Page 14 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

2 RIFLES tour on Op TORAL has been anything but what was expected. Kabul
is a far cry from home, here you can go either way around a roundabout, the buzz of helicopters is never far away and we are working hand in glove with Mongolians, Danes, Australians, and Estonians. Prior to deployment, the expectation was Advisor Force Protection (AFP), escorting advisors across Kabul, and providing protection to them as they worked alongside their Afghan counterparts. As with everything, COVID-19 has done its best to derail us.
Our roles have split the battalion across
the City. In New Kabul Compound, C Company alongside D Company 4 SCOTS and the Danish company rotate between assuring base defence alongside Mongolians, conducting routine patrols and AFP, and maintaining
a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) to react throughout Kabul. Luckily, the Danes and Mongolians double as interpreters and can translate most of what the Jocks are saying. Meanwhile in HKIA, A and B Company have come together for TORAL 10, and when they have not been providing AFP to the New Ministry of Interior, have also been conducting missions in the wider city and standing by with an additional QRF.
What we planned to do has not changed, how we do it has and dramatically so. Unfortu- nately, the risk presented by the virus caused a reduction, but not elimination, of advisor force protection taskings across the city, and a distinct change in our conduct in Kabul. Virus or no virus, the Riflemen have a job to do and have continued to deliver security in the city. All missions required still go ahead, but with COVID restrictions in place; face masks and social distancing are the norm, whilst maintaining key Afghan relationships has been a challenge without opportunities for face-to-face contact.
In between AFP taskings, and logistics patrols, our Riflemen have been routinely patrolling the city. This maintains our presence, but also allows us to keep our finger on the pulse and understand the atmospherics and different ecosystems to help our planning. There has been time for more in-country training as well. The companies have trained with helicopters during medical exercises in case an incident is not accessible by road, this has maintained our agility despite COVID and all the funnies Kabul can throw at us. Simuni- tion skills house, live fire ranges and readiness exercises have kept our skills honed and ready for whatever tomorrow may bring. Luckily, we
Rfn Training with US Aviation 1
Virus or no virus, the Riflemen have a
were still able to celebrate Salamanca Day, with quite possibly the largest ever RIFLES- themed cake, and a fitness event. There are rumours the RSM’s rhino-power carried the HQ to victory. Our time has been interspersed with bouts of high-intensity activity in the city, necessitating our QRF to be ready to move and deploy at a moment’s notice, able to deliver medical assistance and security at the point of need. It’s not what we expected pre-virus, but it’s certainly been anything but dull.
Capt Matt Smith
job to do and have continued to deliver security in the city
Rfn Eyles NKC Coy
Preparing for Patrol
Rfn Training with US Aviation 2
14 RIFLES The Bugle
OP TORAL