RAF Regiment Trains for Counter-IED at Afghanistan

Royal Air Force 3 Squadron regiment gunners are performing at the counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED)training for their deployment to Afghanistan.

RAF No 1 Force Protection (FP) Wing Commander Mick Smeath said the squadron's primary role when it gets to Camp Bastion is the protection of Royal Air Force aircraft and other aircraft operation out of Camp Bastion.

"But in doing that we are also providing the force protection for the whole of Camp Bastion base," he said.

A key aspect of the training is C-IED training through methods and techniques learned from ongoing operations.

Through the exercise, the regiment will learn skills of detection and dealing with the consequences of explosions, especially with regard to casualty evacuation and saving the lives of their comrades.

The training, part of the squadron's Mission Rehearsal Exercise, took place at the Stanford Training Area (STANTA) in Norfolk.

The C-IED training is the final training exercise for the RAF regiment before their deployment to Camp Bastion for a six-month duty.