Afghanistan

Life on an Afghanistan Patrol Base

Insurgent attacks and IEDs are well-publicised threats that troops face every day on tour in Helmand. But when they get back into the relative safety of Patrol Bases, soldiers face a whole different challenge - that of day-to-day survival.

For soldiers from 21 Engineer regiment and 2 Royal Welsh, a patrol base in Afghanistan is home. Eight men sleep in each tent, and with insurgents just a footstep away, life is as basic as it gets.

For those on night duties, it’s impossible to sleep an during the day, temperatures get too high even for some of the locals.

There is little to distract them from the hardship. In between patrols, the troops take the time to catch up on some of their chores.

And whether it’s a patrol for the Royal Welsh or building a bridge for the engineers; keeping fit is what keeps them alert and focused every time they go outside the gate.

Soon they will be handing over to soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade. In the meantime, their priorities are a running shower, flushing toilet and of course a chilled beer or two.