D(DLOY) Years 2008 - 2009(a) Op Herrick
Lt Glen Miney RMLY - Op Herrick
Lt Glen Miney RMLY deployed to Afghanistan in October 2008. Having arrived in Camp Bastion he immediately started his in Theatre training which included acclimatisation to the weather conditions. Temperatures were in the mid to high 30’s and it was a relief for him when he learned the accommodation had air conditioning, which brought a degree of comfort especially outside of working hours. The type of training he was undertaking was learning to fire different weapons on the firing ranges, first aid and mine awareness. Once he had completed his training he gathered his belongings and was airlifted by Chinook helicopter on a relatively short trip to southern Afghanistan, which was going to be his new home for the next few months, however, the night before he departed he did manage to fit in a last visit to Camp Bastions Pizza Hut, where he enjoyed a Pepperoni Feast which went down a treat. The flight was a little cramped with no air stewardesses or in flight entertainment programme, they eventually touched down in Forward Operating Base Delhi, the home of Battle Group South. After disembarking the Chinook and once the dust had settled from its departure, he surveyed his new home. The first question he asked was “where are the toilets”? The response was swift “Desert Roses over there and the main loos over here”. It suddenly dawned on him that the facilities you take for granted back home were not going to materialise in this location. He finally got his bed space complete with mosquito net and was issued with a solar shower. The experience for Glen was enthralling and his dream of soldiering had finally materialised.
Glen is fully settled into his role and improvements in camp life are starting to take shape in time for the winter months ahead. New showers under cover and waterproofing of accommodation have been the two main improvements in November and December and they will feel the benefits when the cold weather comes in. It is still shorts and t-shirt weather from 13:00 - 16:00, but temperatures soon drop and overnight they are experiencing frost which results in them having to clear windscreens of those vehicles that have them. One aspect of his tour so far is the lack of rain, however when it eventually comes he is expecting a monsoon.
Glen stated “food in the camp is improving as the chefs get more creative and more ingredients start to arrive, either that or recipes are slowly making their way down to us”. “We had garlic bread the other day, which was a great surprise and treat for us all, although with only one piece per person, we all wanted more”. The serving of the Garlic bread did however coincide with the moving of the shower facilities, which resulted in no showers for a few days, so the odour of the camp suffered as a result he commented.
Before Christmas, they received their Christmas welfare parcels from back home as well as the presents sent by family and friends. Glen stated, “Whilst this was a big boost to morale and many thanks to those who sent them, families actually wrapped up some presents with do not open until Christmas”. “We were all very good in not opening them; however I can confess we gave them a little shake and a squeeze to try and guess what is inside them beforehand”!
In and around the camp, they had a Christmas tree complete with flashing lights and hanging candy and chocolate, as well as Christmas cards from family and friends all posted around their bed spaces. Elsewhere tinsel was hung along with paper and reindeer chains. They all wore Christmas hats and everyone kept a sharp eye out for the Mistletoe and made sure they did not stand under any!
Glen continued to say that life outside of the camp is now settled with good interaction with the locals and they are providing a sense of security, which allows the Afghanistan government to improve facilities within the country. In particular this is beneficial to the local children in terms of schooling, as well as distribution of wheat seeds and engineering programs such as road improvements, irrigation and new buildings. However, Taliban fighters are never too far away and are always ready to attack at any opportunity, keeping everyone on their toes.
Work in camp is keeping him and his comrades busy although they do have time to write letters home to family and friends. In addition, they have written plenty of thank you letters to those who have sent them parcels i.e. charities such as Standish Royal British Legion in Wigan. It is good to know that we they are being thought about back home, he stated.
Christmas 2008 was the first time Glen had spent time away from his family and friends, he sorely missed the Boxing Day fancy dress in Wigan as well as all the paper hats and pulling of Christmas crackers. However, he believes it is much harder for family and friends due to the fact that he and his comrades are all in the same boat whilst on Operations, however it is an extremely important and rewarding job they are doing, but appreciates that people will be thinking of them all the time whilst they serve in foreign lands. Glen is due home for a well deserved R & R in February and looks forward to seeing his friends and family for a couple of weeks.