The Royal Scots Borderers leave for six-month operational tour in Afghanistan

By SHÂN ROSS
Published on 18/09/2012 02:51

SOLDIERS from the The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, made final checks of their kit yesterday before leaving their permanent base at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh for a six-month operational tour in 
Afghanistan.

The first tranche of about 80 soldiers from B Company will go to Helmand Province as part of 4 Mechanised Brigade, which will command Task Force Helmand. They will take on a variety of roles, including training and mentoring the Afghan security forces.

Their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Wrench, will lead the Brigade Advisory Group, which has a two-fold role in Afghanistan.

It will advise on operational issues throughout Helmand, and help to develop the Afghan National Army to train, support and sustain its own troops after transition.

The battalion traditionally recruits from Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. Its last tour in Afghanistan was in 2010.