15th October
A few days have gone past since I last wrote in here, I think it’s a Wednesday? Doing this 8 day RSOI package to get ready to deploy on the ground, already a few days into it, the one thing that kills me is the heat, I’m drinking 7-8 litres of water a day and pissing twice! How is that possible? Just got issued the new Osprey body amour, it’s a good piece of kit in theory, they just need to make it lighter and take out the stab proof padding! If Taliban get close enough to stab me i deserve it! I got made the UGL gunner in the patrol as well, gives me a bit more confidence knowing that there’s that bit extra fire power at my fingertips.
The one thing that keep’s getting me here at Bastion, and I can see it in some of the other lad’s face’s is when there’s a serious casualty or a death, over the tangy across the whole of Bastion ‘STANDBY FOR BROADCAST, STANDBY FOR BROADCAST, OP MINIMIZE IS NOW IN EFFECT’ You hear this no matter where you are, all the phones are shut down, as is the little internet hub thing. It’s such a weird feeling to hear that knowing that someone back in the UK is about to have their world turned upside down, it’s fucking mad. Also the lad’s run about trying to find out information to see if it’s any of our mucca’s from B Company who are already out on the ground smashing it up as i write this now. Within the first 3 days of being here 3 solders KIA and 2 double amputee! This is going to get crazy real quick.
To be honest I wish I was out on the ground now so I don’t have to keep hearing ‘OP MINIMIZE’ all the fucking time. It’s made seeing all the support we have here, seeing all the Apache’s, Chinook’s, Lynx’s, Sea King’s, Merlin’s and the US Blackhawks and Osprays, I tell you Aran it’s like no airshow you’ve ever seen. I’m really dying to get out on the ground now, feeling a lot more confidant in myself and these new skill’s we’re being taught on this RSOI, and the little patrol we’ve got, what a rabble of misfits, we have got TA, 4 Para and Duke of Lanc’s, A Company 1 and 2 section, Fire Support Group (FSG), we look like a 21st century Dad’s Army! But we are all getting on and getting shit done.
Right now I’m sat on a bunk bed in a tent with no air-con, and I can hear chopper’s in the background. It’s just unreal here, what more can I say. I’ve read the books, seen the news and heard the stories, but now I’m doing it. Right now I think I’m not the only one who can’t wait to get out on the ground and start smashing Terry up big time, better make the most of the hot showers and food whilst we can because when we get to CP Qudrat it’s solar showers in winter and ration packs all the way! Treat yourself.
