British soldiers from 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland will be deployed in Afghanistan 12507151

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British soldiers from 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland will be deployed in Afghanistan
British soldiers of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) left their base at Glencorse Barracks in Penicuik, near Edinburgh, to complete an intensive final week of training for their latest role, supporting training for the Afghan National Army.
     
     
The eight-month tour, which will see the entire battalion deploy in two roulements of four months, is in support of the NATO Military advisors and trainers who are teaching at the Afghan Ministrie of Defence and the Interior, providing protection and movement control for those who have to leave their barracks.

They will also provide a Quick Reaction Force in the city supporting the Afghan National Security Forces and helping to deal with any emergencies.

The battalion, which has previously completed three tours in Afghanistan, is looking forward to the next challenge as it presents something completely different from anything it has done in the country before.

Combat operations in Helmand Province, in the south of the country, ceased at the end of 2014, and this tour is part of the UK’s enduring commitment to Afghanistan, and to providing the country with the best training to allow the Government of Afghanistan to police and defend itself.

Lieutenant Colonel Graeme Wearmouth, Commanding Officer 2 SCOTS, said the soldiers were relishing what was in front of them.

“This is a great opportunity for us,” he said. "We’re a light role infantry battalion taking up a more mechanised role with the use of the Foxhound vehicle, so there has been a lot of driver training to complete.

“We’ll be in Kabul to provide that extra layer of protection and control for wider headquarters, but the main response to any incident will be led by the Afghan forces.

“There are those within the battalion who have deployed to Afghanistan in a combat role and they will have had to learn new skills. Likewise, the soldiers who will experience this for the first time have really taken on board the training to ensure we’re properly prepared for the task at hand.”
     
British soldiers of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) left their base at Glencorse Barracks in Penicuik, near Edinburgh, to complete an intensive final week of training for their latest role, supporting training for the Afghan National Army. The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) is a light role infantry battalion is equipped with Foxhound 4x4 Light Protected Patrol Vehicle.
     
Fusilier Jonathan Stevenson, 21, is from Troon in Ayrshire and has never been in Afghanistan before. He has been with the battalion for 15 months after working in constructing garden decking and fencing.

“A lot of the guys will be completely new to this and we’re looking forward to getting out there,” said Jonathan. “I never thought I’d get the opportunity and even though this is very different to how the battalion was deployed before, it’s an exciting prospect to train and learn for a specific mission.

“There are a few of my friends who serve with other battalions and they would love to be what I’m doing now.”
The week in the Army’s training area in Caerwent, south east Wales, is the culmination of a rigorous course of training which began in earnest at the start of the year and culminates in this Mission Specific Training. The Battalion acted out a number of scenarios which they could face in Kabul.

Sergeant Chris Andrews, 29, from Kilmarnock, has been in the Army for 11 years and has completed two tours of Afghanistan in a combat role. He said: “My previous experiences were in Helmand and it was all about taking the fight to the enemy. The biggest challenge for me and other commanders is ensuring the guys who have been before are adequately trained for this new role because they may have certain expectations.

“The focus is now completely different."

The first roulement of troops will leave Glencorse barracks for the Afghan capital in early August.