Page 69 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

‘RSOI and acclimatisation’, some initial Op SHADER 5 thoughts...
It is with a strange feeling of deja-vu that I nd myself struggling to adapt to the sweltering conditions of an Iraqi summer. The latitude may be slightly higher but the temperature is reassuringly familiar. Despite an incredibly well organised delaying operation mounted by the Iraqi Visa Of ce, 2 RIFLES is now ‘comfortably’ through the acclimatisation package and rmly delivering against a complex and diverse mission. We owe a tip of the hat to 4 RIFLES who were responsible for developing the infrastructure and opening Al Asad Airbase up to a UK Task Force late last year. Familiar to some as Camp Cupcake, this vast site was developed by Saddam in the 1960s and was home to some twenty thousand US personnel a decade or so ago. It is now used as a coalition springboard in support of the Iraqi Security Forces’ (ISF) campaign against Daesh.
Our primary role is to train the ISF and A Company is fully integrated into The Danish Royal Hussars to deliver this function. Meanwhile, B Company has taken on the command of SecFor, a complex monster of some 250 coalition troops from three different countries. It is highly unusual for the US to allow a partner nation to set and deliver security policy and it is great to see our ri emen thriving under the challenge. The tour has a very different feel from the high watermark of HERRICK days
and it is interesting to see how the ‘veterans’ cope with a new set of challenges. The inexperienced ri emen unencumbered by pre-conceived notions of campaigning have ‘stepped up to the plate’ and are already drawing high praise from our coalition partners.
Anbar has always presented the Government of Iraq with an interesting challenge and I suspect that Daesh’ operations in the province are merely another act in a fascinating production. 2 RIFLES’ is fortunate to have a supporting role and will deliver its lines with real style.
By The Commanding Of cer.
The Commanding Of cer, Lieutenant Colonel Bellamy, briefs the
Task Force Commander Colonel Fridrikkson (United States Marine Corps)
2 RIFLES home – Camp Havoc in Al Asad Air Base
Ri eman Rana enjoying the tour!
THE RIFLES
SECOND BATTALION 67
Flag change during transfer of authority from 4 SCOTS to 2 RIFLES as UK Training Team (West) for Operation SHADER 5 in Al Asad Air Base, Iraq