District Governor

Start Date	Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:44:00
End Date	Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:44:00
Location	Forward Operating Base, Shawqat, Central Helmand province
Speaker

It’s not often the past catches up with the present.  But a few days ago I paid a visit with SACEUR to Forward Operating Base Shawqat in Central Helmand.

The FOB is built around the walls of a Fort used by British forces in Afghanistan in the 19th Century.  This time, however, it is shared with the Afghan Army rather than being used to defend against them.

Shawqat is newly constructed, and a far cry from the first FOB’s I visited in Afghanistan two years ago.  In addition to protected accommodation, it has an operations room, medical facility and an impressive vehicle maintenance and repair operation.  The soldiers I spoke to had nothing but praise for the quality of the accommodation.

In many ways, Shawqat symbolizes the spirit of the operations currently under way in Southern Afghanistan.  Afghan and international forces are working together to push back the insurgency and improve the quality of life for ordinary people.  As the District Governor confirmed to us over lunch, there have been some considerable successes.  

But there is a sadder side too.  The FOB contains a memorial to Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who was killed earlier this year when in command of the FOB.  Small wooden crosses commemorate others killed in action.  I got to know Rupert when he was working in the Defence Secretary’s Office and echo the many tributes that have been paid to him.

SACEUR told me after the visit that he had nothing but admiration for the professionalism and dedication of the British forces deployed in Afghanistan.  I would like to echo that tribute and hope the pictures that go with this article give some impression of the magnificent job they do.