The Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Task Force were among the first troops to be involved in Operation MOSHTARAK, helping ensure that, when the infantry launched the first assaults just over two weeks ago, routes were clear.
Operation MOSHTARAK has involved thousands of Afghan, British, American and other ISAF forces clearing parts of central Helmand of insurgents in a bid to bring the area under the authority of the Afghan Government who are already setting about improving the lives of the inhabitants.
The operation was launched on 13 February 2010 with a series of helicopter and ground offensives.
Amongst those in the Counter-IED Task Force involved in the preparations was Staff Sergeant Karl Ley. He said: “We were on MOSHTARAK before MOSHTARAK started. We had to make sure that the routes were clear of devices so that the infantry guys could pass through safely.”
The Counter-IED Task Force, comprised of Royal Logistic Corps explosive ordnance disposal teams and Royal Engineers search teams, has developed new tactics and equipment, much of it secret, to find and destroy the bombs before they explode.
SSgt Ley has been in Helmand province since September 2009. Describing his role as a commander of a team within the Counter-IED Task Force, he said:
“I’m an Ammunition Technician by trade and as a result of that I’m doing the ATO [Ammunition Technical Officer] job out here. That post always used to be a commissioned officer’s post but the name has stuck with us as well.
“Essentially it’s my team’s job to get rid of the IEDs. We work closely with a seven-man REST [Royal Engineer Search Team]. If a device has been found my team take the lead to get rid of it and we are backed up by the RESA [Royal Engineer Search Advisor]. If we are conducting a search, they lead, and we are called upon if something is found.
“We move around each of the battle groups and become their asset for whatever they need us for; responding to a call if a device is found or a deliberate search op.”
SSgt Ley’s Second-in-Command is Corporal Stewart Jones. He described his role: “My job is to operate any remote-controlled equipment to disable these deadly devices. We have tracked vehicles – robots if you like – which I control using a joystick. I basically drive them out to the IED and try to make it safe. If this doesn’t work then I can always set up explosives to blow up the main charges on the IED.”
SSgt Ley explained how careful the process of destruction needs to be: “We have to work carefully and methodically. It does take a long time but I would prefer to be thorough than rush the job and have me or one of the guys killed or maimed.
“If you don’t work in this field you tend to think it’s very dangerous but when you get out here an IED is just an IED and we just get on with it. Training for this has all been progressive and we do lots of courses prior to deploying so we are very well equipped for what may come up.”
Although this is SSgt Ley’s first time in Afghanistan he has completed operational tours in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Belize and believes the kit he has now is better than it has ever been:
“Our kit has improved so much since I first started. In the Counter-IED team we have new bomb disposal suits with in-built fans to cool us down. This is becoming increasingly important as the hot weather kicks in.
“We have the Vallon, which is a fantastic piece of kit. Basically it is a state-of-the-art metal detector. We also have the new little robots and the like, so clearly a lot of money has been spent on kitting us out properly.”
One of the new pieces of equipment is the Python rocket, a trailer-mounted, rocket-propelled mine-clearing system pulled behind the Trojan armoured engineer tank, which fires a snake of high explosives. See Related News to read about the Python’s first outing in Afghanistan.
SSgt Ley said: “Python is great but you can’t use it in closely built-up areas, only in the desert or sparser populated areas in the country.
“Our team is ideal for more urban areas. Out here we are trying to win the hearts and minds of the locals so we work hard with local communities. This is where the human side of C-IED is needed.”
The task force also work with their Afghan counterparts through embedded partnering. SSgt Ley explained: “We work alongside the Afghan National Army. They are a great bunch though sometimes a little too brave and try to tackle the IEDs by themselves.
“We have spent a lot of time training them about how we work and how to do it properly. We have made a lot of progress with them and they are working well alongside the team by cordoning off devices and calling us in to assist.”
SSgt Ley believes that during this tour his team have destroyed over 150 IEDs and on one particular day they found and destroyed 14. But the team has also lost members:
“It’s been hard at times,” he said. “We have lost quite a few people since the tour began and I’ve personally lost a lot of mates. I was very good mates with Olaf Schmid. Dave Markland was my RESA who I spent three months with.
“As we are such a close-knit community we tend to know everyone so it’s very hard when there is a loss or a severe casualty.”
Cpl Jones added: “This is my second operational tour and it has been a real mix of emotions. I have great laughs with the guys but then there is the other side of the job.
“Hearing about the death of a mate or someone you have been training with brings everything into sharp focus. It really registers just how dangerous this job is. But we cannot and do not let it beat us. We have to be stronger than that. We will take time when we get back home to remember them. For now we have a job to do.”
Speaking about his role on Operation MOSHTARAK, Cpl Jones added: “While this tour has been challenging, I felt like I have been making a real difference to the overall Op MOSHTARAK mission.”
Brigadier James Cowan, the Commander of Task Force Helmand, emphasised the importance of the work that people like Cpl Jones and SSgt Ley are doing. He said:
“The men and women of the C-IED Task Force are an extraordinary group of people. Selflessly committed to their dangerous work and utterly professional, there isn’t a soldier in Task Force Helmand who doesn’t hold them in the utmost respect for what they do and the way they do it.
“I am deeply proud to have them serving as part of my brigade, saving military and civilian lives day-in and day-out. They are some of the true heroes of this campaign.”
