First time in Iraq?
Yes,
deployments, but the first time in that
Quite clear that the situation
The insurgency was on its
The main insurgency in the south, the.
Militant Jaysh al-Mahdi,
huge amounts of, of rockets and ammunition
and training and advisors and all sorts.
And as the insurgency got worse, the UK
Began to draw down.
There were fewer targets for them to.
Attack and they were attacking them,
So as that year went on,
going to face a greater challenge than
time it was there.
And so we had to be really well trained.
We had a load of new people, including me.
And because the squadron,
Match its establishment for one reason or.
Another, a lot of it because people
To go and do something else.
We took 25 reservists with us.
Part time members of.
The RAF regiment from
Had given a full year of their.
Lives from their civilian jobs and their.
Families to serve their country,
because for us, it's our job.
For them it wasn't, but it became.
And I thought to go and serve.
Your country like that was amazing.
But of course what it did mean is that
A long way behind the regulars,
only trained for sort of 30 days a year.
So we had to get the new.
People up to speed,
and we had to pack in, in the six
Amount of training,
can't ever be complacent.
Just because the Squadron had done well.
In the last two Basra tours doesn't.
Mean it'll do well in the next one.
You're only as good as
And the simple fact is that if
Really good at it,
And it's a perishable skill.
It takes a lot to be willing and
And kill an enemy.
Was possibly what we were going to have
and well trained insurgency.
So I had in six months to get the squadron
and give them time with their families
They weren't utterly exhausted
It's quite a challenge.
And prepare myself as well,
and I'd never commanded a squadron
that's a learning experience
