Task Force Helmand

Engineer Group
News Letter
Edition 6 30 May 2011

Commanding Officer‘s Foreword

„Salaamu alaikum‟
As we approach the mid point of HERRICK 14 the pace of engineer activity and Afghan tem-
peratures continue to rise; the Engineer Group is running hot, both metaphorically and physi-
cally! Reassuringly, but not unexpectedly, we are still delivering all that is being asked of us.
Inside this issue: 26, 39 and 59 Squadrons continue to provide the full spectrum of engineer support to the
Ground Holding Battlegroups; rapidly switching from assault breaching into compounds, to
building roads and bridges, to constructing tactical bases as the situation demands. They have
all been magnificent. 31 (TALISMAN) Squadron are in the vanguard of the C-IED battle; con-
tinuously supporting Combat Logistic Patrols and Battlegroup deliberate route clearance oper-
Regimental 2
ations, they are in the thick of it every day and are making a real difference. 3 (BAM) Squadron
Headquarters
have made a hugely impressive start. Their infrastructure tasks are vital to the Task Force
Helmand long term plans for handing over to the Afghan National Security Forces and I have
no doubt that they will meet the exceptionally challenging deadlines they have been set. 54
54 Commando HQ 3 Squadron and all its key components continue to ably support everything the Engineer Group
& Support Squadron does; their task is unrelenting, and often out of the public eye, but is crucial to our continued
success and never underestimated. The Afghan Engineer Tolay Training & Advisory Team con-
tinues to partner our Afghan colleagues. Very much the main effort, for it is our Afghan col-
REME LAD 5 leagues who will keep the peace long after we have gone; they have been excellent. Last, but
by no means least, a word on Recce Troop; integral and trusted members of the Brigade Re-
connaissance Force, all of them have taken the fight directly to the enemy. They have already
made some outstanding IED finds and highly significant insurgent detentions; hugely impressive
3 Armoured Engineer 6 in every respect.
Squadron

Improving Freedom of Movement

26 Armoured 8 59 building a Medium Girder Bridge in Nad-e Ali
Engineer Squadron

31 Armoured 10
Engineer Squadron
(Talisman)

39 Armoured 14
Engineer Squadron

59 Commando 17
Squadron

Support Commando 24 You will therefore not be surprised to hear that the sheer professionalism, courage, determi-
Sappers in Afghani- nation, selflessness and cheerfulness of everyone I meet in the Engineer Group impresses me
stan—Wrist Bands and humbles me in equal measure on a daily basis. You should be extremely proud of every
 Edition 5 Page 2

Commanding Officer‘s Foreword—(continued)

single one of them. In my view the Engineer Group is in really good shape. However, I don‘t underestimate the sacrifices
that you and your families have already made to get to this point; both during pre-deployment training and during the first 3
months of our deployment. I would like to thank you all for your commitment and exceptional support. As I said before
we deployed, HERRICK 14 is a team effort with 3 key elements; those that deploy, the Rear Operations Groups that pro-
vide the much needed Firm Base and all the families and friends, whose support is so vital to everything we do out here in
Afghanistan. Only by working together will we achieve mission success; I remain utterly confident that we will continue to
work together and we will achieve mission success. United We Conquer!

Protecting the Force

26 clearing IEDs in Nahr-e Saraj

„De khuday pa amaan‟

CO

SSM 54 HQ & Sp Sqn Foreword

It‘s finally upon us, R&R! The first 2 batches have been sent on their way home, full of smiles I might add. The
whole R&R piece is quite an evolution getting the guys home. For some it begins with trying to get them back from
forward locations to Camp Bastion, this is reliant on the availability of helicopters, so some return days early to
guarantee flights. Once in Bastion there are R&R briefs, handing in ammunition and then the obligatory waiting
about until flight loading. RAF travel is certainly no express luxury check in service! Then there‘s the epic journey
home; for some this involves a bounce about various other countries before finally getting home. The guys can be
on the go travelling home for a good 23 hours, so they may be a tad tired when they walk through your door.
With R&R comes the added strain of reduced manpower around the Group. The work does not stop or let up so
those who are left have to work that bit harder to maintain momentum. The OC Major Parfitt is out on R&R so
we have the 2IC Capt. Hardwick stepping into his shoes, within minutes he‘d commandeered the OC‘s office. Yet
confusingly redirected the phone to the Ops Room!
The rest of the HQ & Sp Sqn remains busy; the tasks continue to come in thick and fast. Morale remains high,
especially now that R&R has kicked in. It‘s all a step closer to getting back to loved ones, family & friends. Our
‗Chuff Charts‘ are hitting the halfway point and the time really does seem to be cruising by at a speed, which is
always a blessing. The focus for us is to get the job done and then return home proud of all we have achieved.
The support received from you all at home has been fantastic, it won‘t be long before your son, husband or partner
is home on R&R to thank you in person. - WO2 (SSM) Elliott
Page 3 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

54 Commando Headquarters and Support Squadron

5 4 Support Troop‘s Crane Task

Who said a job in the Royal Engineers wasn‘t varied?! Just last week I found myself getting ready to leave Camp Bastion to go
and help the another unit in distress, not, unfortunately, on a Gucci strike op but in fact a crane job! The water source in one
of their camps had packed in, and so armed with the Regiment‘s 32 Tonne mobile crane Sgt Harris and I headed out to help.

After one false start, where the Quick Reaction Force that was assigned to escort us left without us (!!), we were on our way
and were quickly on the task site looking at the job in hand. Me and Sgt Harris, who was the AP (appointed person), quickly
assessed the task. Well that‘s what he called it, but I thought he was just walking around looking important!

The task was to pull out around 200 metres of piping from within a borehole as the pump wasn‘t providing any water and it
was needed by up to 900 people.
We had a small team of local civilians who helped out with attaching the piping to the hook to help speed the task up. As we
finally pulled the pump out, the locals started to get pretty excited and a few pictures were taken. What seemed like a small
thing to me obviously mattered a lot to them, although I did my very best to stay out of the photos!

The first part of the task was done, I then had to pack up and make my way back to MOB BASTION for our own operation
with the Escort Multiple. A few days past and I was back at the FOB ready to start the second part of the job. The civilians
were expecting some problems whilst lowering the new bore hole pump back underground, but as the task unfolded we did-
n‘t encounter any problems whatsoever, the whole event ran really smoothly in the end, which is always a good thing!

We then made a move back to BASTION as we had completed the task… for now at least!! By Spr Lee

Spr Don
 Edition 5 Page 4

Resources Troop—TFH Resources Gears Up For R‘n‘R and LSI

Hello and a big Bula vinaka to all
our faithful readers, loved ones
The human Medium Girder Bridge
and families of the TFH Re-
sources Troop and welcome to
another fortnightly edition of our
newsletter. This week saw the
first lot of R‘n‘R ―go‘ers‖ leaving
their posts for a little time off
―chillaxation‖ back home -
amongst them, our very own
troop reps Spr ‗Dangerous‘ Dave
Oxford and LCpl ‗Sammy‘
Schofield… lucky for some, chin
up boys your time will come.
The rest of the troop carried on
the usual hectic routine… grizz-
in‘ it out in scorching tempera-
tures of 43+ degrees…definitely
‗no joke‘ boys!!

The yard was however, bol-

stered by extra man power
thanks to the lads from Op
BAM, getting a little first hand
experience into the life of an
Engineer Logistic Specialist. From
palletising over 1000 50kg cement bags to stripping out some 60 ISO‘s that have come back from the ground… on that note
anyone want to re-trade to Engr Log Spec??
Seriously it‘s no joke!!

Also this week saw the return of the fitter,

Spr ‗Obi Wan‘ Obino having been away the
past week working at the Bulk Fuel Installa-
tion (BFI), welcome back mate…crack on!!
Last weekend saw the troop celebrating the
second anniversary of TOA which was ex-
tended to RSG TOA to cater for our neigh-
bouring troops, the DEW and the QM/
SQMS for an inter troop Games night host-
ed by Troopy McCloud resulting in a tie
between the QM/SQMS and us.

Furthermore, over the last couple of days

the RSG has been closed in order to select
stores for the upgrade of a number of fu-
ture Operations on the ground, headed by
SSgt ‗Wilko‘ Wilkinson. A thorough stock-
take of the fast movers (popular stock) on
the yard - not any easy task when you only
have 4 ―yardies‖ working but I am proud to
say that we are almost there and ready to
open again for business and the crew are all
geared up and ready to handle whatever the
week ahead has to throw at us…Bring it
on!!

Spr ‗Hightower‘ Nayacatabu

Jenga Resources Tp style

Page 5 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

REME—Day in the life of the ESLO

In the last few weeks our numbers have been increased with the arrival of 3 more
tradesmen. Cpl Paul Saunders, LCpl Brandon Corken and LCpl ‗One Ab‘ Shepherd
have joined us to work with the Engineers task to upgrade and winterise various
locations.

On a much happier note the 1st batch of the LAD went on R & R this week, albeit
24 hours late. Thankfully for all of us still here this included Cpl ‗Horsehead‘ Gilli-
gan, as we get a 2 week break from listening to his boring dit‘s and blatant lies
about how much
he has done in
the gym! Let‘s
hope that this is
the first and last
time the R & R
flights are de-
layed.

The highlight of the week for SSgt ‗The ESLO‘ Goldsmith

was the arrival of his new wheels. SSgt Goldsmith has
been finding all the walking about he has to do quite ex-
hausting (and sweaty!) so he set about getting the LAD
some transport. We had all hoped for an air-conditioned
pick up. ‘No chance‘ where the words from the MT rep SSgt Goldsmith and his “ride”
and we have ended up with possibly the oldest and most
knackered flatbed truck on camp!

As well as fixing anything that comes his way, Sgt John ‗Willie‘ Nelson has a new project to occupy his time. He has decided
to do a bit of horticulture and is growing a tomato plant. Although still very much in its infancy, 2 cm tall to be exact, he is
very proud of his efforts and looks at it with great pride every morning when he waters it.

This week we see the

arrival of 24 Cdo Engr
Wkp‘s ASM, WO1 Gil-
bert who will replace
the AQMS WO2 Mick
‗Love-eggs‘ Lovell. Mick
will be sadly missed but
at least he can enjoy the
summer in sunny Devon
and we don‘t have to
listen to him go on
about his non-existent
biceps and the denial of
his ever reducing hair-
line! - SSgt Goldsmith

Sgt Nelson‟s tomato plant

Page 6 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

3 Armoured Engineer Squadron

OC‘s Foreword
This second newsletter comes to you with the Squadron now almost fully committed and deployed to
the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). We are busy on all levels, from the Sappers on the ground , through our logistics ele-
ment trying to get the equipment to them (everything from several hundred tonnes of aggregate to a pair of flip-flops), to the
Command and Ops team (all 3 of us!) already planning for the handover of our current tasks and aiming off for future tasks.
This is all tying together quite nicely and starting to run like a well-oiled machine. The only complaint I get is from the lads left
with us in Camp Bastion for too long who either want to get out and go to work with the other sections or just want to get
away from Sergeant Major Hamilton – I think the truth is a bit of both! As ever the guys are doing a sterling job and working
like only a Royal Engineer can. Hard! - Maj Matt Davies

Hit the Ground Running

―We must hit the ground running!‖
These were the motivating words from
Squadron Headquarters prior to de-
ploying on Op Bam in support to Op
Herrick 14. The Section Commanders
all had inspired their respective lads,
and had dictated the unit and work
ethos. All the Sections of the Squadron
were keen to get the job done; Sappers
and Junior NCOs chomping at the bit.
Unfortunately, the only ground we
could run on to was blocked by a wall
of un-breachable red tape.
1 Troop‘s initial main task on this tour
is to upgrade one of the Patrol Bases
(PB) into a Forward Operating Base
(FOB) for an Infantry Company-size
unit. This is extremely important work,
vital to the British Forces‘ overall long-
term plan and the move towards hand-
over to Afghan Forces, and the British
Sgt Amey‟s Sock! withdrawal. The purchase of the land
on which the FOB will extend to, how-
ever, is caught up in a somewhat ex-
tended battle of rights and agreements with local authorities and landowners. This land must also be made secure and safe
before the Troop can build on it. The majority of the Troop therefore, have been thus far redundant to task. Only a handful
of mixed-traded lads were deployed in order to establish the Troop‘s first foot on the ground. Corporal Si Avis has started
some ground-works with his plant machinery; Lance Corporals Lee Smith and ‗Ray‘ Mears are overseeing arrival of aggregates
and stores.
2 Troop have had a better deal. With no red tape to contend with they were able to deploy to their task of the drawing-down
of a Battle Group HQ into a Company FOB. The only spanner in the works for them was their helicopter flights out. Despite
the High Priority of task, one flight was cancelled, and another delayed. All of 2 Troop are now however, happily ‗doozering‘
away.
The remainder of 1 Troop on the other hand, are somewhat deflated. The local Labour Exchange had found much work for us
in the form of a whole years worth of Resources Park work, sorting ISO Container contents and bridges for Engineer Group.
In the words of Corporal Jay Rochester: ―It‘s Op Spam!‖ Realising this work is not focussed towards our own Squadron mis-
sion, the lads‘ morale is, for the moment, understandably low. Section Commanders are quick to battle this with re-directing
efforts on useful continuation training, and lulling the breaks with rugby on the Resources Yard! Such is the versatility and resil-
ience of the Great British soldier, and the Sapper in particular, to pick himself up and find the best in the face of adversity!
We will get out there soon, and when we do we will indeed hit the ground running. We‘ll need to: the deadline is still in place,
so the more time not on task, is less time to complete it when we do finally get to it. To me personally, this is the challenge I
like to embrace. For me, it makes the time fly by and before we know it, that‘ll be the first half of the tour done. I think that
that is the key for all us ‗pads‘, wives and families: keep busy, busy, busy, and we‘ll be home soon. By Corporal Hoggy Hogben
 Page 7 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

Patrol Base NA-

Keep the mail coming
HIDULLAH upgrade.
The first weeks.
The upgrade of Patrol Base Na-
hidullah is a big project. Within 2
months the existing Patrol Base (PB)
will double in size and will be fitted
with the most high tech facilities avail-
able in theatre
The primary task was to procure the
land on which the PB would be ex-
tended onto. This was the first big
hurdle; whilst the land was owned by
the Afghan Government and could be
purchased, the local population had
used the area to grow crops and
were reluctant to let it go. Once a
deal was made and the local farmers
were happy, the area was searched
for any IEDs or legacy mines. The
ploughing could now begin.
With the temperature soaring we
soon learnt that the best times to
work were before 7am and after 5pm. The crane was not a big fan of the Afghan climate, often shutting itself down at 11am for the
rest of the day. Quite frequently the crane had to be left with the arm still fully extended rising majestically above the Hesco Perimeter
by 20 metres.
With the area cleared of all crops, the ground works was the next big hurdle. The land was uneven and boggy, posing many challenges
to the plant operators, and a few opportunities to practice their drifting – something even the Stig would be nervous to do. The plant
vehicles worked morning, noon and night to flatten the ground and relocate several irrigation ditches that could flood the site. It was
suggested these ditches could be rebuilt into a moat around the new PB, however a drawbridge would have taken too long to manufac-
ture. With the aid of civilian con-
tractors and a few crash courses
Diggers in Pashtu (apparently the British
method of shouting louder and
repeating yourself really does
work), the ground was ready for
the new perimeter‘s Hesco Wall.
The Northern wall would consist
of Mil 7 Hesco RAID. RAID is a
very new invention and is an inno-
vative method of building Hesco.
It saves on manpower and more
critically, time!

Instead of using men to drag out

and place the Hesco baskets prior
to being filled, RAID simply uses a
truck to drag a large container of
Hesco: as the lorry moves for-
ward the Hesco falls out the back
straight into position ready to be
filled with sand. At least, that is
what is supposed to happen.
This was the first time RAID had ever been used in an operational environment, so we were graced with the attention of an eager
audience consisting of troop management, local children – even the camp security cameras had rotated to watch the Engineers. Unfor-
tunately, the RAID was too innovative for its own good as no one had any experience of working with it. For once the ‗mature‘ Staff
Sergeant had as much of a clue as the young Troop Commander. After two hours of teething problems the local children became
more interested in a funny shaped rock and left; the camp security cameras swivelled away and resumed watching out for any enemy
threat; the Troop Commander left for his orders group. However, as day turned to night the Mil 7 RAID was successfully deployed – a
total of 200 metres covered in less than 2 minutes.
With the wall being filled with aggregate the project pushes on with 6 weeks to go until our next tasking.
 Edition 5
Page 8

26 Armoured Engineer Squadron

OC‘s Foreword
As the R&R finally gets starts, the Squadron has also regrouped into
some new locations with all of 1 Troop moving to complete a large
Forward Operating Base building task in a place called Lashkar Gah
Durai – Durai being the Pashtun word for ‗junction‘ as it is located
on the main Highway by the turning for the city of Lashkar Gah. 2
Troop remain split between Rahim and the ‗Patrol Base Line‘, which
is a series of bases owned by Afghan and Danish soldiers. 3 Troop
remain partly in Khar-Nikah and partly in a new location near the
city of Gereshk, where they are building a new camp for soldiers
from the 9/12 Lancers. All are in good spirits despite the long work-
ing hours and the now unbearable heat (up to 46ºC so far) and busy
planning how best to spend their Leave. Maj Webster OC 26 AES

A Electrical Upgrade for the

OC & SSM at the Patrol Base Line
RSOI Training for Armoured Engineers Afghan National Police by
Corporal ‗H‘ Hammond

On 23 May 11, the self named ‗Fighting Cobra‘ Section of 3

Troop deployed to Gereshk district centre to assist the Spr Hinnes driving the Husky
Afghan National Police with a solution to their ongoing
electrical problems. The Patrol Base (PB) houses a group
of Afghan National Police (ANP) responsible for providing
security to the district centre of Gereshk, as well as Gur-
kha‘s from 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles who are responsible for
the mentoring of the ANP.

Once set up, Sapper‘s Clements and Hicks started to con-

struct a sun shade for the Danish generator which was
struggling to work in the intense heat. In the meantime,
Sapper Allison, the Electrician attached from 2 Troop,

Afghan National Police in

Gereshk

went to work on reconnecting power to the accommo-

dation. It was pretty clear straight away that Stevie Won-
der must have wired in the electrics as it was completely
wrong and bordering on dangerous. This in turn was
causing the generator to trip out and stop working. After
a morning re-routing wires to and from the living and
working areas, Sapper Allison declared the task complete
and up to standard. Another example of how a mornings
work by an Engineer Section can have a deep impact on
the working and living conditions of Afghan and ISAF
Troops. The Section returned to the Main Operating
Base (MOB) Price leaving behind a very grateful group of
ANP and Gurkha‘s. by Corporal ‗H‘ Hammond
Page 9 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

Don‘t mess with the ZOHAL

On 20 Apr 11, 2 Section, 3 Troop were tasked with the upgrade of Check Point (CP) Zohal. The job itself was rea-
sonably straight forward, even though it was in a pretty bad state. We had the mighty 2 section, the Afghan National
Army (ANA) and some cowboy well drillers. It was quite a cosmopolitan site.

CP Zohal is 800m to the east of PB Hazrat, which has been the sections home for the last 2 ½ months and is manned
by 10-12 ANA soldiers, who when not brushing their hair on sentry duty were all crammed into a flea infested hole
that resembled a Blackpool hotel. The CP had no real protection, therefore it was our job to provide HESCO walls
and a HESCO sangar for the ANA to live in and operate from.

The task went without problem and was completed in four days. The ANA were more than happy to cast their
‗builders eye‘ and assess our workmanship and were particularly vocal with their expert opinion, obviously this was
only when not staring longingly at the newly slim and bronzed Sapper Hicks. The ANA seemed to be very fond of
Sapper Hicks and were more than happy to offer their assistance whenever he was on the scene. Sapper Hicks also
flaunted himself in order to get bread, it was rather shameful, but at least the section didn‘t go hungry. It‘s quite sur-
prising how much banter can be shared between two groups of people who don‘t speak the same language, the most
useful phrases being ‗very good‘ and ‗no good‘.

All in all, an enjoyable task in the soaring heat. It was a job well done, with a cracking bunch of ANA soldiers and some
light humour thrown in for good measure! By LCpl Beveridge

Trojan ploughing through

Page 10 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

31 Armoured Engineer Squadron (Talisman)

OC‘s 2IC‘s Foreword.

The past couple of weeks have been both busy and productive for 31 Armoured Engi-
neer Squadron. With the onset of R&R, there has been a significant amount of personnel movement between troops to
ensure each troop is fully manned for ops. Support to the Combat Logistics Patrols has been ongoing, with the Com-
manding Officer of the Commando Logistics Regiment singing the praises of the Squadron for all their hard work and
support. There has also been a good exchange of ideas with the American Route Proving and Clearance unit when they
visited us in BASTION 3. Captain Hastings continues to work hard in Kabul, training the Afghan Route Clearance Com-
pany in preparation for their move down here next month when we will have increased interaction with them as we
take on more responsibility for their mentoring and training. Amongst the ongoing ops and planning for future ops,
there has still been a bit of time for Squadron cohesion to take place. 1 Troop organised and ran a very successful inter-
troop games night; although SHQ felt the choice of activities chosen were purely to hinder our efforts at winning any-
thing! Finally, from everyone in 31 AES out here, congratulations to Sammie and Tommy Ambery on the birth of their
third daughter, Bella.

31 AES Games Night – May 2011

The mighty 1 Troop were given the task of organizing a night of entertainment for no reason other than the whole Squad-
ron was in Camp at the same time for a few days. It was decided that a games night would be a good idea as 1 Troop's
Staffy (SSgt Lee Wild) fancied himself as a bit of a pub games expert. The night consisted of a tournament of 6 different
team games with a prize for the overall winner. The games played were as varied as the teams that played them, from a pub
quiz to a mini Call of Duty tournament, as well as other games such as Darts, Table tennis, Jenga and Euchre. Each Troop
was represented by four players in each event, this however proved to be a problem for SHQ who had to resort to re-
cruiting players from the C-IED Task Force. This only hindered their efforts in the games and as a result SHQ were placed
last in the overall standings with an impressive
zero points overall!!

Each of the events brought with it varying degrees

of difficulty, most of which were due to the calibre
of your opponent as there was some serious
sharks in the Sqn alongside some guys who strug-
gle to get themselves dressed in the morning.
Some were taking it far more seriously than others
(Troopy Phipp's took it far too serious as you can
see by his insane grin on the table tennis picture)
which only added to the frustration of the compet-
itive dads in the teams. The quiz was the excep-
tion to this rule which was made more difficult by
the subjects chosen by the quiz master Bom-
bardier Darker. He seemed to assume that the
teams would be made up of regular quiz goers and
Ultimate Fight Club followers, for the 1 Troop
team however, this wasn‘t the case. One of the
Lt Phipps cheesy gein! team members Spr ‗potatoes‘ Smith was apparent-
ly sworn to silence during the quiz as he offered
no input what so ever and seemed to stare blankly
at the quiz master for the whole time. Clearly the questions were not designed for him.

1 Troop did however fair better in other events. We were crowned champions in Darts, Table Tennis and Euchre. Admit-
tedly the Table Tennis win could possibly have been down to Lt Phipps‘s unique playing style in which the rules are created
as the game was played. Overall the night was a hit with the squadron and every one had a good time participating in the
games. The teams also had a chance to create new and ingenious ways of distracting the other teams in an attempt to help
their own team to victory. Luckily this did not get out of hand and no nudity was seen to be used!!!

With the evening drawing to a close 1 Troop was awarded first place for their efforts. It was a position that had been
earned by our hard work and skill and nothing what so every to do with us being the event organizers. Honest guv.
 Page 11 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

The American Visit to Talisman Squadron

3 Troop 31 Armd Engr Sqn took part in a ―show and tell‖ for the American route clearance team on 18 May 2011. This was
intended to give them an insight in to our Talisman vehicles and equipment as we do similar jobs and use similar equipment.
We started off in the morning at 0800 by setting up the various Talisman vehicles and equipment in preparation, by this time
it was already getting close to 40 degrees and rising. While Spr Andrews (Paddy) and Spr Lowe (J Lowe) moved the Buffalos,
Spr Mercer (Nobby) moved the Mastiff, Spr Conolley (Billy) moved the HMEE and LCpl Kerr (Rob) manoeuvred the Panama
vehicle into position. The search equipment was set up by our resident experts LCpl Lucas (Ash), Spr Crowther (Joe), Spr
Parker (Lewis), Spr Evans (Wobble) and Spr Bruce (Boy Band) and they were then on hand to answer any questions on our
search techniques. Cpl Peglar (Pegs) was also there to give his Team Commander slant on any of the issues or questions
raised. The Rock Star that is Lt Irving (Luke), SSgt Heal (Dave) and Sgt Bracey (Andy) were there to ensure things ran
smoothly and answer any questions that the previously mentioned guys could not answer. By 0900hrs we were all ready by
our nominated equipments and tucked into any shade we could find while we waited for the visit team to descend upon us.

Before long they arrived being

escorted by OC Maj Struthridge,
Capt Medcalf (Crazy Eyes) and
WO2 (SSM) Bourne (Spennie)
and we spent at least the next 30
mins showing off all our Talisman
capabilities with which the
Americans seemed to be very
impressed. Unfortunately Billy,
Rob and Paddy had to step down
from talking about the equip-
ments because the Americans
could not understand the Scot-
tish and Irish accents and we had
no translators on hand. To be
fair we normally can not under-
stand what they are saying either
so it was no great shock.

By 1030hrs the American vehi-

cles rolled into our compound
and took up formation. They
were surprisingly different to
ours, like little baby versions,
even though they did the same
job (ish). We were all very ea-
ger to get involved and learn
about them, for professional
reasons only clearly and nothing
to do with ―boys and their toys‖

Spr Parker answers the Americans questions We all were very surprised to
see how much room there was
in most of their vehicles which
made us quite envious as we are
generally packed into our vehicles like sardines in a tin. We were happy to see that not everything was as spacious when we
were introduced to the Husky. It was a one man vehicle with enough room to barely sit in it and they told us sometimes they
could be out for over 3 weeks at a time! No matter how big or small all the vehicles were they all had ample supply of Beef
Jerky and Powereade drinks.

While I ―Sapper Crowther‖ was being shown around the American equivalent to our Buffalo I took advantage of some of the
rations that they had left in the various compartments. I favored the beef jerky and took every advantage to accept their hos-
pitality which soon began to run dry as I finished a few bags. A good conversation on Top Gear and English accents finished
off a good ‗show and tell‘ from both sides of the ‗pond‘. With a quick round of hand shakes and best wishes for a safe tour the
Americans departed and hopefully we will get the chance to visit them at their camp in the near future. Spr Crowther—3
Troop Talisman Sqn.
 Page 12 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

Combat Logistic Patrol—TALISMAN Perspective

1 and 2 Troop have just finished a very busy Combat
Logistic Patrol (CLP) for those of you who are not
TALISMAN making their own way through for CLSR
familiar with the term CLP it is the name given to the
giant convoys that resupply all the Patrol Bases in
Southern Helmand. They provide all the vital stores
and equipment that the Patrol Bases require to oper-
ate. The convoy has approximately 70 vehicles includ-
ing the Talisman fleet of 9, stretching up to 3km in
length. Our job as the Talisman Squadron is to prove
and clear if necessary all the routes, ensuring all the
vehicles and personnel arrive safely at the Patrol Bases.

At the front leading this armoured conga through the

desert is Sgt Mark Josee for 1 Tp and Sgt Steve ―the
stig‖ Smith for 2 Tp. Having the ability to pick and
choose their own route with help of a tractor (HMEE)
operated by the Sqn's elite mud muppets, this enables
safe passage for all. Making sure the rest of the convoy
keep up and looking after the rear of TALISMAN is
SSgt Lee Wild and SSgt Felix Binns from 1 and 2 Troop
respectively, which is easier said than done. Managing
and controlling this major operation and also ensuring
the Troop Commanders are making realistic and sensi-
ble decisions are by far the hardest and
busiest job within the Talisman Orbat.
They can often be heard saying that
they would love an easier job, some-
thing like the Talisman Search Adviser
that lead the convoy but this would
mean that they have to blow the dust
off their maps!!!!

A typical CLP lasts between 1 or 2 days

which does not sound too bad however
these days are not normal days, they
are the longest days you can ever imag-
ine. If all goes to plan you can be sat in
your vehicle for up to 16 hours with no
toilet facilities apart from empty water
bottles and plastic bags, not even a
designated smoking area inside for all
Formed up ready to move
the smokers which can lead to some

tempers becoming slightly frayed as the nicotine cravings

start to kick in. During the patrols there is a lot of time
spent waiting for the Combat Support Logistic Regiment
(CSLR) unload their vehicle which you may think is pret-
ty straight forward, but due to unforeseen issues the
unloads can take one or two more hours more than is
often thought. This gives the vehicle crews plenty of
time to think of new and interesting ways to keep them-
selves from dying of boredom. During our last two pa-
trols Bombardier Darker and SSgt Wild decided to quiz
each other on their knowledge of football, this kept them
entertained for a few hours. Once the CLSR have fin-
ished their drop offs it's a straight forward trip back to
base. Once back in base we are able to unwind and
stretch our legs which is defiantly needed after 16 hours
in the back of a Mastiff. Spr Crowther – 3 Troop Talis-
man Sqn
Home Safe
 Page 13 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

31 Armoured Engineer Squadron (continued..)

Route Clearance Company Mentoring

The Afgan National Army

The first search (ANA) Route Clearance
Company (RCC) of 3 Brigade
215 Corps is beginning to
take shape. Over the last
month they have taken deliv-
ery of most of their vehicles
and equipment and some of it
is actually still working. This
may seem negative but when
you understand that many of
the soldiers have never driven
before and hardly come from
a technical background then it
makes more sense. It is reas-
suring to see the way they are
progressing, not only in the
quality of their equipment but
also in their general attitude
and the way they go about
their day to day business.

Sgt Barr (59 Commando Sqn) and I (Capt Hastings of 31 Armd Engr Sqn) have been kept busy with the constant fight that
is the ANA administration system. Problems such as fixing minor faults on vehicles and collecting mine detectors (these
are kind of vital for the RCC) that
in the British Army would take a
few minutes to fix, seem to run Sgt Barr enjoying lunch
for weeks with the ANA. The
ANA chain of command believe
that the RCC can operate on one
set of D cell batteries a Month
(you can always switch off the
detectors to save power!) and 8
litres of fuel per week per vehicle
(remember that they drive
HMMWV‘s and not a fleet of
Toyota Prius‘s).

The RCC has undertaken some

valuable training including live
demolition ranges, first aid and
communications. Over the last
week the RCC has begun to op-
erate as a formed unit and is now
beginning to fine tune the me-
chanics of basic route clearance
under the ever watchful eyes of
their mentors. The end result
will hopefully be the whole RCC passing the validation phase and then moving down to Helmand to begin the process to
make them a fully operational Unit. By Capt Hastings Ops Officer 31 Armd Engr Sqn.
 Page 14 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

39 Armoured Engineer Squadron

Local children helping construct a culvert

OC‘s Foreword

Sahaar pa khair! Tsunga ye? All

remains well in both Nahr-e-Sarraj
(South) and Lashkar Gar as we con-
tinue to deliver the best close sup-
port any Battle Group could wish
for. We have two major operations
on the horizon which we are now
focusing our efforts on, one of
which will see our first partnering
with the Afghan National Army‘s
Engineer Tolay. The Squadron is once again at the forefront of activity within both Areas of Operation and I am consistently
impressed by the sheer determination and dynamism displayed at all levels – despite the extremely uncomfortable working
conditions and increased levels of insurgent interference.

1 Sect, 8 Tp on Route Canterbury

The lads from 1 Sect, 8 Tp have been constructing

Route Canterbury for the past 2 weeks. The road Locals supervising the work
connects Trident to CP SARHAD in K Coy (PB 5)
AO. The route was originally designed to traffic
Husky but this later changed to Mastiff. The road
dissects farmland with numerous irrigation ditches
flowing through it. The principle design was to
upgrade the water damaged areas that link the
passable route. We had to keep the resource
budget down so the route could be constructed
immediately, otherwise there would be a signifi-
cant lead time, we had to gather all road stores left
over from previous tasks around NES (S) AO.
Everything seemed simple enough in planning!!!

The task started by placing down a desert fill foun-

dation, in order to build up from the boggy areas.
Whilst doing this the local farmers decided to
flood the road-BACK TO SQUARE ONE!! After
great discussion between Military Stabilization &
Support Team (MSST) and the Locals, an agree-
ment was reached on the control of the irrigation.
We attempted to employ locals to assist with the
construction, it worked out there are better wag-
es available in Poppy Harvesting, no wonder the
British Legion is loaded!!
There were 8 concrete barrel culverts to be constructed along the route. The first four were horrendous and due to the
poor quality of the concrete barrels, two of them collapsed on emplacement.
Page 15 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

39 Armoured Engineer Squadron - continued.

This was later resolved by resourcing better quality pipes. The media decided to visit during the task, Cpl ―the colonel‖
Walton and Spr ―Grottler‖ Ostler were interviewed. The journalist stated that Cpl Walton was a natural in front of the
camera, he thought he was an A-list celebrity after that (what he didn‘t know was that we instructed the media to say
that to him, knowing that he would take it seriously). During the filming of the children assisting the lads on site, you
could hear in the background ―it‘s boiling out here‖!!! Maybe Cpl Walton wasn‘t a natural after all.
After all of the previous difficulties, the task started to find its feet and progress was good, the employment of the civy
excavator, roller and tipper was a bonus as this eased the burden on the plant ops. Spr‘s ―Guss‖ Boddy and ―Sponce‖
Walding smashed out some excellent work. The lads dug out blind under arduous conditions in order to achieve an
excellent route construction. Short term it will benefit ISAF logistically, but long term the locals will gain, especially when
the road become blacked topped in the near future.

ANA Warrior Pioneer Training

4 Afghan National Army soldiers sat on a bench they built
trg) and sanitation and drainage. The principle of the training is to enable the ANA the capability of building their own com-
pound CP‘s and maintain established bases without the assistance of ISAF.
After numerous CP constructions across the
AO, the Tp interacted with the localson nu-
merous occasions, this was all fine apart from
there should be an Afghan face on the projects.
SSgt Jones suggested to KATT (Kandak Adviso-
ry & Training Team) the options of training 4
ANA warriors to become pioneers in order to
assist future ANA CP builds. It would also
benefit the Kandak‘s as their own personnel
could maintain their bases. A four week train-
ing programme was designed and approved,
training commenced about 3 weeks after the
idea was proposed. The training was based
upon what materials and equipment they could
procure.
I was tasked with training basic combat engi-
neering to a small team of ANA soldiers. Sub-
jects included force protection (sandbagging,
wire obstacles, basic Hesco installation), artisan
training (carpentry, concreting, electrical safety

During the third week they would be given an upgrade project at an ANA compound and the fourth week they would go on
a partnered operation with one of our sections and an the ANA Engr Tolay, finishing with a mini parade to award their certif-
icates.
After the initial teething problems of getting the four
ANA warriors together, we settled into the 4 week
Even though we made this “we can steal it”
training package on 7 May 2011. The group contained
a Sergeant and three warriors. We commenced the
training with introductions and a cup of chai. With the
use of an interpreter we have since introduced them
to the tools and materials we use. We have just
achieved our first training objective, the construction
of a table and benches using different joints and fixing
methods. These items of furniture will be used on the
HQ conference area.
I have been surprised by how enthusiastic they are and
how well the training is going. All of the training is
practical and they seem to be enjoying themselves,
whether or not they‘ll enjoy sand bagging remains to
be seen. Overall the project is a different and enjoya-
ble challenge for me and if it goes well, hopefully other
Warrior Pioneers will be trained in the future.
Page 16 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

2 Months of OP HERRICK with 8 Troop.

The first two months of Op Herrick for has seen 8 Troop conducting just about the full spectrum of engineer effects
across the whole of the Nahr-e-Sarraj (South) (NES(S) AO). Based from PB2 (Patrol Base) we were initially surprised to
learn that we would be working with the Paras for nearly a third of our tour. Having said that, the 2 PARA Battle Group
were well versed in their drills and extremely professional in their conduct.

Getting to grips with NES(S) and the freedom of movement offered along the PB line by route TRIDENT is something that
needed to come very fast. As a troop the tasks came on thick and fast. Within days of the Helo landing Spr Carter and
LCpl Martin were on patrol with X Coy making best use of half barmines. Also within days we quickly turned PB3 into
CP3 and handed it over to the local ANA commander.

Our first big task as a troop sent us up to the Aboshak Wadi to construct two ANP checkpoints. The first CP involved
the construction of an Expeditionary Elevated Sangar along the banks of the NEB canal. The threat was largely unknown
but expected to be high as this was the furthest ISAF had probed into the Bowri desert. It was here that we received our
first contact which was swiftly dealt with. The construction of the Sangar went up quickly and it was here that the Paras
showed their willingness to assist in the filling of sandbags and HESCO. The second a half of the task consisted of a CP in a
green field site right on the Wadi crossing. A task made tough by the level of traffic transiting along NEPTUNE. A quick
chat with the ANP quickly resolved that problem. A simple row of stones across the road kept our site clear.

The following weeks saw the troop involved mostly in PB upgrades constructing mortar pits, LAD bays, doors, gates,
roofs, shelters, toilets, urinals, female toilets and a rather impressive memorial in all five of the Company‘s main bases in
NES(S). As Engineers we quickly made a name for ourselves in the PB and have now become the go to people when some-
thing needs doing.

A new CP in the village of Char Coucha became the next frustration for the troop. The original site that had to be dis-
counted and the second site was subsequently flooded by the locals who wanted to show their displeasure. A final com-
promise was eventually found that required a good level of improvisation to the original design. A find of a legacy device
halted works for a while but it was reported and device destroyed.

A visit to Op Sturga to construct a HLS was conducted in a swift few days by Cpl Walton section whilst Cpl Shaw and
Hagelburg‘s sections concurrently established CPs SEKA and SARHAD. Access to CP SARHAD quickly degraded when
farmers started to irrigate their ditches which involved a lengthy overnight recovery. The further initiation of an IED on
the route that hit a local farmer in his tractor quickly changed the requirement for an upgraded route with IED protection
required along the whole route. Route Canterbury was born and 8 Troops first real introduction into the tedious process
of road building. A few other PB upgrades mostly concerning water production and drainage has kept everyone else busy.

From a management point of view the challenges of juggling skills, trades, B1s—experiences combat engineers, Plant Oper-
tors, Commanders, Drivers, gunners, as well as maintaining a fleet of nine vehicles has been a continuous test. Working
with local national contractors and engaging with village locals has also thrown up its frustrations and have halted many a
plan. The Afghan ability to change their mind on the acceptable location of a CP or timing still shocks.
Recce has also been a big part of the task and an extremely important requirement of any task conducted. Largely con-
ducted by Sgt McGee and myself the realities of Helmand are in some respects very different from the classrooms of Bat-
tlefield Engineering Wing. Unfortunately not every recce can look at the whole route, due to the IED threat, gain entry
into a compound or in some cases get too close for risk of giving the game away. Recces have been diverse and have re-
quired patrolling through poppy fields to remote villages outside of the immediate influence of ISAF or ANSF or carefully
planned vehicle moves. Of course dealing with the infantry officer commanding and giving him a realistic outcome is a skill
in itself.

The future also sees a level of partnering, although this time with the recently graduated Engineer Tolay. The prospects
look very good and will no doubt involve a healthy level of competition. With the summer now in full swing, 8 Troop are
now busier than ever, with a list of tasks and priorities that grows longer with every phone call or recce. The addition of 7
Troop to the AO will help to share the burden, and maybe they too will gain some of the glory.
Page 17 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

59 Commando Squadron RE

OC‘s Foreword

Yet another busy period in the Nad-e-Ali Area of Operations (AOs) for all 3 Troops
and SHQ/Ech. The Squadron remains fully committed in support of both 42 and 45
Cdos RM and every man continues to work extremely hard. Of significance is that
we have also been joined by the men of 3 Armd Engr Sqn who are currently com-
pleting some significant construction tasks in our area in support of Task Force Hel-
mand. This is going a long way to alleviating some of the burden from ourselves and
rightly allowing us to maintain the focus on our Battle Groups.

On a lighter note we have finally arrived at the significant milestone that is ‗RnR‘.
Men have started to filter into Camp Bastion ahead of their flights to the UK; full of
enthusiasm and intentions for how they will spend their two weeks. As I write we
are yet to have anyone return to Afghanistan; this is clearly because their time in the UK is not yet over rather than they are
enjoying themselves too much. As you would expect, plans for RnR are extremely varied; from seeing the birth of children,
to relaxing at home, to going on trips to Barcelona. I certainly wish Sgt Wayte best wishes; he has arranged the latter trip
for his wedding anniversary only to find that a group of the lads happen to be going at the same time. Still, I am sure that
paths won‘t cross; Barcelona is a large place and I have no doubt that those places frequented by Spr Mowbray et al will be
very different to those of Sgt Wayte and Michelle.

Finally, I would just like to mention that whilst morale remains high; in some areas it has taken a temporary dip. The QM
has received a shoulder injury, most likely from keeping up with the youngsters in the gym. Some, most notably the BGEs,
Capt Siemienuich and Pearce, have already found to their cost he is most definitely a man who becomes easily frustrated
without being able to exercise. Hopefully, by the time of the next article he will have recovered and morale will have re-
turned to its normal high levels.

Life in SHQ
We are still busy as ever in the 59 Cdo
Sqn Ops Room in Camp BASTION. I
think most of us are counting down the
days ‗til R & R so we can have a well de-
served break. I intend to drink my own
body weight in wine – and that‘s just for
starters! I hope that you have all enjoyed
the spate of good weather that you had
back in the UK – I am sure that by the
time I get home in June to enjoy the BBQ
season it will be raining again.

We have recently had a few birthdays here

in Bastion. Maj (OC) Williams, SSgt
‗Dinger‘ Bell and SSgt ‗Bully‘ Bull now qual-
ify for free accommodation – who said
getting old doesn‘t have its perks? I also
celebrated my 31st birthday. It wasn‘t
quite what I hoped it would be, definitely Recruiting Afghan style
lacking in cake and alcohol. My only con-
solation was that poor Capt (2IC) Burton
had an even worse day than me - when he didn‘t quite make it to the toilet and had to spend the rest of the day in the D &
V tent nursing his poorly tummy.

A few of the lads from the FOBs and PBs have been coming back to Bastion for various reasons sporting horrendous ‗porn
star‘ moustaches and dodgy tans, but it is always nice to see them. Spr Ross seems to have recovered from his dog bite.
We are still trying to work out if he has rabies or not as he can often be seen foaming at the mouth.
Page 18 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

59 Commando Squadron RE

Spr ‗Bepe Di Marco‘ Leak returned to the Ops Room after his stint with 1 Troop looking very trim, however, his sweet
tooth also returned with him. He is very partial to other people‘s sweets as I found out. We have had to send him back
out to the CP as his chins were creeping back on.

The biggest ‗guns‘ competition is in full swing with the men taking it very seriously. I am still only an inch or so away from
catching Cpl ‗Taff‘ Harrison up. It‘s probable that most of my 11 inches is from my bingo wings, not muscle, but it still
counts! I think I am the only member of the Sqn that hasn‘t resorted to drinking protein/muscle shakes (also known as fart
powder). The smells that the blokes in the Ops Room are expelling are pretty disgusting so it obviously doesn‘t do much
for their insides. I may have to put in a claim for Unpleasant Working Allowance.

Sgt ‗Matty‘ Needham has found solace in his PS3 console now that his partner in crime Spr Leak has gone. These comman-
do warriors could often be found chasing each other around the Ops Room with fly swats and elastic bands, giggling like a
pair of kids.

That‘s all from me in Bastion. We are almost half way now so it won‘t be long before we are looking towards the finish
line. If you are sending mail to the troops, please remember to use BFPO 792 only and do not write any locations or op
names on the parcel. Many thanks, Sgt Toni Scoins, Chief Clerk 59 Cdo Sqn

The Fighting First- A Farewell and Hello

Much has happened for the Fighting First since the last
news letter, I apologise now as I do not have the same
wit as the Troop cockney wide boy, LCpl Tony
Wilsher!! Firstly we say a goodbye to Capt Oliver
Crowther who has now completed his tour of duty as
the 1 Troop Commander, we thank you for your hard
work and support you showed to the troop. You will be
missed…. For about 5 minutes! We look forward to a
beer on our safe return. The hello goes to Lt Tom Exel-
by the new 1 Troop Commander, he has received a
warm welcome and he will be surely looked after, hon-
est!

Since the last newsletter we have deployed to CP Tallan-

da where the troop replaced Sanger‘s and perimeter
walls, yet again the plant boys Spr Mutts Mutter, Spr
Dan Day and Spr Noodles Jarmen were playing around
Man love Thursday
in their big toys under the control of the 3 section com-
manders Cpl Tilak Pun Cpl Robbo Robinson and Cpl
Tomo Thompson. The boys from the troop worked
hard in what was proving to be testing conditions due to the ever increasing temperatures. Spr Les Leslie built a set of
wooden stairs for the sanger position which I can only describe as probably the best stairs in Afghanistan. The quote of the
tour comes from Ash (Spr Nicholls); after a hard day and nights graft, to be honest the lad was totally knackered, he came
through the gap in the compound wall, stopped in front of a group of about 10 of the 1 troopers looking glum and said and I
quote, ―IF THERE WAS A JACK WAGON OUT THERE I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY GOT ON IT‖ - the troop couldn‘t
stop laughing, what a great morale boost.

The troop spent a week in total at CP Tallanda upgrading the camp. Although the work was hard and long the troop still
managed to spend a hour in the gym. The ‗old man‘ 1 Troop Staff Sergeant has been taken under the wing of LCpl Dev
Devenish and LCpl Tony Wilsher. LCpl Devenish is a monster, apologies to his parents, but that boy is strong. LCpl Tony
Wilsher is strong however, the old man has just started to lift a little more than him, much to his annoyance.
Page 19 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

The CP had a stream running through it which was morale in itself, as soon as the days work was complete the guys
were straight in it cooling themselves off. I do recall one disturbing moment when Spr Casey Travanti and Spr keil
Appleton were grooming each other like a pair of young gorillas.

Once the task was complete it was back to PB Shazad to mount up stores and head off to CP Folad which is in the
north of Nad E Ali. After a day of driving stores back and forth we settled back in to CP Folad.

The first task was constructing a helicopter landing site, which is nothing new to the Fighting First. Cpl Tilak Pun and
his section cracked that job out in half a day. Cpl Robbo Robinson and his section repaired the front gate which had
been driven into by a mastiff vehicle (nice one Royal!). We are now conducting good training waiting for our next
task. We do have a couple of lads who are enjoying a couple of days off in the diarrhoea and vomiting tent, namely
Cfn Ben Antony and Spr Mutts Mutter. I am sure they will both be back to full fitness by the time you read this.

All in all its been a good couple of weeks for the Troop, The troop is strong and we continue to look out for each
other. A big thank you to the friends, girlfriends and families for all the mail and support you give to the lads. R and R
has now started so we look forward to seeing you all in the near future. By SSgt Bell 1 Troop

1 TROOP POEM

A word in the house a stroke of a pen

The OC deployed his Fighting First men
Bench pressing 140 and six packs supreme
The Fighting First troopers wore berets of green.

Pre deployment training was hard it had to be so

How to blow holes with EMOE and build walls of HESCO
Folad, El ham, Wahid, Quadrat, Tallanda and Shazad were impossible tasks
The Fighting First were up for the ask.

Their jobs so successful that the Taliban said

If these 1 Troop commandos found I want these men dead
We soon realised the Taliban weren‘t keen
Because the Fighting First wore berets of green.

On D day at Bastion they left that rule ridden place

They jumped from the Chinook and jumped to the base
There contempt for the Taliban was plain to be seen
As their sideburns and big hair do‘s were easy to see.

When its all over and fighting no more

We will return and yet again be in the Engineer Corps
Who went back home to there loved ones, families and friends
Much bigger and tanned, all glad it‘s the end.

After the 6 month tour is over they will all meet it is said
To talk and toast to their old troop commander and look forward to bed
Back home to Chivenor that‘s known as the den
Where we fought for the right to be Fighting First men.

For your freedom of movement and freedom of speech

The troop commander in his O groups will always preach
A word in the house a stroke of a pen
HERRICK 14 will always be in the memories of those
Green beret Fighting First men.
Page 20 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

Condor Troop
Since the last article Condor Troop has continued to help improve the HESCO share price (basically big baskets that you fill
with gravel to build walls) smashing in sangars, improving check points and even building a bridge – ―Condor Crossing‖ was
put in by Cpl ―Isambard Kingdom Brunel‖ Ganesh and his section in a lung busting 22 minutes by hand in full body armour and
40 degree heat, that‘s Commando spirit for you! Life in Nad-e-Ali South remains extremely busy and the Engineers continue
to be a much
Lcpl Ganesh at Condor Crossing appreciated
team, improv-
ing the condi-
tions for the
boys out on
the ground
whether it is
through build-
ing new
showers and
toilets or
spreading our
unique brand
of Condor
Troop Morale
amongst the
Check Points
of Nad Ali
South.

Recently we
have also been involved in the development of the Afghan Local Police (ALP), an initiative to get the locals to look after their
own neighbourhood and providing a critical link to the communities as part of the transition to Afghanistan taking ownership
of its own security. The BGE and Troop Commander successfully tried their hand at local politics with Capt ―Bill Clinton‖
Pearce and Lt. ―Madeline Albright‖ Robinson brokering a historic deal with the local militia to assist in the construction of
their new police check point. This agreement resulted in Sgt ―Bob‖ Hosken, Spr ―the goat and the trip flare‖ Beedie and Spr
―50 rounds of
GPMG link‖ Bates
being dispatched Adding the finishing touches
down to the deep-
est, darkest re-
gions of Southern
Helmand armed
with the Bob Cat
(mini-digger), a
plant operator and
some enthusiastic
ALP labourers. All
the blokes grafted
like ten men to
give the ALP a
decent location to
fight from (despite
the enemy show-
ing some active
interest in their
work!) – Strong
effort Condor!
 Edition 5 Page 21

In other news…Dave gets out and about! This week Dave Maitland happily relinquished his usual position as the BGE‘s
3 Tp— Check Point Chiron, the build concludes
signaller stuck back at FOB SHAWQAT, for a chance to get out on the ground with the lads and get stuck in to some
―proper COMBAT engineering.‖ He was delighted to be given the opportunity to test out his newly acquired driving skills
on a road that held many exciting surprises for 1 ―Route Recce‖ Section of Condor Troop. Dave is usually accustomed to
executing his duty as the BGE‘s signaller in a decidedly more civil environment and here he regales you with a few ―dits‖
from FOB SHAWQAT…

―The main thing that keeps us going down here in the ―Deep South‖ is the parcels we receive, with Spr‘s Ward and Finbow
being the ultimate welfare cases, receiving up to 6 at any one time. I think that‘s the main reason why a few lads aren‘t re-
ceiving any parcels, because they are clogging up the system! Mrs ―BGE‖ Pierce‘s cake however, makes up for the lack of

Condor Tp

parcels, although we know the only reason we are allowed any cake is so the boss can come in and raid any extra scran
we‘ve accrued to supplement the copious number of sweets he consumes in his office. A true Condor Legend is Sue Lem-
on, a kind lady from the UK who took it upon herself to send countless parcels to the lads after a thank you letter was sent
back to her. Life in SHAWQAT however isn‘t too bad at all, it‘s the best place to be in Afghan by far - much better than
Camp ―Disneyland‖ Bastion where the main effort appears to be picking up us Sappers for breaching dress regulations and
haircuts, and it‘s unreal. That is just a short insight to life in general in FOB Shawqat. Not as interesting as life ―out on the
ground‖ but highly necessary to make it all possible.‖ – From the BGE‘s signaller, Dave Maitland, proud to be attached to
the mighty Condor Troop... that is all, out.

Finally Spr Luke ―Yogi‖ Loton gives you his highlights from the last two weeks:

The last 2 weeks have been a continuation of HESCO tastic building and as always looking after the vehicles. Harry
‗Houdini‘ Ellaway has been loving his time on tour as he gets to grease tons of nipples……..on the vehicles! 1 Section had
a catwalk showdown involving Rhys ‗Sunburn‘ Dare and Ricky ‗Bobby‘ Christie dressed in underwear sent out by their
relevant lady friends; all those watching now need TRIMing (a psychological evaluation following a traumatic event). Other
than that everyone has been cracking on and no matter how much we may moan and question ones career choice, some-
one always says something stupid or makes a joke and everyone‘s smiling again.
Page 22 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

3 Tribe Roll with the ―Nutty Professor‖

The professor here, provid-

CP Washiran ing you a slice of the pie that
is the lives of the men in
Three Tribe In Afghanistan.
Have some cake and have a
biscuit. Anyway; this month
we have lost our Boss Cap-
tain 'Inferno' Vernon due to
other interests that com-
prise of cats, Old trumpets,
the forbidden art of topiary
and a posting out of the
Tribe to Gibralter Barracks.
Have a good one boss. Now
we await the arrival of our
new Troopy el Clarko.

The Tribe have been work-

ing hard with jobs in CP
Tofaan and a little place
called Shiran Jan Junction.
The job was to strip out a
cup lock sanger and replace
it with a 6/5/4 sanger, build a
Hesco wall and take away scrap metal. There was a lovely evening where the Tribe gathered wood for a bonfire listening to
the sounds of Tracy Chapman and other various artists. On completion the Tribe returned to PB Khaamar then back to PB
Shazad, for a maintenance day. Tasty juice!

The next job was Shiran Jan Junction; it

was expected to take a few days. Day
one had us cutting wood ready for a new The Sheriff, SSgt Brown hands over CP Washiran
front gate, Sprs Bond and Jasper con-
structed a patrol gate. Fos, Scotty, ‗TJ‘ ,
Vye and Joe ‘Wingy‘ Mcwolf, to work
pulling apart a sanger position like it was
old bread and constructed a ‗stand to‘
position. Day two saw the patrol gates
completed, this comprised of a massive
hole in the Hesco wall being made, ready
to receive our wood, Hesco being
bounced out and filled, to bulk up one of
the compound walls. Day three saw the
finishing touches being made to the gates
and Hesco around the wall. Imagine the
top tier of a cake being topped off with
an edging of razor wire; that‘s the artistry
that we are smashing out over here like a
dangerous baker called Tony Robbins.
Looking ahead we will be dismantling a
cuplock sanger at Washiran and complet-
ing the compartmentalisation of the ANA
compound.

So in short it‘s been a good week or two

since you got our last article. Never the
less we are moderately happy. Apples
and pears. Can anyone remember the
name of the previous Tp Commander? It seems so long that he‘s been gone! To the families of the Tribe keep sending us
morale; its good stuff. In closing; ‗take it easy‘ back home, this is Harry ‗The Professor‘ Ramsden signing off. Peace Out!
Page 23 Task Force Helmand Engineer Group

ADD YOUR OWN CAPTION

 SUPPORTING COMMANDO SAPPERS IN
AFGHANISTAN WRISTBANDS

WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING?

The income generated from the COMMANDO SAPPER wristbands will be split be-
tween 3 distinct areas. They are as follows:

Regimental Welfare. This will allow us to support needy causes within the Regi-
ment that cover a myriad of outlets; from injured soldiers, family activities and any ven-
ture which improves the welfare of our soldiers. 50% of all charitable income generat-
ed will go to regimental welfare.

Army Benevolent Fund (ABF):The Soldier‟s Charity. ABF, The Soldier‘s Charity
is designed to support soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need.
Over the past 2 years ABF has seen a 30% rise in people seeking there help and expect
this to increase with the continuing operations in Afghanistan. 25% of all charitable in-
come generated will go to the ABF.

Children‟s Hospice South West. The Children‘s Hospice South West is located in
Fremington, literally on the Regiment‘s doorstep. The Hospice provides care for the
children with an illness, which means they will not meet adulthood. The Hospice pro-
vides expert care, not only for the children but also for their parents and siblings, allow-
ing them to cope with these extremely difficult circumstances. 25% of all charitable in-
come generated will go to the Children‘s Hospice South West.

To order Supporting Commando Sapper wrist bands. Please contact WO2 Ray
Glass either by phone on 01271 85 7824 or by post with a SAE to WO2 Glass, ROpsP
RSM, RMB Chivenor, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4AZ, or just send a donation by cheque
or postal order payable to Central Bank 24 Commando Engineer Regiment.
 Something from the Editor….
Back copies of the TFH Engr Gp Newsletters are available at

TASK FORCE
HELMAND http://www.scribd.com/collections/2973981/Task-Force-Helmand-
ENGINEER GROUP Engineer-Group-Newsletter

Editor:
Charity wrist bands. We have received repeated requests for our
546151 Capt Brad Hardwick popular Commando Sapper wrist bands. Please refer to page 26 for
54 Cdo HQ & Sp Sqn details on how to get hold of this seasons must have item! Your sup-
TFH Engr Gp
BFPO 792 port for the Regiment is greatly appreciated, so please give generous-
ly.
E-maill bch5951@gmail.com

Facebook Page. We now have an open Facebook presence at http://

www.facebook.com/TFHEngrGp

See more photos and Lonely Planet Dictionary of ‗Jack Speak‘ for Afghanistan Part 3
comments on TFH
Engr Gp at

http:// Essential clothing and equipment to pack

www.facebo OSPREY – There are 2 types of Osprey in theatre; firstly the state of the art body ar-
ok.com/ mour, or soldier weight loss program which makes it impossible to chase after any-
one under the age of 85, reduced to 75 for insurgents with one leg. It also makes
TFHEngrGp soldiers perform the distinctive Osprey running style which I can only imagine as what
a chicken would look like running in treacle. Secondly, the other Osprey is an Ameri-
can helicopter/plane I don‘t really know what it is; it takes off like a helicopter then
turns into a plane ―Amazing‖ and ―Only from America‖, just watch Star ship troopers
you will understand.

Tier 1 & 2 Bomb Pants – These are designed to save your undercarriage when on
country strolls or road trips around Helmand. These are a must and random drop
your trouser inspections are not uncommon; I don‘t always see the necessity to
touch your toes. Tier 1 are essentially a pair of what could best be described as rein-
forced cycling shorts worn under the trousers, very snug fitting. Tiers 2 are worn in
conjunction with your armoured cycling shorts and look like a camouflaged nappy
worn on the outside of your trousers. All this essential protection ensures your
nether regions remain at a constant temperature somewhere just below boiling point.

The General – General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) a belt fed machine gun which is
usually carried by the smallest man in your section or mounted on a vehicle, some-
times referred to as a gimpy but affectionately called The GENERAL, as the infantry
sections best friend.

HESCO – Steel baskets lined with fabric, which are then filled with material to make eve-
rything from blast protection walls to pool tables. The world‘s hot spots are covered
in HESCO. It is the most simple of systems to use and was obviously so simple and
straight forward they decided to add in an element of confusion. I will elaborate,
HESCO comes in sizes 1 – 10 so you would think it would be quiet simple size 1 at
one end of the sizing scale and size 10 being at the opposite, with the numbers going
up or down in size chronologically, Oh no, 2 is smaller than 1 yet bigger than 9 and
this happens throughout the HESCO sizing system. All designed ―just to keep you
and the resources parks on your toes‖.

More definitions in the next Newsletter.