Page 50 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Operation TRENTON:
The Malakal Ri emen’s perspective
Operation TRENTON has been a very interesting tour for C Company. It has required us to think about our role within the wider UN mission and how we can best aide the country of South Sudan. Attached to the Royal Engineers, we were deployed to South Sudan to provide the force protection for them to work.
The people of South Sudan are friendly and it is easy to have empathy for them. They have struggled through years of turmoil and have been severely
affected by decades of civil war but yet continue to smile and remain positive. It was very uplifting to see that they were happy that we had arrived as peace- keepers; they thought that it would help to end the con ict sooner. C Company is only a small part of the peacekeeping force here in South Sudan but the effect it can achieve is larger than just through its numbers.
It was very easy to become focused on the development of the UK Camp and how much we have achieved. As a member of the guard force you are the face of the UK Camp and get to know the Locally Employed Civilians (LEC) and develop mutual respect. We had a LEC within the camp who before the con ict was a 3rd year medical student. The people here were forced into their situations through necessity not through choice. It is deeply rewarding to be part of something that aims only to help others.
Ri eman Beagle, C Company
The early days; Ri eman Valderrama on guard
THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN ARE FRIENDLY AND IT IS EASY TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR THEM
Ri eman Bryan in over watch
Credit: Cpl Moffatt, 34 Sqn, 39 Engr Regt