Club Weekly Meeting - ARRC (Mark Greenhaigh)

ARRC - Mark Greenhaigh

Afghanistan Experiences -- Black Watch 2009

Sergeant Major Mark Greenhaigh, currently serving with HQ ARRC Imjin Barracks Innsworth, spoke to club about his experiences and life as a soldier with particular reference to Afghanistan and his tour of duty during 2009.

Mark was a member of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and his job whilst on patrol was to spot and accurately pinpoint the enemy, call in the Apache helicopters or jets, who would in turn destroy the enemy using the data supplied by Mark.

Before being let loose in Afghanistan all solders undergo a training period of 18 months in USA Arizona, Canada, and Kenya.  This would be followed by up to a further 7 days intensive training upon arrival in Afghanistan, providing only 4 hrs sleep per day!

The tours of duty would last for 6 months.  The soldiers on duty would undertake about 8 foot patrols over a 12 hour period with the temperature being between 45 and 55 degrees.  Each man would wear and carry body armour, helmet, gloves, knee pads, his own first aid kit (including tourniquets), survival equipment, fire arms and ammunition.  The total weight being carried would be about 11 stone (154 Lbs or approx 70 kilos) for each soldier; this was roughly equivalent to their own body weight!

On each patrol they would have to navigate land mines, be watchful for and engage the enemy when ever necessary, whilst looking after ones self and buddies.

The photographs and videos Mark showed were very vivid depicting violence within a very harsh terrain, with the Taliban mixing with the locals, making identification extremely difficult.   Often the local men would be paid by the Taliban to shoot the soldiers.  Clearly the soldiers undertake a very dangerous job which is being carried out in the most extreme conditions.  Survival has got to be down to training, superior equipment and comradeship.

We must all be very grateful to the British Soldier who looks after our interests and ourselves both home and abroad.

Apparently this was the first time Mark had spoken to an audience that wasn