Highlanders Homeward Bound After Afghan Service
British soldiers who worked to ensure the safe closure of US and UK forward bases in Afghanistan are returning home after their final operational tour there.
Troops from the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS), known as The Highlanders, handed over command of the multi-national Manoeuvre Battlegroup to 5 RIFLES in Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province on Friday 30 May.
Working with 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffords), 9th/12th Royal Lancers and 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, as well as longstanding Estonian and Danish allies, the battlegroup supported the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) when required and protected coalition operations.
The Highlanders are the final Scottish battalion to have served in a combat role in Afghanistan. As the lead element of the Battlegroup they were responsible for the closure of Main Operating Base (MOB) Price and Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lashkar Gah Durai, as well as the closure of the UK’s final base outside of Camp Bastion, Observation Post Sterga 2.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Roddis MBE, said:
“It is an honour to have commanded such a diverse, cross-coalition and capable organisation, able to draw on much collective experience and be involved in the transfer and closure of the final US and UK bases outside of Bastion in Central Helmand.
“This has been a fascinating tour to be part of as Britain’s military contribution to Afghanistan draws down and it has been a huge privilege to command the final Scottish battalion to be involved in the Herrick campaign.
“5 RIFLES are a great battalion, who will successfully close-out the UK combat contribution to Central Helmand and hand off the final elements of security provision to the Afghan National Security Forces.”
4 SCOTS have completed two previous tours of Afghanistan, sending a company in March 2008 in support of 5 SCOTS while the remainder of the battalion was deployed to Iraq and then acting as a battlegroup in summer 2011 on Herrick 14.
Speaking about the closure of STERGA 2 Corporal Mark Prentice, who previously served on Herrick 8 and 15 said:
“Providing security for the closure of STERGA 2 was a big operation and I was glad to be a part of it. As a ground commander in the Commanding Officer’s Tactical Group I was responsible for the Commander’s force protection, operating out of the Mastiff protected mobility patrol vehicle. Fortunately, everything went to plan and we all got back safely. It was a good feeling to be part of the operation to close the last remaining outpost in Helmand. Now I am just looking forward to getting back and seeing the family.”
In contrast to the searing heat of 2011, personnel endured freezing desert nights during a January operation to support American base closures. The battlegroup provided security for an 180-vehicle US convoy by positioning themselves in the Helmand desert in protected mobility vehicles including Mastiff.
Sergeant Kevin Milne, the Commanding Officer’s signaller, participated in the Northern retrograde operations including the closure of MOB PRICE and FOB Lashkar Gah Durai. He said:
“Compared to my previous tour this one has been much quieter. The Afghans are in the lead for security now so our role has been limited to force protection and supporting ANA missions. On one mission in January we were tasked to support the ANA on a mission to find a weapons cache. The mission itself was pretty straightforward but I remember the weather being absolutely freezing, and I will never forget, or miss, sleeping outside in those conditions.”
5 RIFLES will be the last unit to command the battlegroup as UK combat operations cease at the end of 2014.
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