Force Protection personnel from 83 Expeditionary Air Group, currently deployed on Operation Shader, reflect on their previous operational deployments on Operation Telic 20 years earlier.
Personnel who all deployed as part of Telic 1, although not together, are now once again on operations within the Royal Air Force Headquarters in the Middle East.
Flight Sergeant Crook was deployed on Telic 1 as an acting Corporal within the RAF Police. He deployed as part of a small section who were based in Shu’Aybah.
As a section we worked, lived, breathed (often in respirators) together and became a close family, most of whom I am still in regular contact with today. During Telic 5 I was providing armed escort to convoys of civilian fuel tankers between Basrah and Kuwait. I was confident and able to deal with situations effectively, despite the increased threat.
Flight Sergeant Crook
Flight Sergeant Crook is currently deployed on Operation Shader where he provides security and risk assurance to personnel across the Middle East.
Squadron Leader Lang deployed on Telic 1 in 2003 as a Senior Aircraftsman machine gunner, part of 51 Squadron RAF Regiment. The Squadron mission was to protect and defend a remote helicopter arming and refuelling point close to Safwan in southern Iraq, reflecting on the deployment.
I was in awe of the sheer scale of capabilities, firepower and assets the UK and US were able to bring to bear in the initial stages of the conflict.
Squadron Leader Lang
He deployed again on Operation Telic 9 as a rifle section commander with 63 Squadron RAF Regiment, during which there was a significant increase in enemy activity against coalition forces.
There was a greater sense of fear, the unpredictable nature of the enemy activity compared to that which we saw in Telic 1 was most noticeable.
Squadron Leader Lang
On return from this deployment Lang moved into a training role before commissioning and completing the Junior Regiment Officers course in 2013. He is now a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear specialist, and is now deployed on Operation Shader, responsible for the safety and security of all deployed personnel.
Warrant Officer Mulholland is currently deployed on Operation Shader as the 83 Expeditionary Air Group Warrant Officer, responsible for welfare and discipline of all personnel in theatre. During Operation Telic 1, he deployed as a Corporal in charge of a section of seven gunners. His role at the time was check and test respirators for RAF personnel in theatre, followed by guarding the Tornado which was shot down at the start of the operation, protecting oil and gas plants and forming part of the Squadron recce group.
We were confident that all our training over numerous years where at a high standard, so everyone knew what to do, when to do it and who to do it with.
Warrant Officer Mulholland
Warrant Officer Mulholland deployed again on Telic 3 as a machine gunner section commander as part of 51 Squadron RAF Regiment.
Looking back on Telic 1, I will always remember the good times with a sense of immense pride which is shared among my peers. Sadly, some are no longer with us but are remembered by those who toiled through those operations with them.
Warrant Officer Mulholland