Royal Dragoon Guards arrive in Afghanistan

Trooper Daniel Hedges, from Pocklington, practices his drills before deploying to his forward base

Lead elements of the Royal Dragoon Guards regiment have arrived in Afghanistan, ahead of a six month deployment.

Soldiers from the Catterick based regiment started to arrive in early April and many have already deployed to their operational locations. Meanwhile, soldiers from the regiment’s ‘D’ Squadron are making final preparations before they leave the UK, for Afghanistan, in mid May.

.The Regiment is deploying as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission

The regiment is deploying, as part of 4 Mechanised Brigade, on Herrick 12, and will undertake a number of different roles across Helmand Province.

The regiment is split amongst four squadrons. ‘B’ Squadron will be equipped with Mastiff Armoured vehicles and deploy in support of the Royal Ghurkha Rifles (1 RGR), the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 Lancs.) and the Danish Battalion (Danbat) battle groups as manoeuvre support.

A Mastiff II heavily protected vehicle

‘C’ Squadron will carry out a ground holding infantry role as part of 1 Lancs. battle group. ‘D’ Squadron will be equipped with the Viking amphibious all terrain vehicle. ‘A’ Squadron will fulfil the rear party role and remain in Catterick.

The RDG regiment recruits from the areas of Yorkshire and Northern Ireland. The regiment has strong ties to the city of York; being awarded the freedom of the City in 1999. The regimental museum is at Tower Street.

Troopers Daniel Hedges (front)and Richard Pollock

Trooper Daniel Hedges (19), from Pocklington, will be working with partnered Afghan National Army troops carrying out foot patrols, together with colleagues from C Squadron, as part of the 1 Lancs. battle group. “I think the best thing about being out here for six months will be the bonding with the lads”, he said.

“You get much closer as a unit and get to know each other much better. I’m also looking forward to seeing how other nations like the Danes and the Afghans are working out here and how they do things.

“I was a bit uneasy about working with the Afghans at first, but now I’m really looking forward to it. I think it will be really interesting, learning about their culture and seeing how they operate.

Trooper Aidan Carter, from Keighley, prepares his vehicle for the first patrol

“The biggest challenge I think is going to be the weather because by the time we are at the height of summer, the heat is going to take its toll, especially on the men and equipment, but you just learn to live with it.

“I’ve got mum and dad and my girlfriend Kerry all back in Pocklington and they have been really supportive. Naturally, any parent is going to be quite worried and afraid of the unknown, but it’s just like basic training really in terms of the time away from home. You just have to crack on with it.

'B' Squadron prepare to deploy from Camp Bastion

“You do miss certain things from home, but it’s not like you are coming out here on your own. You’ve got your mates and it’s like one big family.

“I joined the RDG because it’s the local regiment and because it’s equipped with tanks. Things change though and we are now doing an infantry role in Afghanistan, but you have to adapt to it. I’m still looking forward to it, getting out here, seeing the locals and getting on with our job without losing anybody, or even getting injured.

Trooper Richard Pollock (19) from Acomb ,in York, will join Trooper Hedges in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province. “I’m slightly apprehensive but I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to trying to make a difference.

Trooper Richard Pollock, from Acomb, York

“The training we have had seems to be falling into place so far and I’m looking forward to that continuing.

“Out here, you tend to bond more as a team. You’re not constantly getting told off just because you are a junior rank. You are treated more like an adult and a part of the team and I’m looking forward to that continuing.

“I think the biggest challenge is being switched on for the entire time. I am the primary route finder or ‘point man’, for the majority of what we do. So you have to be completely focused when you are doing it. You always have to be second guessing where the insurgents have planted the IEDs and I imagine that is going to be pretty exhausting after several months.

Trooper Richard Smith, from Middlesbrough, tightens the wheel nuts of his Mastiff armoured vehicle

“My sister lives in Acomb and my grandparents live in Haxby. They think the same thing that every family thinks. They are concerned and worried about me, but I have said to them that it was ultimately my decision and it’s a voluntary army, no-one forces you to do it, so they are supportive of me, but understandably apprehensive.

“The worst thing about being here at the moment is the dust. It is just unbelievable. 2 or 3 days ago, we were sat in boiling hot sun, then torrential rain and then a dust storm, all within the space of half an hour. So it is a complete mix, but until we step outside of the wire I don’t want to be second guessing anything”.

Captain Mike Lee, Squadron Headquarters Troop Leader, will join the Danish battalion together with 24 Royal Dragoon Guard soldiers under his command. “Everyone is happy to be out here, it is what they have trained for. It’s a shame we are not working with all of our friends from back in Catterick, from the regiment, but we do occasionally bump into them and it’s always nice to see another RDG.

Captain Mike Lee

“If anything, because we have three squadrons in Afghanistan, all deployed in different roles, and all learning new jobs, we are all learning from each other as well.

“In the pre-deployment training, when some people were training to do an infantry style role, we were training to work in Mastiffs and others were working in Viking armoured vehicles. It’s been really interesting. Everyone’s been doing a new bit of training and they talk to each other about it and learn lessons from each other.

“Because of the nature of war in Afghanistan, we haven’t deployed main battle tanks. We’ve never had them in Afghanistan and it’s certainly a different role for us. But that said, the troops have all adapted really well. The Mastiff is a great bit of kit, and they really enjoy working in it. It’s a well protected heavily armoured vehicle which is what they are used to and it’s what they enjoy.

“Afghanistan is continually changing and the main focus for our training over the past six months has been not just the war fighting element, but more importantly, on exercising courageous restraint. It’s all about teaching that although we can return fire, sometimes it is better not to, because if we are going to succeed out in Afghanistan, we are going to succeed by protecting the local population, working with the Afghan National Army and working with the locals. The biggest challenge is going to be getting that balance right.

Trooper Cowan Botha, from South Africa, and Trooper James Whiteley, from Leeds

“The troops understand that concept and we have lots of discussions with them to make sure they understand it and they know what they have to do to bring this conflict to a close.

“For my troop, working with the Danes should be interesting. We have been out with them a few times. They are really friendly. It’s very interesting. They are still part of ISAF and their coffee is fantastic.

Picture Credit: Captain Philip Atkinson SCOTS