Tales from a short term deployment to Afghanistan
The beginning
I had better start by explaining how I came to end up in Afghanistan.
About 12 months ago a notice appeared on the front page of the HMRC intranet asking for volunteers to join a group of 200 civil servants; people who were willing to be sent to various parts of the world to help provide advice on local governance issues. The group would become known as the Civil Service Stabilisation Cadre or the CSSC. I must have had a quiet week in the office and thought I needed a bit of excitement, so I decided to fill in the application form and thought nothing more of it.
A couple of months later, I received a letter informing me that I had been accepted on to the CSSC and inviting me to a launch event in London. This put a little bit more flesh on the bones but it was still all a bit theoretical and I thought it highly unlikely that I would actually deploy anywhere.
HEAT
The next stage was HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training)
I received my call up papers for a place on HEAT on 29th June. I arrived down in Sussex with some trepidation. The course was first rate and I felt they prepared us really well for deployment overseas in the world’s more ‘interesting’ places. We experienced hostile border crossings, negotiating with a language barrier in place and being taken hostage. The first aid training in particular was of the highest quality. I was struck however that most (but by no means all) of the attendees had loads of experience of working in conflict zones around the world. This added to my impression that the chances of me deploying were on the slim side, but you never do know!
Notification
The first week in August started out as a pretty standard week in the life of a tax inspector, I had a major interview to prepare for, papers to review and a number of meetings to attend. Then that Monday afternoon I noticed an e mail in my inbox asking for someone with a financial background to apply for a short term deployment to Helmand. I realised that having put the CSSC to the expense of putting me through the HEAT course, I really should consider the position so I read on. As I read on it all became a bit surreal. They wanted applications in the following day and the individual to deploy by the weekend for a 6 week tour. I thought why not give it a go? It’s not as though there’s much chance of going - is there?
My line manager realised it was something I really wanted to do and offered me his support despite the difficulties it would cause the team; meetings would have to be reallocated and cases passed on. I then thought I better ring my wife. Melanie knew it was something I wanted to do and encouraged me to apply. So I filled in the application form and waited….
One of the advantages I had of them wanting someone so quickly was that there was no waiting around for answers. The applications had to be in by 3pm Tuesday. At 5pm I received a phone call asking me to take part in a telephone interview the following morning. It was all becoming a bit more real. During the telephone interview, my background and experiences were discussed along with what the role would require. I was told I was one of 3 being interviewed and to stand by for a phone call at midday. As midday came and went, I thought that one of the others must have got the job. But at 1pm the phone call came. I was offered the post and asked if I could get down to London the following day for briefings. After explaining that I needed at least 24 hours to tie up loose ends, it was agreed that I would report to Stabilisation Unit HQ first thing on Friday morning. The next 24 hours passed in a whirl as I sorted my work out as best I could and went shopping for clothes more suitable for a 40°C heat than a 15°C British summer. At just after 10am on Friday, I reported for duty at Stabilisation Unit HQ.
Getting Here
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My time at the Stabilisation Unit (SU) passed in a blaze of briefings and updates, picking up kit including body armour and helmets, then heading off for a medical and down to Heathrow. 48 hrs from notification to arrival at Heathrow, I had no idea the British Government could move that quickly. The staff at the SU just ‘got it done’. After all the frenetic haste of the last few days I was now at the mercy of international travel systems as I found out my connection had been delayed 24 hours. This proved to be a bit of a bonus as it gave me time to catch my breath and get a good night’s rest. I found my hotel, dumped my kit and headed off to explore. I was however tucked up fast asleep by 8pm. |
I had to leave the hotel before breakfast to get to the airport in time to hang around for 2 hours before the desk opened! Eventually we were on board and off to Kandahar. I was bolstered by news from a fellow passenger that it was the most bombed place in Afghanistan! My arrival was fortunately nice and quiet with a 10 hour wait and several more delays before arriving in Lashkar Gah which is to be my home for the next 6 weeks.
The last stretch brought home the reality of where I was. I shared my journey with a young Afghan lad who had just lost both his legs in an IED attack. He was being looked after by 2 young medics who were fantastic but it suddenly all became very real. Despite the delays, which are a fact of life when travelling in this part of the world, I was very impressed. I was met at each step and looked after and fully briefed.
After a few introductions to my new colleagues and a few more briefings, I was glad to find my bed.