Edinburgh troops make final preparations for Afghan deployment

STV

Members of an Edinburgh-based Army batallion are preparing to embark on a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The 125 soldiers from the 1st Batallion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland will leave Dreghorn Barracks for Helmand province on Wednesday.

More than 270 British soldiers have died during active service in the country to date, six of whom were killed in Helmand in the last week. However, while the troops admitted to apprehension as they made final preparations on Tuesday, they said they had to focus on the job ahead.

Over the next six months, the batallion will work alongside Afghan national forces in a mentoring role. They will work alongside local soldiers, 24 hours a day, with the aim of improving training and security standards to eventually facilitate the transfer of security from UK to Afghan troops.

Major Richard Forsyth, C Company Commander, 1 Scots, said tough training meant the soldiers were more than ready for a difficult tour. He said: "The full bridgade has had what's called mission specific training and it's thorough. It's been over the last six or seven months and it's built on what we call collective training, which is basically learning our basic soldiering skills.

"When you combine that now, the soldiers are thoroughly prepared. They know what the risks are and they know what their role is. They now just want to be able to put that into practice."

While the troops admitted to some worries over spending six months away from home, Major Forsyth insisted it was all part of the job.

He said: "It is a long time to be away but the soldiers know what this business is and they're used to it. For a lot of them, this is not their first time away from home. Nobody wants to leave their friends, family and loved ones but this is what the soldiers have signed up to do.

"They've had a long training programme, they're now ready to go and I think, if I'm being honest, the soldiers are now just desperate to get on with this job and be able to put what they've learned into practice in the next six months in theatre.