert George Wade, on his first stag in the front gate sanger, reported a fire outside the sanger.  The guard commander managed to stop laughing long enough to tell him it was the burns pit where we burn our rubbish. Rfn Marcel Collard helpfully reported into the guard room that there was a Chinook helicopter landing on the helicopter landing site, even though the sound can be heard from all parts of camp!

Cpl Andrew McMillan almost died of embarrassment when, after a debrief that included the remark 'Mark 1eyeball', Rfn Curtis Jago asked what a 'Mark 1 eyeball' was!  His new nickname is now of course Mark. LCpl Steve Lightowlers has been in the news twice.  Firstly commenting on the sun and its direction when it was 7 o'clock at night and quite dark, he was looking at the moon.  The second event was him loading Sjt Chris Sharp's bergan with stones with Merry Christmas messages written on them.

Keep checking back for more 2 Rifles updates.