Movements

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Camp Bastion UKM It was a beautiful sunny morning at Baghdad International. The birds were singing, the locals had not been mortaring us for several days and there was a choice of 15 different ice cream flavours available at the US mess for lunch. Then came the phone call: ‘Hi Matt, it’s the Boss. How do you fancy HERRICK again? Camp Bastion. British run, British built, bit dusty. Middle of nowhere. Your replacement’s on the way - bye.’ Bugger - I’d only tried about half the available ice-creams and had yet to make a dent in the vast selection of burgers. Still, swift to move, MAMS Operations had me back in the UK to get a SUSAT fitted (never a promising sign) and in no time I was in Kabul where the UK element of the ISAF Movements Detachment was cheerfully telling me how grim conditions were down in Bastion - ‘Camel Spiders? Bigger then cats down there. Not that you’ll have the chance to see any due to the constant dust storms. Got to go sir - the bar’s opening. Enjoy!’ Two hours and one rather rough landing later I was on the ground. A mover with full body armour, helmet and loaded rifle served to remind us that we had landed outside the wire and had us off and into cover in no time. A blast of dusty, scorching air from the Herc showered all present in debris and the Engine Running Offload (ERO) was complete, with the aircraft returning to the (relatively) benign surroundings of Kandahar. The heat was definitely more intense than up north, and in the darkness a jolting, disorientating, 4 ton truck ride with choking clouds of dust reminded us that this was an austere environment. Therefore, in daylight, it came as quite a surprise to discover that Bastion is a small but well equipped front line army camp with all mod-cons for those seeking a government-sponsored holiday in the sun. 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery run the garrison, whilst 3 Para form the main infantry Battle Group for offensive operations in the Sangin Valley, just a few miles to the north. All other units, including chinooks, apaches, engineers, gunners, medics, logisticians, HQ units and RAF Tactical Landing Zone (TLZ) operations personnel are there to support the infantry. This was made quite clear in daily Battle Group briefings where detailed and graphic accounts of the fighting left no-one in doubt that we all had a key part to play in supporting those who were in daily and prolonged contact with the Taliban. The UKMAMS detachment at Camp 22 Movements Bastion consists of a 4 man team and a rather temperamental Lift King forklift truck. The personnel usually serve a 6 week period in location, whilst the forklift often manages significantly less time before requiring some R&R! Whilst the remainder of Op HERRICK has been handed over to DWR personnel, Camp Bastion remains the responsibility of UKMAMS due to the requirement for EROs, the harsh environmental conditions and because all activity takes place outside the secured perimeter of the camp. Along with RLC ATLO personnel, the MAMS team form the Joint Movements Unit (Bastion). Their main task is handling of troops and baggage on R&R, end of tour and in-theatre movements. Cargo is also transported, particularly inbound ammunition and spares. VIP moves, aero-medical evacuation and, sadly, the transportation of deceased personnel also occur, but less frequently. As much activity as possible happens within the confines of camp at the TLZ operations tent and Movements Control Check Point, but some preparation and the actual ERO require personnel to be working outside the wire. The Ghurkhas currently provide depth force protection using their WMIK Land Rovers, with RAF firemen forming an immediate armed cordon around the aircraft and passengers. Tactical ATC ensure that the Hercules safely arrives and departs on the rough gravel strip. This teamwork ensures that the aircraft spends the minimum amount of time possible at risk on the ground. With a typical day consisting of several hours working in the full desert sun, at temperatures of up to 55ºC (whilst wearing body armour and helmet), air conditioned accommodation is a great blessing, as is sufficient water for a brief ‘ship shower’ and the newly imported washing machines. Superb meals are conjured out of (virtually) nothing by the Army Catering Corps - particularly challenging when the supply wagons from Pakistan fail to arrive or turn up a couple of day’s late - and a fridge full of cold water seems like the ultimate luxury.
MAMS Detachment Flt Lt Matt Stott A small shop is provided by the EFI, with a weekly jingly market (although with only two locals in Toyota pickups, they do form a price-fixing monopoly on souvenir rugs) and Bastion mail does get in-theatre priority. Contrary to popular opinion, Camp Bastion is actually a very rewarding location in which to work and the Army really is grateful for what you can do for them, with Hercules and Support Helicopter crews held in particularly high regard. As ever, the ‘B@**#y Movers’ come in for some abuse, but when a para (who was in contact two hours ago) is put on an aircraft home, or when desperately needed ammunition is unloaded, I have heard it grudgingly conceded by Army personnel that maybe even RAF movers are a vital and welcome part of the Camp Bastion establishment. Movements 23
Page 1 and 2: Movements
Page 3 and 4: ForewordGroup Captain R Atherton MA
Page 5 and 6: Life at the edge of the APOE Wing R
Page 7 and 8: majority of military movements in a
Page 9 and 10: 07 Oct 05 747 Steps struck front on
Page 11 and 12: JATEU Airportability Section, RAF B
Page 13: ‘OK Boss’ I replied. ‘When do
Page 17 and 18: of the two transit tents on the air
Page 19 and 20: from the ‘Eye of the Storm’ abo
Page 21 and 22: However, it’s not all doom and gl
Page 23 and 24: An example of some well built palle
Page 25 and 26: The Trade Sponsor is in a hole! So
Page 27: Training update - some thoughts on

Movements

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