A feature of my 18 months as an MP has been the opportunity to come into contact with areas of life that few people get to see. One such example was my visit as a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to the UK mission in Helmand Province of Afghanistan. In a party of 35 made up of members of House of Lords and House of Commons, as well as MEPs, we were able to see the environment in which our troops are based to meet and talk with them in theatre, in addition to receiving detailed briefings of the Operation Herrick campaign.
Our journey started at RAF Brize Norton where we were issued with helmets and body armour before boarding a freight plane taking in vital supplies with a limited amount of passenger seating. Our journey as part of the strategic “Airbridge” involved a stopover in Turkey before arriving late at night in Camp Bastion where we were accommodated in tents with bunk bed dormitories. After a true squaddie style fry up breakfast, our 24 hours on the base started with a briefing from Deputy Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF): Lieutenant General James Bucknall. The General reminded us of the reasons for our presence in the country, to prevent Afghan territory from being used by Al Qaeda as a base from which to plan attacks on the UK and our allies.
Our troops are still taking casualties in Afghanistan, rightly remembered in Parliament each week at the start of Prime Minsters questions. It was poignant that our visit took place shortly after Remembrance Day services when we remember the sacrifice of fallen service men and women. In the week of our visit three UK servicemen lost their lives, which is a further reminder to all of us of the risk that these brave people live with every day.
The main threat to our troops is improvised explosive devices (IEDs), often hidden at the sides of roads as a threat to both vehicles and personnel. Identifying these devices and making them safe is a key role, and we were given a demonstration by the Disposal & Search Task Force of how they go about doing so, often with the aid of dogs. We saw a role that is extremely dangerous, requiring enormous patience and crucial to the success of the mission. Later we were shown the protective equipment that troops wear in the field, much of it to protect as much as possible against these devices, but despite this both life and limbs are being lost. I was struck by the weight of both protective and other equipment worn by soldiers in the field, often weighing up to 65kg and this in a hot, dusty climate. No wonder the troops are physically, as well as mentally exhausted as they come to the end of a sixth month tour, and why a fortnight of rest and recuperation is so necessary.
We ate lunch in a mocked up Afghan village, on the base, with both local Afghans and UK soldiers. The locals told us how much more secure they feel as a result of the control that UK forces have brought to the area, and that they were able to get on with their lives without fear of intimidation from the Taliban. The soldiers, some at the start of their tour of duty and others at the end; some early in their Army career and others shortly due to leave, told us about their daily experiences, the risks involved and their concern for loved ones at home. There are few distractions in Camp Bastion with the base in the middle of the desert and I detected a real sense of being there to do a job and getting on with it.
The recent increase in troops has had the effect of stabilising the position in Afghanistan and the current objectives are to start the transfer of authority to the Afghan Army and Police Force, scheduled for 2014 under a process of draw down. We received a briefing on this from Commander Task Force Helmand: Brigadier Patrick Sanders, who told us how the role of UK troops is changing to one of transferring knowledge and skills to the Afghans, and we were able to question the Afghan Commander 3/215 Brigade: Brigadier General Sheren-Shah Kobadi on progress in this area.
Something I hadn’t expected to happen was meeting up with a constituent, but at a reception just before we left I was able to chat to Private Bernice Armstrong who lives in Rugby. Bernice told me about why she had chosen to sign up for the Army and her role in the administration team at Camp Bastion. Bernice has only been in theatre for a short while and has been lucky enough to be selected to have her R&R over the Christmas period, so we look forward to seeing her back soon.
Our return from Camp Bastion was via stopovers in the Gulf and Cyprus, travelling with troops returning home. I came away with a clear sense that we have made a success of our role in Afghanistan and an enduring impression of the commitment to service of our personnel posted a long way from home in a difficult and dangerous environment. As a direct result of having been there myself, when Parliament next debates the role of UK Forces and Afghanistan I will have a much better understanding of the issues involved.