Classification: NATO/ISAF
UNCLASSIFIED - RELEASABLE FOR INTERNET TRANSMISSION
RAF Police
Associations
I would like to take the
opportunity to thank you for your generosity in sending welfare boxes to the RAF
Police men and women currently serving in Afghanistan. Whilst conditions
for most of us here in Kandahar are reasonably comfortable, it is touching to
know that you are thinking of us, particularly as we approach the festive
period. Your gifts have been distributed to the two dozen or so RAFP
who are serving in several locations across Afghanistan.
We are employed across a
range of tasks, including Force Protection, SIB, ATSy, CI, InfoSy, Counter
Narcotics and training Afghan National Police and the ranks range from
A/Cpl to Sqn Ldr. This demonstrates the broad range of capabilities
that the RAFP can provide; indeed our coalition partners often express surprise
at the range of posts that we fill. Needless to say we are all very busy -
but enjoying the challenges of the mission.
Once again, sincere thanks
for the parcels and I wish you and your families well.
Kind
regards
Darren
Darren
Sutton
D SUTTON
OF-3 (Sqn Ldr)
SO2 INFOSEC/HQ SyO
RC(S)
Ladies &
Gentlemen,
The Festive season will soon be upon us and things here
at KAF continue in much the same vain as before, except that, as I write, we are
in the middle of a massive thunder storm; so much for winter sunshine and
escaping the British winter gloom! Many thanks to all of you who have
continued to send us welfare boxes; we are still passing on the goodies to our
brethren throughout Op Herrick. The parcels do make all the difference
when another night shift rolls around and, judging by the contents, you all seem
to know just what we need whilst out here "doing our bit" for Queen &
Country.
The comings and goings here continue to amuse all
involved, not least my abortive attempts to do a Rapiscan Radiation Check &
welfare visit to our man in Kabul (Cpl Marv Joyce). It all started on
Monday of last week, I was all ready to go, sat on the plane eagerly
anticipating my first visit to the capital. Unfortunately, an
unserviceable aircraft soon put paid to that. "No problem", thought I,
"I'll try again tomorrow", so, back to work.
Tuesday, all booked on
and ready to go again. This time, I got on board and all seemed to be
going well, a quick stop a Camp bastion to drop off and collect other passengers
and then away to Kabul, about 1 1/2 hours away. Three hours later we
touched down, a fellow passenger looked quizzically out of the window, then back
at me and asked, "Are we back at KAF?" Not quite believing it, I too
looked out of the window and thought, "Do they build all their airports the same
here?" It soon dawned on me that we were, in fact, back where we had
started; apparently, there was too much fog and snow at Kabul and we were unable
to land, they just didn't tell us though! Climbing back on the bus to be
taken back to the PHF (Passenger Handling Facility), Aerial, one of our drivers,
said, "Why are you back? Broken the plane again?" Hmmmmmmmmm.
Also, the rain had started and what rain it was. The PHF, a rather large
tent, leaks like the proverbial colander and water was now making slow but
steady progress across the floor, as there are no drains! If you've ever
tried to sweep back the sea, you'll have some appreciation of what we were
trying to do. We managed to get the power cables for the Rapiscan machine
up just as the next downpour came; now that would have made our job here much
more interesting.
So, the next day and another go. The etd
for the flight was 2120 hrs, so I helped Cpl Ash Paget with the check-in for the
later Tri-Star. As we processed the passengers through, I turned to Ash
and said, "That's not mist out there is it?" "No, it must be the fumes
from the air blowers", and on we went. A passenger then came back in from
the smoking area and said, "Have you seen the fog?" Sure enough, on going
outside, the airfield was completely closed in by thick fog; nothing was going
to fly that night! So, after all that, I decided that it was a lost cause
and that, for some reason, the fates had conspired against me and I was to stay
at KAF for the foreseeable future. Lo and behold, the next day (when I
wasn't booked onto a flight to go anywhere), the weather was perfect and every
single plane took off and landed on time, in every location within
Theatre!
Here is the 'manning' update for our happy band as it
stands:
On 19 Dec we bid farewell to Cpl Kev Canavan who, following
R&R in the UK, will be going to Basra to join up with his TPW
comrades. Bye Kev, take care and thanks for the laughs. Kev will be
replaced by Cpl Dan Fraser (also TPW) who will complete 2 months with us
here.
On 5 Jan, we will be supplemented by 4 more upstanding
members of the RAF's finest following a manpower review in which it was
discovered that we were under-manned for the task that we are required to
fulfil. So, in come Cpls Sheehan (Lyneham), Heffernan (Brize Norton),
Donaldson (Corsham) and Heyward (Waddington). In answer to a number of
you, still no females (although, Marv does like his hair care products!).
Speaking of whom, we have been notified that Marv is, in fact, to be replaced by
Cpl Helen Dallenger in March so, if and when you send out boxes after then, some
female 'home comforts' would go down a treat. Or, if you send them before
then, I'm sure that Marv will give them a good home.
February is a
busy month for changeovers, FS Paul Symons leaves first, to be replaced by FS
'Scouse' Fitzpatrick (Cosford), then it's my turn, replacement Sgt Rich 'Aitch'
Aitchison (Aldergrove), then Cpl Mark Shaw leaves at the end of the month,
replacement Cpl Mark Wooler (Brampton/Wyton/Henlow).
Again, many
thanks for all your support; you are all everything that is good about the RAF
Police family.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you
all.
Sgt Rodge Blackburn