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From Lieutenant Colonel B J Cattermole MBE

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards(Carabiniers and Greys)Camp SouterKabul Support UnitBritish Forces Post Office 758

The Regimental Family 10th November 2013

COMMANDING OFFICER’S NEWSLETTER FROM KABUL – NUMBER 2

It was four weeks ago that I took over command of the serving Regiment from Colonel BartyBartholomew and I truly could not have asked for a smoother transition. It is a testament to hisoutstanding leadership and the dedication of every single soldier that the Regiment is unanimouslypraised throughout Kabul for its sterling service and highest professional standards. I amenormously grateful to Barty for all that he and Cathy have done for the Regiment and especiallyfor cementing our strong reputation at home and in Afghanistan.

The handover of Commanding OfficersSunday 13th October, 2013

The Commanding Officer being dragged out ofCamp Souter in "11 Barty"

The Regiment has once again proven its flexibility, having assumed a new role and earned plauditsfrom every angle for the manner in which it has embraced this new and demanding task in Kabul.It is all the more remarkable since the Regiment returned from a very different tour of Afghanistanonly two years ago. That deployment, Op HERRICK 14 in summer 2011, was marked by searingheat, excessive weight on patrols constantly threatened by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)and the most austere and arduous living conditions. Our soldiers worked hard to develop the localsecurity forces and buy them time and space by taking the fight to the insurgent enemy.

Here in Kabul our role is very different, as are our surroundings. The summer was mild bycomparison to Helmand and the rains have already begun, with the snow daily creeping down themountains that surround the bowl in which Kabul sits. We have yet to hit freezing point, but theodds are looking good for a white Christmas, which may, temporarily, mask the dirt and squalorthat covers much of Kabul. That said, Kabul has all the trappings of a less troubled Asian city, withVegas-style wedding halls in the centre and bustling modern shopping streets, all vying for spacewith the poorest of beggars, pedlars and hawkers of every ware conceivable. Policemen battlevaliantly to control the flow of traffic that has doubled in just five years, resorting at night to drapingthemselves in fairy lights to avoid becoming a victim of one of the many traffic accidents that occurhere. From our perspective, this tour is many ways more reminiscent of the Balkans tours than of

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Helmand. Unlike the tented, desert city that is Bastion, Camp Souter (formerly a fertilizer factory)has real buildings, with actual stairs, windows and walls made not of Hesco or reinforced concrete,but of bricks and mortar. By contrast, A Squadron’s home in Camp Qargha is purpose built – andto the highest specifications, with an LAD and Medical Centre that would cause envy back athome.

There is, of course, no room for complacency. As covered below, both squadrons face very realthreats; with the key difference from previous tours being that we must endure these day in, dayout, observing and reporting potential threats but relying on other agencies to target the insurgents.We are, in essence, a combat regiment in a service support role. As such our approach is simple.The first priority is security; the second is service and the third is preparation for our successorsand the unexpected. Throughout, the soldiers and officers continue to give their all.

In Camp Qargha, where A Squadron are providing force protection, the Afghan National ArmyOfficer’s Academy has welcomed its first officer cadets. They arrived for their first day on 20th

October and are now entering the third week of their first term. Although there was no evidence ofironing boards nor of wistful parents seeing off their beloved sons as at the steps of Old College,there was still a tinge of Sandhurst nerves as the cadets settled in. Their arrival was preceded bythat of around forty mentors, mostly British, but including several from Australia, New Zealand,Denmark and Norway who are working one on one with the Afghan National Army directing staff.The course for the cadets is recognisably Sandhurst based with an emphasis on exercises andphysical training that will produce around 270 young officers over a 42 week course. For the initialsix weeks the cadets and mentors are classroom and gymnasium focused with the first exercises(and associated complex force protection tasks) at the end of November and December.

The stunning view of the Afghan National Defence University (ANDU) of which A Squadron'sCamp Qargha is a part

Meanwhile, like building an aeroplane in flight, Camp Qargha continues to grow around theSquadron. Over the last few weeks, the fitter section have moved into their luxurious garages,complete with 20 tonne overhead crane, smithy, electrical and general workshops and a washdown. Regrettably (but probably unsurprisingly) the autumn rains arrived before the asphalt andso we are holding out for a dry spell to allow the roads to be ‘poured’. Elsewhere around the camp,

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concrete sangars are appearing along the walls and internally, welfare facilities are arriving,offering the soldiers a variety of places to relax in company and away from their accommodation.

Corporal Barr of A Squadron

Sadly, A Squadron suffered an insider attack at the end of last month against a foot patrol ofAustralian and New Zealand soldiers. One sergeant and a corporal received non life threateninggun shot injuries. The sergeant has since been safely repatriated to New Zealand and the corporalhas returned to duty. The assailant was shot by another member of the patrol. The Squadron hassettled back into its mission following this unsettling experience and we are thankful that theconsequences weren’t more severe. Important lessons have been learned at all levels, with themost fundamental being that we can trust our protective equipment and the skills honed during pre-deployment training conducted over many months.

C Squadron, meanwhile, have been hard at work ensuring freedom of movement for British andentitled partner nation personnel around Kabul. Acting as a ‘tactical taxi service’ they ply theirtrade between a number of key destinations in the city, particularly the Headquarters of theInternational Stabilisation and Assistance Force (ISAF), the International Airport (known as KAIA)and A Squadron in Qargha. Their Foxhound vehicles are proving to be most reliable and ideallysuited for the cluttered and congested roads of Kabul. As the weather deteriorates, their off roadcapabilities will become even more useful.

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C Squadron battle with the Kabul traffic daily

There remains a very real threat in Kabul and the Squadron’s job is not without risk as was vividlybrought home in mid-October when a Suicide Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED)detonated some 600 metres away from Camp Souter in close proximity to two up-armouredAmerican 4x4s. Thankfully, all the US servicemen were discharged from hospital the next day.Such attacks are very rare, but the potential impact could be catastrophic. We continue to draw onthe experience of that day to remind ourselves of the threat and I am confident that the soldiers’skills and drills remain of the highest standard to prevent and deter a repeat attack against our ownpeople.

HQ Squadron Forward, co-located with C Squadron in Camp Souter, continues to support not onlythe deployed Regiment, but also all British Military personnel in Kabul. Their current focus is onthe winterisation of vehicles, people and accommodation – with the myriad of staff officers acrossKabul not being particularly compliant in putting in their bids for cold weather clothing! They arealso continually looking to streamline our stocks, redeploying tonnes of legacy stores andequipment back to Camp Bastion while simultaneously improving the infrastructure and services ofboth Camps Souter and Qargha. Since arriving in theatre, KSU has demanded £30 million worthof stores and equipment and 162 ISO containers have been processed – a busy time for a smallteam.

The combined efforts of HQ Squadron Leader, Major Bryon Brotherton, and Pipe Major Doddshave also seen continued performances of the Pipes and Drums at a wide array of events, eitheras individuals or as a band. They have played at a football match between the AfghanistanNational Army and ISAF, regular Memorial Services in HQ ISAF, as well as at vigils andRemembrance Services across the city. We were also blessed by outstanding displays atBalaclava Night, attended by Lieutenant General Lorimer and also at Colonel Barty’s farewell.Once again, the band were sought by the US Marine Corps, and were flown down to Helmand toplay alongside the band of The Highlanders at the USMC 238th Birthday celebration. The Pipes

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and Drums are truly flying the regimental flag and proving to be one of most potent levers ofinfluence here.

Staff Sergeant Rigby representing ISAF in afootball match against the ANA

Corporals Bruce and Warren play for thecameras at the ISAF vs ANA football match

Back in Bad Fallingbostel the Rear Operations Group has deployed a further thirteen soldiers tobolster our numbers here in Kabul. A team commanded by Mr Nurick and Sergeant Mowbray isnow in Scotland to assist the Yeomanry with their recruiting efforts, spending a fortnight each inFife and Ayrshire. While in Scotland, they will also deliver a series of presentations toorganisations and groups in Fife to garner support for Caring for Courage and to introduce locals tothe Regiment in preparation for our return to Scotland. Sport continues in Fallingbostel withnotable successes from the rugby team who have beaten both 1st Battalion of The Princess ofWales's Royal Regiment and 26th Regiment Royal Artillery. The cross-country team is improvingand is now placed third in the Germany minor units competition; they will form the backbone of thisyear's Nordic skiing team. A crew of young soldiers, skippered by Mr Thornton, are currentlysailing in the Solent, although their ambitions of getting to Hamburg and back have been hamperedby the high winds. Battered by Force 8 and 9 storms, they are sailing as much as the boat willallow but are yet to make it past the Isle of Wight. We wait on tenterhooks….

Returning to Afghanistan, as I write this on Remembrance Sunday, our thoughts are rightly notonly with those from the Regiment who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, but also with the manywho have given so much both here in Afghanistan and in conflicts across the world. In particular,we remember WO2 Fisher of the Mercian Regiment, who was tragically killed last week. He waswell known to many in the Regiment, both from this and previous deployments, but also socially inBad Fallingbostel. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Finally, I thank all of you who have so warmly received Erica and me back to the Regiment. Everyday, I am humbled by all that our people and their families achieve and the good spirits in whichthe most arduous of conditions are overcome. We have many challenges to face in the comingyears, including rebasing to Scotland, converting to Light Cavalry and fully integrating with theYeomanry. Spurred on by the wider regimental family, I know that the Regiment will exceed allexpectations and I thank you in advance for your continued support.