'Tis a bit of a difficult one TBH, maybe I should try and answer a few queries that keep coming up, the only knowledge I can impart is the stuff I've learned having actually been out there myself, (and as it seems am on my way back out there next year again as well!)
1. The kit we use, fellas, our kit that is issued is second to none, there is plenty of it and every man/woman that now goes out there, gets the nec kit to do the job. Most of the stories in the tabloids are sensationalising what used to happen. Some areas that we are working in, mostly part of the G4/supply areas, have kit supplied to them by the lorry load it's just a matter of getting it out to the lads working in the forward operating bases (FOBS). Lack of helos can be a problem here.
2. Our radios, which lets face it are a crucial assett are in short supply, so are the batteries which are critical to operate them. Demand outstrips supply massively, this is up to the procurement dept within the MOD to sort this out, but, as ever, political infighting and the fact that new up dates are 'supposedly coming out' in the near future doesn't help supply it to the blokes that are out there.
3. Helicoptors have been in short supply, to the extent that at times hundreds of tons of supplies are sat waiting to be dropped off to the FOBS. These supplies can be left waiting for weeks until the situation becomes critical in the FOB, only then do the nec loads get dropped off. UK plc were having to hire Russian helicoptors to do a lot of the flying simply because there weren't enough heavy lift helos from the UK out there. This situation is being sorted with the use of the Merlin helos which have just come back from Iraq. However, you will never have enough, they are a pized and very much over used asset.
4. The casualty rate out there is truly alarming, we only hear about the men that are killed, the amount of men being crippled and maimed by the roadside bombs is huge, every time a helo flew overhead, if it came past acertain point over the ground then we knew it was full of casualties. Always depressing. Hospital facilities are now second to none. A purpose built facility was opened last year and it treats not just British soldiers, but Afghan civvies as well. It has been know to treat enemy combatants as well, however, once all the beds are full then operations have to stop, that doesn't happen so much now.
5. Our fighting out there is at the request of the Afghan govenrment, we are not fighting the Afghans, but a well armed, very well trained bunch of insurgents. They come from all Muslims states, and as I'm sure you know, the UK Muslim pop has sent their own fighters to support the insurgents, that pisses us all off the guys and gals over there. When 45 Cdo were clearing Taleban compounds, they could here Arabic being spoken in a distinct Brummie accent. Make your own minds up!!
6. There are a lot of other nations out there as well, the Canadians, Danes, Yanks have all lost significant numbers, notably the French and Germans are in areas where the fighting is very limited, have lost very few if any and are therefore are not pulling their weight.
7. The trg and manning of the Afghan army is well under way, and in some areas, these guys lead the operations against the Taliban with UK and US support.
These are a few of my own thoughts, ones that I know are true, having been out there and seen it/done it. I hope by the time I get back out there again things will have changed for the better, but I'm certainly not going to hold my breath for it
