On patrol with 4 Rifles in Basra

The 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 Rifles) have been based in Basra for two months. Their mission involves patrolling the streets helping to ensure that security and stability is delivered to a city that badly needs their help. These dedicated soldiers also immerse themselves in humanitarian projects; anything from overseeing the building of schools and healthcare centres to helping create water treatment plants.

Corporal Ross Jones, 28, from Southampton can draw on seven years of experience in the Army, three of which have been spent as a section commander. He has served in Northern Ireland and Kosovo, environments in which he has gained valuable experience which now helps him as he leads his team on daily missions in southern Iraq.

As a Reconnaissance Section Commander it is the job of Corporal Jones to thoroughly prepare his men for operations and carry out the Platoon Commander's mission in the city. The 4 Rifles soldiers are equipped with the upgraded version of the FV430 Bulldog armoured personnel carrier. Corporal Jones is enthusiastic about its capabilities:

"The Bulldog has a new engine and gearbox that gives it fresh legs and a considerable turn of speed for a vehicle of its type," he said. "What's more, the soldiers really like it. Having the space in the back and the armour mean they can move about the city with greater agility."

Regardless of what vehicles are available it is still necessary for the soldiers to patrol the streets on foot leaving the safety of the Bulldog behind. This can be a daunting prospect for even the most hardened of soldiers:

"Facing the often invisible enemy, the terrorists that plague Basra, is not for the faint hearted," says Cpl Jones.

It is apparent to those currently serving in Basra that this is a city very different to the Basra of even two years ago. The Rifles face daily threats, threats which come in various forms; Small Arms Fire, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which are essentially roadside bombs, and Indirect Fire (IDF), when insurgents fire mortars and rockets from distances up to five Kilometres away.

The job of section commander is a huge responsibility, particularly in such a harsh and unforgiving environment. It's something which Corporal Jones is acutely aware of:

"For me, the responsibility I have for my soldiers is a massive one and each decision I make on the ground could directly affect them."

Once the job of planning and analysis is complete, the section carries out the mission. Tasks range from convoy security, arrest operations and counter-IDF patrols. Another important facet to their work is the planned patrols in certain areas of the city, patrols which provide a visible presence on the ground to encourage the locals to trust and help them. Security is never far from the minds of the soldiers as Corporal Jones explains:

"The dangers are all around and from the moment we leave our barracks we are being watched and there is no real way to identify the insurgents. I have to make sure everyone else is looking out to the threat as well as looking out for each other."

The Rifles are a highly professional team and the skills obtained through months of training on Salisbury Plain are being used every day as they carry out their duties in Basra. The dedication of the soldiers is echoed in their everyday achievements but the enormity of the situation is not lost on any of them:

"Although we're here trying to make a difference, at the end of the day we all want to go home safely to be with our friends and family who are back in England supporting us," Corporal Jones concluded.