Fun-loving sapper falls in Sangin |
Pte Robert McLaren |
THE death of a 22-year-old combat engineer in southern Afghanistan has left a “big void” in the lives of fellow soldiers, friends and family.
Spr Jordan Rossi (25 Field Squadron, 38 Engineer Regiment) died following an explosion near Sangin in Helmand province on May 23.
The charismatic soldier was part of a Royal Engineers’ search team tasked with clearing IEDs which posed a lethal threat to British Forces and the Afghan population.
Spr Rossi had deployed to Northern Ireland and Kenya before his posting to Helmand as an advanced searcher within the Joint Force Explosive Device Disposal Group.
Those who served with the “fine man” spoke highly of his professionalism and morale-boosting antics. Lt Col Roger Lewis, commanding officer of 38 Engineer Regiment, said: “Spr Jordan Rossi was a hardworking, professional soldier with a natural ability to relate to others.
“Full of character, his outgoing personality and ever present humour touched the lives of everyone he met.”
He added: “He was a fantastic soldier, a regimental personality and I enjoyed his comradeship immensely.”
Spr Rossi’s mother, Theresa Rossi, said: “I have just lost my precious, fun-loving son.
“He was doing a job he loved and was proud to be a soldier.
“He was a tremendous son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend. There will be a big void in all our lives.”
United we stand
PRE-DEPLOYMENT packages for Op Herrick-bound British troops are to take on an increasingly multinational flavour, according to the commander of the Operational Training and Advisory Group (Optag).
Speaking as a new mock Afghan village at the Stanford Training Area in Norfolk opened its gates to the press for the first time, Col Richard Westley said that British Army units had already been joined on exercise by American forces.
With thousands of extra US troops arriving to bolster the Nato mission in Helmand province, Col Westley believed that cooperation in training was vital to future success in Afghanistan and would enhance Britain and America’s joint military capabilities.
“We currently have three advisers from the US Marine Corps at Optag and we will be attending their exercises in California later this year,” he said. “Our relationship with the US and joint experience in Afghanistan also allows us to help other nations in the coalition.”
The inclusion of authentic friendly forces in mission-specific exercises, is one of a series of improvements introduced by Optag to better prepare soldiers for the realities of theatre. Special emphasis is also being placed on countering IEDs, with troops being drilled in how to recognise and neutralise devices.
Col Westley told Soldier that without Optag’s evolutionary approach there would be “many more repatriation ceremonies”. He said: “If the enemy is using a new tactic, procedure or piece of equipment, then our people are going to die if we do not respond to it quickly. ”
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‘Devoted’ boss dies in blast |
Maj Sean Birchall |
A MUCH-LOVED officer of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards was killed on a routine patrol in southern Afghanistan when an IED was detonated against his vehicle.
Father-of-one Maj Sean Birchall was caught in an explosion while delivering supplies to his men near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province. Another soldier was also injured in the blast.
Despite immediate assistance from the patrol medic, the 33-year-old OC of 9 Company, 1 WG could not be saved and died en route to hospital on June 19.
Maj Birchall’s wife, Joanna – mother of their 18-month-old son Charlie – spoke of the athletic guardsman’s pride at serving in the Armed Forces.
“Sean was a wonderful husband, a doting father and a much-loved son and brother, who cared deeply for his family and friends,” she said.
“He has been described as ‘devilishly fit, stylish and energetic’ and he was so very proud to be a Guards officer.
“He was also thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a newly-formed company in Afghanistan and despite spending such a short time with his guardsmen, he was utterly devoted to them.
“He leaves behind his adoring family, the regiment he loved, and his loyal friends. They will miss him terribly.”
Of South African-born Maj Birchall, his CO Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe said: “Sean had all the qualities of an outstanding professional soldier – fitness, coolness under pressure and tactical flair.
“His character was defined by his tremendous and infectious enthusiasm – I do not think he had a negative bone in his body.
“The unselfish and positive manner in which he led his life could not contrast more starkly with the nihilistic cruelty of the people who took it from him.”
Maj Birchall joined the Welsh Guards in 1999 and was tasked with leading 9 Company when it was formed to deploy to southern Afghanistan.
WO2 Andy Campbell, who served as Maj Birchall’s company sergeant major, said: “Maj Birchall was the right man to bring 9 Company together and will be remembered by all those who met him as an exceptional soldier, inspired leader and most importantly a good man.
“It was my honour and privilege to serve with him. The company has lost a brave man and a good friend.”
Prodders gets the nod
SOLDIERS deploying to southern Afghanistan are being issued with pocket-sized packs containing everything they need to safely prod
their way out of a minefield.
Developed in reaction to an Urgent Operational Requirement identified by British troops serving in one of the most mined regions in the world, the Personal Minefield Extraction Kit (P-Mek) contains plastic mine markers, lumes, a tripwire feeler and a prodder.
More than 9,000 of the packs, which include a step-by-step user guide, are already in theatre, with a further 25,000 due to arrive in the coming months.
WO2 Robert Stevens (RE), from the UK Mine Information and Training Centre (MITC) in Camberley, told Soldier: “This basic kit gives troops the confidence that they have the necessary equipment available to extract themselves safely from a minefield.
“It also raises awareness of the legacy mine threat on operations and allows them to rehearse the extraction drills prior to and during their deployment.”
A vehicle extraction version of the kit and pack to mark helicopter landing sites are also available.
For further information contact the MITC on 01252 863623.
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Overstretch is being alleviated, says peer
BRITISH troops are under less pressure from the pace of operations, according to a senior member of the House of Lords.
In an interview with Soldier, Field Marshal The Lord Bramall, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, said he had been concerned about overstretch but believed the situation had improved with the drawdown in Iraq and acceptable recruitment and retention rates.
Lord Bramall added that the arrival of thousands of extra American troops in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province would give a huge boost to the British-led operation.
Herrick battles: The insurgency in Afghanistan remains “resilient” although progress has been made, outgoing Defence Secretary John Hutton told the Commons.
He said the majority of people could go about their daily lives but admitted that there were still problem areas, particularly in the south and east.
Hutton added: “Afghanistan faces a serious security challenge from within and outside its borders, and this threat will continue for the foreseeable future.”
Bent coppers: High levels of corruption and low levels of literacy are continuing to dog the Afghan police, MP Bill Rammell has admitted. Responding to a question from Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox, Rammell revealed that there were now more than 81,500 police officers, but that their capability was varied.
Water force: The MoD is fully geared up to help with any instances of domestic flooding, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said. He told the Commons that response mechanisms to deal with the threat had recently been improved following the publication of Sir Michael Pitts’s review of the UK flooding two years ago.
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Terror boss dies in raid
BRITISH troops have dealt “another serious blow” to the Taliban by eliminating one of their most dangerous leaders in a helicopter attack.
Mullah Mansur, suspected to be the brains behind suicide bomb attacks against British and Afghan troops, was killed in an early morning swoop by Apache gunships.
The attack is also believed to have killed or injured a number of other prominent insurgent leaders.
According to military intelligence Mansur was responsible for coordinating the two attacks in Gereshk which resulted in the deaths of Sgt Ben Ross (RMP) and Cpl Kumar Pun (1 RGR).
He was also believed to be behind the deaths of nine Afghan policemen and two civilians.
Task Force Helmand spokesman Lt Col Nick Richardson said the gunship attack was expertly carried out.
“UK forces conducted a successful precision strike against one of the most dangerous men in Helmand, and what we consider to be the most dangerous man in the central area around Lashkar Gar,” the senior officer explained.
“Mullah Mansur’s illegal activities included the supply and construction of Improvised Explosive Devices and planning IED attacks in an area stretching from Lashkar Gar to Gereshk.”
Lt Col Richardson went on to say that the operation was targeted at eliminating Mansur without endangering coalition or civilian lives.
“The attacks he helped plan and execute have probably killed or wounded hundreds of people,” he said.
“This operation was the culmination of months of effort and the strike itself was carefully coordinated and checked to ensure no civilians were in the area.”
The death of Mansur is the latest in a series of actions targeting prominent commanders and signals another serious blow to the insurgency.
The successful operation came just days after a major strike against the Taliban in northern Helmand, in which soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers pushed the enemy further away from the villages surrounding Musa Qaleh.
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