Page 529 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
tarian aid operation in more than 70 years by the MoD. More than one thousand troops, diplomats and officials were dispatched to Afghanistan to rescue UK nationals and Afghan allies after the country’s capital fell to the Taliban – airlifting more than fifteen thousand people to safety in just over a fortnight. The non-combatant operation took place during the period 14th – 29th August 2021 and saw members of 1 MWD Regt, from 102 MWD Sqn supporting the crucial evacuation operation.
Due to the potential kinetic location and possible associated injuries, a VO deployed to ensure the welfare and rapid treatment of any injured MWDs. The VO provided the ability to maintain the MWDs in austere conditions and, in the absence of any permanent veterinary facilities or partner-nation support, could perform emergency medicine and damage control surgery if required. The VO was also able to provide valuable insight into the employment and planning considerations of MWDs to the Battle Group Headquarters.
1 MWD Regt crucially also deployed eight MWD teams as part of the Air Manoeuvre Battle Group from the high readiness 16 Air Assault Brigade. Of the eight teams, four were Patrol dogs and four were Arms Explosive Search dogs.
The Patrol dog capability was a key force multiplier in controlling the large crowds attempting to gain access to the HKIA, and in patrolling the perimeters acted as a visual deterrent for would-be intruders.
The Arms Explosive Search teams operated both independently and alongside personnel deployed from 821 Explosive Ordnance and Search Sqn, a component of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD&S). The MWDs ability to search such a large volume of baggage in a short space of time made them a frequently employed asset throughout the entire evacuation operation. With over fifteen thousand evacuated by UK forces, clearly the AES teams had to search in soaring temperatures, rapidly and decisively working their way over the huge collection of luggage and belongings that were to be conveyed by the numerous outgoing military flights.
RAVC Personnel who deployed on the operation were awarded The Operational Service Medal Afghanistan with its own distinctive Op PITTING clasp for their contribution.
Op PITTING was the closing deployment of the RAVC personnel to Afghanistan, of the many lengthy deployments for the Corps which originally got underway in February 2002.
Finally...
The insidious nature of the Taliban’s weapon of choice, the IED, focussed the Corps on defeating this hidden and deadly enemy. Proving that necessity really can be the mother of invention the capabilities were devised to secure and protect military colleagues and Afghan civilians.
The war in Afghanistan ended, though the families of those whose lives were lost over the twelve years of Op HERRICK still hear the gunfire, the explosions and the crying out.
For the loved ones of LCpl Kenneth Rowe and LCpl Liam Tasker there is hopefully the comforting knowledge that both young soldiers died with their best friend at their side, doing the job they lived for.
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Operation PITTING Afghanistan Pte Henry Wray and his Patrol dog Keizer at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul – August 2021.