Blog: From a Stanway wood to an Afghan war zone (From Essex County Standard)
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Blog: From a Stanway wood to an Afghan war zone
9:10pm Wednesday 16th March 2011 in News
On patrol in Afghanistan with 3 Para
ANYONE who has seen my physique recently would not connect training and me but they would be wrong.
Many a dog walker has seen me scuttling through the woods in Stanway – and probably thought the Army will let anyone in these days – wearing my armour as I attempted to get my personal fitness level from very poor to better.
Two days at a base in Nottingham taught me what bombs and guns to avoid – all of them – and more importantly how to recognise them. With some battlefield casualty drills I had learned enough basics to be allowed to go to theatre.
After risking repetitive strain injury filling in all the necessary forms for the Ministry of Defence I was cleared to go and since then have been running , or waddling, through the woods to get ready.
I am ready, thanks to the Army’s help, briefings and advice- and have completed my checklist ready to deploy.
Now to swap leafy Stanway for a war zone in Afghanistan.
In this section
- Blog: I was honoured to write about our troops' courage
- Blog: Our brave boys have to fly a shabby piece of tin that barely works
- Blog: What to do if someone shoots at you
- Blog: 2 Para's mental toughness is staggering
- Blog: I have girly hands, according to an Afghan elder
- Blog: Viva Lash Vegas
- Blog: Even the soldiers are smiling
- Blog: I'm a fan of warm weather...unless it means it's fighting season
- Blog: A masterclass in 40 winks
- Our Man in Afghanistan blog: From Stanway's woods to an Afghan war zone
