LCpl Thomas is part of 114 Provost Company, 5th Regiment Royal Military Police (RMP), who deployed to Afghanistan in October 2008.
Provost Close Support Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), comprising both males and females, are the subject matter experts in the handling of captured insurgents and the collection of criminal evidence against them.
Their role, providing Provost Close Support, has required them to regularly patrol in the 'Green Zone', one of the areas most likely to provide contact with the Taliban, support deliberate operations, and share in the austere living conditions of the forward operating bases.
This was LCpl Thomas's first deployment to Afghanistan and she found herself providing support to 42 Commando Royal Marines. She said:
"I was just myself - I just got on with it because you have to really. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to because I'm quite a girly girl but once I was out the training just kicked in.
"The Marines did not treat me any differently as a girl and I felt like one of the lads when I was out with them."
The role of female soldiers in Afghanistan is crucial and LCpl Thomas was one of several female RMP soldiers working with the Marines. The Officer Commanding of 114 Provost Company, Major Dave Bradley, said:
"More and more, commanders are requesting female military police support as they experience first hand the benefit that a female liaison capability brings. With most operations involving interaction with the local nationals, showing respect for traditions and cultures is paramount, with the treatment of females central to this."
Provost Close Support form part of the Theatre Provost Group (TPG) in Afghanistan, which, for the last seven months, has consisted of force elements from the Royal Military Police, Royal Marines Police Troop, RAF Police, Military Provost Staff, Special Investigations Branch, and reservist soldiers.
The combined mission of the TPG is to provide support to the military criminal justice system whilst deployed in Afghanistan. This involves personnel in the TPG working in several different roles; from the Close Support NCO attached to the Infantry Battle Group and processing captured insurgents to the Police Mentoring Teams assisting in the development of the Afghan National Police.
Provost Close Support NCOs provide advice to the commander on all detainee issues. They also take the lead role in the physical handling of any detainees that are captured on the ground as well as ensure that all accompanying evidence is correctly recorded and recovered.
Commanding Officer for 42 Commando Royal Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Stickland, said:
"RMP detachments have been deployed forwards with the manoeuvre company on all of our operations, and the 42 Commando Group preferred a mix of capability which was one times male RMP and one times female RMP.
"These teams have been absolutely invaluable in advising and then managing and controlling the detention and evidential trail. 42 Commando Group have had huge success with our 'search and find' techniques, but having the RMP detachments to correctly handle evidence and link it coherently to detainees has been a real capability enhancement to the Commando Group.
"The female RMPs deployed have played their full part in this process, but have also added value supporting the company's non-kinetic effects teams, particularly when dealing with Afghan women and if female search is required.
"The handling of women and children is a culturally charged issue with the Pashtun, and if handled incorrectly can rapidly lose content and increase threat. Having female RMP to assist in this culturally sensitive part of LN [Local Nationals] engagement has been key.
"Both male and female RMP detachment members have yomped [marched] with us, been shot at with us, and remained in the field with us for protracted periods of time and, based on the nature of our task, have been a valuable capability throughout."
Reflecting on her time with the Marines, LCpl Thomas said:
"Obviously I found it hard being the only female because we were living out in the open at times away from the bases. It was hard for washing and going to the toilet.
"Everything they did I'd be doing. We would be yomping for seven kilometres at any one time; much longer over the course of the whole day and night. Sometimes we would be out for four days at a time. I'd be carrying up to 48 hours of rations, at least six litres of water a day, all my detainee handling and evidence gathering kit, my personal kit, spare ammunition, helmet and body armour - it was heavy.
"It was also difficult because, as I was Military Police, anything they found on the ground I'd be carrying. If they found evidence, I'd be carrying it - ammunition, weapons, parts that could potentially be used in improvised explosive devices. If we captured detainees they would also have to be escorted, usually under the supervision of me and the other Military Police soldiers."
On one operation she had to prove she could carry more than that weight when she fell in some water:
"We were doing a night move and we'd just left the compound and after about 200 yards [183m] we were crossing an irrigation ditch, and I just fell in.
"I'm quite tall but I couldn't touch the bottom and I went right under and it was at night so I couldn't see anything.
"My kit was soaked but when I got out we still had to yomp 7km to a village to surprise the enemy and when we arrived we came under fire straight away."
All members of the RMP are soldiers first, and LCpl Thomas soon found herself in the midst of some fierce fighting in Helmand as 42 Commando took the fight to the Taliban.
The worst was on 20 March, a date she recalls without a moment's hesitation. 42 Commando were conducting Operation AABI TOORAH in one of the final Taliban strongholds of Marjah to the west of Lashkar Gah:
"I always get nervous before deploying on a new op but I was excited too. But this was the worst place I've ever been. We came under contact in Marjah and it was just non-stop all day and all night, incoming small arms fire and mortars and 107 rockets."
The Marines set off at 0500hrs from Camp Bastion and were dropped by helicopter into Marjah at 0530hrs. On this occasion LCpl Thomas was with Kilo Company, and for the first time she was joined by another female RMP who went with Lima Company:
"As soon as we left the helicopters the company came under fire and then it was non-stop. There were loads of Taliban in the area. I identified one of them running with a weapon and indicated him to the lads. They didn't see him so I took the shot.
"It went on all day and all night. We had to keep moving location through the village, moving from compound to compound.
"At the time I've never been so scared in all my life, but I don't think that I was the only one."
The Marines' protective instincts would take over sometimes:
"Sometimes they could see I was nervous and they would constantly be checking that I was okay and looking out for me.
"On that day, two of our guys got shot and I found that quite hard but they were all right - as long as we haven't lost anyone that is the main thing."
In addition to detainee advice and handling, Provost Close Support also provides an immediate post-incident response capability.
The tragic loss of Service personnel on operations is fully investigated by the Special Investigations Branch (SIB) which often gives bereaved families the final answers they seek about the circumstances of their loved ones' deaths.
Provost Close Support NCOs can assist by ensuring maximum and accurate information is handed over to the SIB, as they may either have been at the scene itself or been the first provost capability to speak to those involved.
LCpl Thomas finished her six-month tour last weekend and spent a day in Cyprus before flying back to the base of her home unit, 114 Provost Company, 5th Regiment Royal Military Police, in Gutersloh, Germany. After a few days in Germany she should be home in Wales by the beginning of May. She said:
"A lot of people don't believe that I'm in the Army so it's hard to tell them about what I've been doing." Adding, of her time in Afghanistan, "I've really enjoyed it and I'd definitely like to come on another tour. I am really happy that I got to work with the Marines because they are easy to get on with and some I would now count as very good friends."