2 YORKS lead mentoring of Afghan troops in Helmand

2 YORKS' role in Task Force Hemand is to head the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team Battle Group, usually called the OMLT, or 'omelet'.

While not a Battle Group in the traditional sense, the group is made up of officers and non-commissioned officers from a variety of different units including the Army Air Corps, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Small Arms School Corps, and the Royal Army Medical Corps.

These all work alongside the infantry element provided by the Yorkshire Regiment soldiers.

The Commanding Officer of 2 YORKS, Lieutenant Colonel David Colthup, explained the role of the OMLT:

"The role itself involves mentoring Afghan soldiers from the 3/205 Brigade of the Afghan National Army [ANA].

"We do this at all levels, from the infantry companies in the deployed Kandaks [Afghan battalions], through to the Brigade Headquarters and in every functional area, from personnel tracking, casualty-handling, logistics and intelligence, through to the planning and conduct of operations.

"Complementing the work done by the other battle groups within Task Force Helmand, the OMLT is critical in developing the ANA and building the capacity needed by the Afghan security forces to defeat the insurgents and protect the people of Afghanistan.

"Mentoring is not a new concept. It has been used in Afghanistan for nearly four years. Indeed, 2 YORKS filled the same role during Operation HERRICK 7 from September 2007 to March 2008."

The Battle Group consists of six OMLTs - four infantry, one combat support (reconnaissance, engineers, communications and artillery), and one for combat service support (logistics).

The infantry element are deployed right across the area of Helmand in which UK forces operate; where they live, sleep, eat, patrol and fight alongside the soldiers of the ANA on a daily basis.

The combat support and combat service support OMLTs are based principally in Camp Shorabak which is the ANA camp next to Camp Bastion - the main UK operating base in Helmand.

Lt Col Colthup continued:

"These OMLTs work on a day-to-day basis with their Afghan counterparts deploying forward where necessary to support artillery gun positions, engineer work or resupply convoys to the infantry Kandaks.

"The final element is the core of officers in the Headquarters who mentor the ANA Brigade Headquarters staff and provide the close liaison needed between the ANA and the UK Task Force operating in Lashkar Gah.

"The whole organisation is assisted by a small group of soldiers who provide the support needed for the battle group to function. All in all about 370 officers and men."

Each of the 2 YORKS rifle companies have been reorganised into one small ten-man headquarters and four ten-man teams. The headquarters element, each commanded by a major from within the battalion, is responsible for mentoring an ANA infantry Kandak commander. Meanwhile the teams below, headed up by a captain, fulfil the same function with the Afghan company commanders.

These teams are deployed in the numerous Forward Operating Bases and Patrol Bases in Sangin, Musa Qaleh, Lashkar Gah, Gereshk and Babaji.

Lt Col Colthup described the conditions:

"Living conditions vary depending on location and the length of time British forces have been operating in a particular area, with the more recently established bases having a more austere feel.

"Each team is entirely self-sufficient, cooking their own food from ration packs and in many cases making improvised gym equipment to maintain levels of fitness.

"Despite the daily challenges of operating with the ANA and adapting to a prolonged period away from normal comforts, morale amongst the teams is continually high."