Soldiers ready for Afghanistan return (From South Wales Argus)

Soldiers ready for Afghanistan return

4:10pm Thursday 16th December 2010 in Gwent news

MORE than 500 Chepstow-based soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in the Spring, it was announced yesterday.

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, told parliament yesterday 1st Battalion The Rifles will be heading to Afghanistan in Spring 2011, as part of 3 Commando Brigade.

The battalion, which consists of around 530 soldiers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James de la Billiere DSO MBE, has been training in preparation since September.

Lt Col de la Billiere said: "It's a great honour to command the battalion on operations and we are looking forward to the coming mission as the culmination of a long training process.

"Our riflemen have been preparing for this since the beginning of the autumn and have done through an extensive cycle which has seen the conduct of exercises on some of the best facilities the UK has to offer, using the very latest equipment and weapons.

"As a battalion we are single-mindedly focused on the success of our mission and once again looking forward to working with our old partners, the Afghan National Army."

A large number of the battalion, who are based at Beachley Barracks, served on the Rifles last tour of Helmand Province between September 2008 and May 2009 and for many the Spring deployment will be their third tour in the country.

1st Battalion the Rifles, will be deploying as a battlegroup in their own right, along with the Royal Artillery, Royal Signals, Royal Engineers, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and also the Territorial Army with volunteers from West Country-based 6 Rifles and Midlands-based 4 Mercians.