Foreword by the Battery Commander, Major Paddy Sherrard RA
The Battery has faced a number of challenges in the past few months as we prepare for operations in Afghanistan, not least has been a complete change in the command structure with a new BC, BK and BSM! We will ensure that the Battery respects the venerable example of our forebears, however it is of note that the Battery have been to Afghanistan on two previous occasions – both unsuccessful! Our aim is therefore to be third time lucky!
The training for HERRICK 7 has been demanding. It started back in January with conversion to light gun and has progressed through the spring to climax with the Mission Rehearsal Exercise and live firing in July; we have exercised in Germany, Denmark, England, Wales and not forgetting the USA. In every training event, the Battery has excelled and has positively responded to the challenges that we have faced. We have fulfilled the first part of the old adage of “train hard and fight easy” and I have no doubt that although the “fight” will not be easy, we are as best prepared as we could be.
It is common knowledge that the Battery will be supporting 40 Commando Royal Marines in what is known as Battlegroup North area of Helmand province. It will be a demanding tour for everyone and despite the onset of winter, I expect that the tempo of operations will be high. Whilst this is good for us as it makes a tour speed by, it means that our communications with you may not be as frequent as we would like. I would ask that you keep the Blueys and parcels coming as they are a real boost to morale and we will strive to ensure that every possible means of communication will be available to our soldiers to contact you whenever possible. It is my intent that we exploit this internet site and use it as the main means of keeping you updated about our activities in Helmand. In addition to my updates, each Gun Troop and the Fire Planning cell will write their own picture-rich blog so I hope that you will be faced with information overload, rather than wondering what your loved ones are up to.
Finally, while the training has been hard for us, we all acknowledge that it has been very demanding for our families. We have “worked hard” and now I hope that everyone can “play hard” by having an enjoyable and fulfilling leave.
CO's Foreward
Well, it’s difficult to believe that 8 months have passed since I posted my first message on this site. I apologise for taking so long to update you but you will all have experienced in some way the extraordinary pace of life that every member of the Regimental Family has enjoyed (or endured) since January, so in many ways you do not need to be told what has happened. Suffice it to say that the soldiers of 4th Regiment have responded superbly to my request to train hard, stay focussed and remain positive. Everyone I speak to is excited about what is to come and keen to get on with the job. All this has been achieved over one of the most intense training periods I have experienced in 20 years of soldiering, training which has been relevant, enjoyable and very well delivered by the various organisations that have helped us.
Pre Deployment Training
Sunset Over Larkhill
So we have finally arrived at the launching pad for our deployment to AfghanistanIndeed, 26 of the Regiment are already there, with Capt Deakin’s Fire Support Team (FST) having departed in August and the first 21 of the main grouping leaving last weekend.They have already reported their safe arrivals in theatre and the FST have been in the thick of the action from the word go.It promises to be the same for the rest of us as plenty is going on in Helmand over the next few weeks. By the end of the month we will be complete in theatre and you will already be receiving messages hinting at the activities your partners are getting up to. I anticipate that, at first, information flow will be relatively slow as we will be very busy taking over our jobs as well as dealing with what’s on at the time, so please don’t expect too much by way of frequent communication in the first few days. Once the changeover with 19 Regiment is complete and we have our feet under the table, worked out where the spare time is in our ‘normal’ day and so on, we should begin to get into a communication routine.
Sunset Over Helmand
A flowering Poppy
The situation in Helmand changes all the time, and our force structure and tasks must change accordingly. Please don’t expect your partner to be doing the same thing for the whole 6 months – they may need to change jobs at the drop of a hat, several times. This is to be considered absolutely normal. I will be very surprised if we are doing things the same way in March next year as we start doing when we arrive – such is the way the operation is going.
Whatever you hear in the press, real progress is being made in Helmand. Yes, casualties are being taken, but one of the reasons for this is that Task Force Helmand (TFH is the official name of the force we are working as part of) is really making things happen out there. The Taliban are definitely on the back foot and TFH is taking advantage of this. The work is hard and fast moving, but highly rewarding and I know that we will play an absolutely critical part in moving it forward; not much happens without the Gunners out there.
I will endeavour to keep you up to speed with how things are going, and this website will also contain photos and other web logs from our soldiers, so keep logging in. In addition, we will post rear party information here, and we also have the facility to text your mobile phones or email you with important information regarding either rear party activities, or things like changes to R&R flight timings. So please make sure the Regimental Welfare Officer has your mobile phone number. Keep checking into this website so you know what’s going on.
Taken from the Armynet site .
Good Luck Rednecks!
Watch out for updates!!!
