B Company Blog

 4th November 2011

Welcome to the third B Company blog from Afghanistan!

As ever we have been extremely busy working to improve and develop the Afghan National Army. We are well established in our routine now and are a quarter of the way through our tour (everyone now has a ‘chuff chart’ to count down the days)!

This last weekend has also been a big step for us as it saw the first Afghan Brigade Level Operation since 2 Rifles took over the Brigade Advisory Group. Riflemen from across the Battalion converged to support this Afghan led mission. The ANA did a superb job, they managed to find two sizeable IED’s and not a shot was fired. They also showed us just how good they can be when they put their minds to it, and that although they often operate quite differently to us they are very good at getting the job done.

For this weeks instalment I have asked Advisor 65 for an update of their progress so far.

Advisor 65 consists of Capt Terry Williams (2 MERCIAN) and Sjt Steve McMullan, together we advise the Heavy Weapon Tolay (HWT) based in PB2 NES(S).  The HWT notionally have the Kandak’s (Afghan Battalion) Mortars, Machine guns and Anti Tank weapons, fortunately the Anti Tank weapons are rarely required.  Instead the HWT like all the others are an infantry unit.

After completing the gruelling in theatre training package Sit McMullan and I were eager to get going and start working with the ANA.  Our main aim was to get the ANA conducting independent patrols, to do this we invested a lot of time with the Afghan Commander and the Intelligence Sjt.  We wanted the S2 Sjt to understand the area to inform the Commander where best to patrol.  This started well with him getting patrols to gather particular pieces of information to build up a picture of the ground, population and enemy; he also conducted patrol debriefs to capture information from the ground. Rather frustratingly, both the Tolay commander and S2 Sgt have now gone on R&R for 2 weeks.

Two weeks ago we have helped the HWT to become power independent by plugging in their own generator; this seemingly trivial development is a seismic step forward for the ANA.  In all they are a good bunch, frustrating at times but much more capable than many give them credit for. 

And finally the biggest success for Advisor 65 so far is establishing a pizza delivery service to PB2 from Bastion courtesy of a friendly RAF Merlin pilot.  It’s not all hard work!!!

I am sure the next two weeks will pass in a blur, with more successful gains made. I look forward to updating you with our progress!

From the OC – Major Rich Smith

All the B Coy sections have now arrived here in Helmand and getting to know their new areas. Most of the Riflemen are in section tents with their mates and from the ones I have spoken to they seem happy to finally be doing the job! Most have spent the first week meeting the Afghans and making sure that their bed spaces are as homely as possible. There is a mini industry making bed side tables, chairs and other random pieces of furniture. Worryingly there is also a craze for growing dodgy moustaches. I have seen some particularly bad ones and I just hope we do not get too many strong breezes or some of the younger Riflemen will lose their pride and joy! It is good to be in the same camp as A Coy and as ever it is great for morale to see more friendly faces. 5 RIFLES have also now arrived in force and it has been really good to catch up with our fellow Riflemen form Germany. It feels as if the RIFLES have taken over in our part of Helmand!

Keep checking back for more 2 Rifles updates.