Our boys do great job in Afghanistan (From Worcester News)

Our boys do great job in Afghanistan

12:40pm Friday 22nd January 2010 in News By Flora Drury, @floradruryWN #worcsnews

A WORCESTER soldier has spoken about the challenges and camaraderie of life in Afghanistan.

Captain Malcolm Hill, from Barboune, Worcester, is currently serving with the 3rd Battalion The Rifles in Sangin District, Helmand Province, as second in command of A Company.

Capt Hill, aged 30, who joined the Army in 2001, has been involved in a couple of improvised explosive device blasts (IED’s), during which he helped to treat and evacuate those who were wounded.

“The insurgents are cruel and unscrupulous,” he said. “They will plant victim operated IEDs in areas where there is heavy civilian traffic.

“They do not care if local nationals are killed or injured by their devices and often they are. That said we are steadily defeating the networks that are bringing these devices in, making the area much safer for everyone.”

But Capt Hill, who went to Bishop Perowne High School and Worcester Sixth Form College before going to Manchester University, said that on both occasions when he had been involved in IED blasts, the medics had been fantastic.

“It is a great source of comfort to all involved in the mission to know that if you are injured you will be evacuated swiftly and treated with the highest standards of medical care possible,” he said.

And Capt Hill is confident the forces in Afghanistan will eventually be able to defeat the Taliban.

He said: “It’s a challenging environment to operate in, conditions are somewhat austere, but the blokes are doing a fantastic job and have a tremendously positive attitude to the task.

“We are working closely with the Afghan National Army (ANA) in everything that we do and this is helping us to win over the trust of the local nationals.

“They are beginning to believe that, together, we and the ANA will provide a long term, secure environment for them to live in, without having to fear the cruel and oppressive Taliban insurgents.”

Capt Hill will return to Worcester in April, when he will visit his girlfriend, family and friends as well as enjoy a nice pint of cider.