The commanding officer of Arbroath-based 45 Commando says serving in Afghanistan with his men was the greatest privilege of his life.
For the past six months Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee and the marines under his command have been operating in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand Province.
The deployment was a first as 45 Commando had never been on a summer tour, or been based at Nad-e Ali South, in what was described as a critical year by coalition commanders as they prepare for the full handover to Afghan control at the end of 2014.
Having enjoyed a period of leave following their return to their base in Arbroath, Lt Col Lee reflected on the tour and what was achieved.
He said: ”Nad-e-Ali had been hard fought over for years and bitter experience left its people resigned to inevitable summer fighting. This brought hopelessness, fear, susceptibility to intimidation and unwillingness to resist the insurgency or side with legitimacy.
”We recognised the need to change the paradigm, break the cycle of violence and prevent the traditional fighting season, with Afghan forces in the lead, without reducing the pressure on the insurgents.”
He continued: ”We sought to discredit the insurgency and develop the confidence and will of 80,000 Afghan people in the district to reject it. The insurgent grew ever more desperate and reckless to be heard.”
The marines were working with Afghan soldiers and local police to provide greater security and stability in the area.
Until recently the area in which the marines were patrolling alongside Afghan soldiers from 3 Brigade 215 Corps was a launchpad for insurgents to attack International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan troops, as well as civilians living in the Nad-e-Ali protected community.
The work they have been putting in has paid off, with locals turning against the Taliban and offering intelligence about weapons caches and the whereabouts of insurgents.
Lt Col Lee said the insurgent was rendered impotent as 45 Commando took control on the ground through over 5000 patrols, owned the night by intimidating the intimidators and breeding uncertainty in the insurgent, cleared explosive devices, breathed confidence into Afghan forces, developed the Afghan local police concept into effective reality and hunted and targeted the insurgency.
He added: ”Violence fell 86% in 2010, and the inevitability of summer fighting was disproven. Instead emerged confident, wilful people eager for a stake in their destiny and prepared decisively to defend the status quo by standing against the insurgency.
”Afghan forces are burgeoning and proud, the district governor is a tremendous man, and wider legitimate structures of governance are credible and momentum seems irreversible.
”This was made so by the courage, determination, unyielding soldiering and common decency of young Royal Marines.
”Their humanity and insatiable desire to make a difference made the difference. Serving these marvellous men has been the greatest privilege of my life.”
The unit’s mantra for the campaign was to protect the people, never act in the heat of the moment, think long-term, place Afghans first and always treat them with dignity, to be patient, foster friendship, enable the Afghan government and security forces to appeal to their people, enable Afghan forces to provide the insurgency with a nightmare and always protect and progress the mission.
With his men safely returned to Scotland Lt Col Lee took time out to thank his staff who remained in Arbroath during the tour.
He said: ”Much was going on at home in RM Condor where our Rear Operations Group has supported those of us in Afghanistan tirelessly and with great distinction. Throughout the operational tour work continued on the Woodlands Garden.
”This magnificent project, worked on tirelessly, amongst others by some of our wounded men and bereaved families, will forever remember the sacrifice paid in Afghanistan (and elsewhere) to deliver the successes described above.
”We are grateful to our many friends in Arbroath and across Angus who have generously supported the Woodlands Garden project.”
While the unit was in Afghanistan the government announced the marines will move out of Arbroath within the next five to seven years, making way for an as yet unknown army regiment.