Leuchars-based servicemen and women preparing for deployment to Afghanistan have been put through their paces in Norfolk.
Number 6 Force Protection Wing is to be sent to Camp Bastion next month and personnel showed they were ready during the week-long exercise, dubbed Ensuring Shield, at the Stanford Training Area (STANTA).
The mission rehearsal exercise was the culmination of eight months of intensive training for the wing and its sub-units, 58 Squadron RAF Regiment, also based at Leuchars, and No. 2 Tactical Police Squadron, from RAF Henlow.
It will play a pivotal role in Afghanistan, providing intelligence, force protection, command and control and manpower to ensure air power in support of International Security Assistance Force operations.
The exercise was a test of the skills personnel will use while protecting Camp Bastion. It included building positive relations with villagers, dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and reacting to downed aircraft.
Squadron planning staff had to make contingency plans under pressure for simultaneous operations, which included arresting an IED facilitator and exploiting his compound for information, complicated by small arms fire and IEDs.
Squadron Leader David Stellitano, officer commanding 58 Squadron, said the exercise confirmed the squadron’s proficiency.
“Having received confirmation that 58 Squadron RAF Regiment has met the standard required, I am in no doubt that we are more than prepared to meet the challenges of our imminent Operation Herrick deployment,” he said.
Wing Commander Dave Tait, officer commanding 6 Force Protection Wing, said, “Air power plays a decisive role in current operations in Afghanistan and No 6 Force Protection Wing, including No 58 Squadron RAF Regiment and the RAF Police, will enable that air power by providing integrated, layered and air-minded force protection.”