July 2015 - 2 Plt, 3 PWRR OP TORAL update

Op Toral Update

2 Plt 3 PWRR are currently in Kabul on Op Toral as part of the team helping to train potential Afghan Officres. As part of that, this month saw the first Officer Cadets graduation ceremony. Uniquely this ceremony also saw female cadets complete officer training, a significant milestone towards the integration of females into the Afghan Army.

During the commissioning parade. 2 Plt, 3PWRR provide building clearenece, cordon security and force protection.  
The graduation ceremony ended with all Officer Cadets going on leave for the religious festival of Ramadan.

A two day competition was then held to challenge and refine our soldier’s skills and military knowledge. In teams of five, Two Platoon completed  a  number  of  stands  including ranges,  endurance  marches,  command tasks,  medical  simulations  and  vehicle recovery  drills.  The Junior Non Commissioned Officers (JNCs) had the opportunity to build on their leadership skills, whilst private soldiers gained experience in demanding scenarios. Overall, the event was a success, and one of the platoon’s teams achieved second place.

Insurgent  Activity  has  slightly  increased during  Ramadan,  in  particular  was  the attack  on  the  Parliament  building  at  the end of this month. However the insurgents continue  to  focus  their  attention  away from  us  and  concentrate  on  the  Afghan Security  Forces. 

Our  Foxhound  and Ridgeback  armoured  vehicles  are  proving ideal in the City as they provide good protection  and  are  highly  manoeuvrable  in traffic. The last six weeks of the deployment will  be  a  busy  period  with  the  next term of Officer Cadets arriving and occupying the newly built academy. As well as adapting  to  a  new  environment,  the  Platoon  will  have  the  additional  challenge  of handing over to the next unit, the 2ndBattalion,  the  Royal  Regiment  of  Scotland. This will be our final role before returning back to the UK.

Foxhound and Ridgeback vehicles

On the endurance march

Kabul scenery

The ANA

Glock practice

 

 

An update from Op TORAL

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Supporting the ANAOA and the Afghan Army

Two platoon 3 PWRR are currently deployed on Op TORAL (Afghanistan) supporting the training of the Afghan Army.

Members of 2 plt 3 PWRR

We are currently working on a three week rotation that includes Guard, QRF (Quick Reaction Force) and Force Protection for the Afghan mentors. This involves deploying in the ANAOA. This was initially all located in the classroom and other teaching spaces, however the Officer Cadets have recently started field lessons and other exercises. Both the Tigers and The Vikings (who we are deployed with) have really enjoyed the challenge of adapting to the new locations and watching the Afghans progress in their field craft and infantry skills.

Protection for Resolute Support Mentors in Kabul City

Providing over watch

The platoon have also recently deployed to Kabul City to provide protection to Resolute Support mentors who were guiding the Officer Cadets final exercise. This was an important exercise for the Afghans as it represents the culmination of their year-long training before they commission as Officers.

Tajbeg Palace

A view of the Tajbeg Palace

Our platoon harbour is situated on one side of the many mountains that surround Kabul and temperatures are steadily getting hotter – reaching highs of 36C.

An abandoned Russian tank 

The view from the harbour is breath-taking, but the abandoned Russian tanks and the heavily mortared Tajbeg Palace (it was the scene of some ferocious fighting between the Russians and the Mujahedeen) also highlights, starkly, the decades of war that have been part of the recent history of Afghanistan.

Additionally the platoon have also been providing vehicle patrols through the city and running live ranges to assist other UK personnel. R and R is almost over and so the last stage if this tour is now beginning.

Rehearsing casualty drills

Working with military working dogs

The Tigers on Op Toral

Resolute Support on Op Toral

Operation HERRICK became Operation TORAL on 1^st January 2015 and the new NATO Mission, called Resolute Support (RS) switched from combat operations to Train, Advise, Assist. The UK remains well placed in Afghanistan, with a very lean force delivering operational effect at all levels, fully supporting the RS mission with an impact disproportionate to the size of the force.

The Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA) remains the most capable officer training institution with its vision set on developing leaders for a strong Army and proud nation.  ANAOA is located to the west of Kabul on the Marshal Fahim National Defence University (MFNDU) site.  It shares the 4.8 m² MFNDU site with MFNDU HQ, the National Military Academy Afghanistan (NMAA) and will soon be joined by the Command and Staff College (CSC), the Sergeant Major Academy, COIN Centre of Excellence, Foreign Language Institute and the General Support Unit.

ANAOA is based on the successful RMAS model and, as in the UK, the OCdts undergo a year of officer training.  The six Partner Nations – UK, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Turkey and Norway – mentor the Afghan Directing Staff in an effort to further professionalise the instruction delivered.  These countries provide individual mentors to every Kandak instructor and key staff appointments across the Academy.

The ANAOA and The PWRR

Maj Steve Wall is the senior PWRR representative at the ANAOA and holds the position of SO2 G4.  He mentors the ANAOA logistics team led by four ANA officers.  Capt Drew Reed (2 PWRR and formerly Adjt 3 PWRR) is the MA to the Chief Mentor (a UK Brigadier).  CSgt Robertson (1 PWRR) is a mentor in the SAAW.  Each of the mentors deploys for 8-9 months.

Tigers on Op Toral

Camp Qargha is home to the mentors and they are protected by the Camp Qargha Force Protection (CQFP) who are currently drawn from 1 R ANGLIAN, augmented by a platoon from 3 PWRR led by Capt George Bignold.  The platoon joined the Vikings for this tour in line with the A2020 plan.  The QFPC will serve for a normal 6 month tour.

Colonel Charlie Sykes (late PWRR) is currently serving as Deputy COMBRITFOR, based at HQ RS in Kabul and is the senior Tiger in Theatre and visits ANAOA regularly.

Members of 1 PWRR, 2 PWRR and 3 PWRR on Op Toral

The QFPC and ANAOA mentors have been busy over the past few months as ANAOA prepares to move into a multi-million pound, purpose-built Academy having spent its early years living and working in expeditionary tents.  This makes the Academy the newest and most modern in the Eastern World and the envy of many.

Tigers mark Albuhera Day in Afghanistan

All PWRR soldiers on Operation TORAL enjoy the limited facilities and take part in all activities and even managed to uniquely celebrate Albuhera Day on the 16^th May with Capt Drew Reed reciting the Special Order of the Day and leading the Silent Toast.  

Tigers mark Albuhera Day

The Silent Toast

Photos courtesy of Major Andy Whitehead -Hughs (PARA)