F e a t u r e s Seasaidh Sinn Ar Tir
Seasaidh Sinn Ar Tir ‘We Stand Our Ground’ How better to describe 2622 (Highland) Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force the most northerly based Auxiliary squadron. It was from here that Flight Sergeant Brian Black was deployed, leaving his normal place of work in an engineering workshop to patrol the streets of Basrah as a part-time gunner.
I
was keen to volunteer as I wanted to find out at first hand what our younger squadron members experience when they are called up to serve their country in fairly
inhospitable parts of the world. I had hoped that this would help me adapt training we currently provide to ensure that our boys are as well prepared as possible for a period of full-time service both in terms of their military skills and physical conditioning.
Before deciding to volunteer I discussed it at some length with my wife Roslin, who fully supported my aspirations. When I received confirmation that I was going, both Roslin and I were apprehensive because apart from fairly short breaks, we had never been separated before and we were both worried
about how we would cope. I was particularly worried about Roslin being at home on her own, as our three children had left home and were all working and living in Aberdeen.
In the three months before going I put myself through a rigorous fitness regime to ensure that physically I was up to the demanding standards of 51 Squadron RAF Regiment (the regular Squadron at Lossiemouth) where I was to do my pre-deployment training. Thankfully, the time spent in the gym paid off and even at the ripe old age of 49, I was able to give a good account of myself against the other Gunners, the majority of whom were much, much younger than me.
Time to go, and along with the rest of 51 Squadron I boarded the aircraft at Lossiemouth which flew us directly into Basrah International
Airport, ‘home’ for the next six months. Saying goodbye to Roslin and the dogs was particularly difficult. I had very mixed
emotions. On the one hand I was very upset at the prospect of being
away from Roslin and also apprehensive about what lay ahead for me in Iraq. At the same time having worked and trained hard for this deployment, I was excited about testing myself in an operational theatre.
Fortunately, when we arrived in Basrah I did not have time to think too much about what I had left behind as work began in earnest the minute we set foot on the ground. Kit needed to be collected, key local information absorbed and, importantly, familiarisation with the tracked Bulldog armoured patrol vehicles. Besides the acclimatisation and fitness training, we also had familiarisation trips with the Merlin helicopter that was used during the tour and shoots on the ranges to check weapon calibration and get used to firing wearing the superb, but bulky, Osprey body armour.
Our accommodation wasn’t too bad, we were in two-man rooms, each with a protected sleeping area, that allowed us to store kit and relax. The areas were air conditioned which was particularly welcome as ambient temperatures were 49°c during the day. We were fed in newly opened facilities that included all messing as well as separate coffee shop and welfare telephone and internet facilities.
Other facilities included a library, church, gymnasium, NAAFI shop and club, tailor, barber and laundry facilities. These were further enhanced with a couple of shops selling local goods and a Subway outlet. So far however, there was little opportunity to take advantage
10 Autumn 2009
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48