Page 484 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Op HERRICK 5
At the end of September 2006, Major Kay Myatt – later to be the first RAVC Commanding Officer of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment (RAVC) – deployed to Camp Bastion on Op HERRICK 5 as the Officer Commanding (OC) Theatre Military Working Dog Support Unit (TMWDSU). This was one of the larger MWD detachments within Southern Afghanistan, the other two were situated at Lashkar Gah, Helmand’s provincial capital and the other at FOB Price in Gareshk, a small town situated to the east of Bastion.
From within this hostile and unforgiving Theatre, the TMWDSU had constantly been changing and evolving. In its embryonic stages it consisted of two adjoining slabs of concrete upon which one 18’ x 24’ tent accommodated the Duty/Ops room and a small Welfare area for the off-duty personnel. And on the adjacent slab, two iso-container kennels housed the 12 AES, VS and Protection MWDs utilised in the Force Protection and offensive search operations conducted within Bastion and the greater Helmand Area of operations.
After months of functioning using a Field Electric Power System (FEPS) Generator and a water-bowser, the Unit was connected to a mains generator supply of electricity and a permanent water supply was fitted in April 2007. The small Unit had two white fleet vehicles – battered Tata flatbed pickup trucks – probably imported from Pakistan in their early life; we mainly used them for conveying dog teams around Bastion and to the Helipads.
Day-by-day, Camp BASTION was also growing and developing. As an independent Unit, TMWDSU had been privileged to provide support to the lead Battle Group (BG) for Op HERRICK 5, 42 Commando (Cdo) Royal Marines; as part of 3 Cdo Bde; 42 Cdo RM had also gained considerable experience working with MWDs and over the course the Op tour had, on a daily basis, utilised both AES and Protection MWDs on its ground operations.
The TMWDSU had also been auspicious in being privy to several high-profile visits. The Unit welcomed our Colonel in Chief, HRH The Princess Royal. Meeting troops from across Helmand Province, Princess Anne was delighted to meet the MWDs and their handlers. Slightly alarmed that AES MWD “Cindy” took a keen interest in her handbag, the Princess assured us that there were no explosives on her person and was relieved to hear, that although extremely bright,
Cindy was still a dog interested in the new smells from ‘home’. Another visitor was the then Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
The realities of conflict, and the resistance of the Taliban to the reconstruction efforts of the UK in this region, were thoroughly reinforced on a Remembrance Day, Saturday 11th November 2006. The memorial, constructed by 3 PARA, stood proudly in Bastion Joint Operational Command (JOC), and gives statement to those who have given their lives in the campaign. Built from stone and 30mm shell cases, the engrave plaque begin:
‘Dedicated to those who have fallen in the line of duty in Helmand Province...’
Afghanistan was a harsh, wild and barren land, that to the outsider seems desolate and uninhab- itable; however, the people were both fascinating and captivating and on closer examination, exceptionally patriotic and territorial. Although a comparatively unsophisticated and simple populace, the resistance they showed Russian conquest in the 1970s and ‘80s was certainly mimicked in attitudes to the west in later times. Their dislike for dogs was not as intense or vehement as the Iraqi population, but their use of these animals for fighting sports and the removal of the ear tips created a cruel impression; it was difficult not to generalise or reach conclusions based on limited information. The ear tips are cut away to prevent damage while fighting and the pride and care the Pashtu show for their camels and sheep was clear and unquestionable.
These nomadic farmers of Helmand were later to be ideal recipients of Quick Initiative Projects (QIPs) and Consent Winning Activities (CWA). With the development to this Theatre and the expansion of RAVC resources on Op HERRICK, there was the need for the establishment of a dedicated Veterinary Officer post for TMWDSU (AFG). At this time, veterinary care for the Corps MWDs was ad hoc.
Op HERRICK 6
March 2007 saw 101’s sister Unit deploy from Germany to Helmand, to relieve 101, initially with seventeen personnel in total.24 102 MWD Sp Unit’s advance party of eleven personnel and seven MWDs arrived on 17th March 2007, others arriving later on. The Mission was to Support HTF Operations, Provide Specialist and Protection Military Working Dog Teams, Provide Role 2/2+ Veterinary Support in Theatre and be prepared to advise in zoonotic disease and feral animal control,
24 PERSREP dated 9th April 2007.
476