Afghanistan

Parade first as RAF police celebrate homecoming

More than a hundred RAF Police personnel have marched through Bedford in their first ever public homecoming parade.

No 2 Tactical Police Squadron (TPS) came home to their Headquarters at RAF Henlow just 2 weeks ago after a six month tour at Camp Bastion.

The parade on Sunday saw them proudly march alongside other RAF Police colleagues who’ve returned from their work supporting operations in the Middle East and the Falkland Islands.

For 23 year old Corporal Nicola Lilley, based at RAF Leuchars, this was her first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

She said: “As Bastion Security Flight, we were part of the force protection element for both inside and outside the Camp. I have have been out on patrols with the US Marines, on medical outreach missions to Afghan women. I provided security in the compounds whilst the female medics went in to issue aid. I enjoyed interacting with the locals - you feel that you are making a difference.”

Also taking part were RAF Police Reservist personnel and four military working dogs with their handlers, representing some of the many varied roles carried out by the RAF Police on worldwide operations.

Corporal Ieuan Guest, 29, is a Reservist policeman with No 3 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. He was mobilised from his day job in the Metropolitan Police to serve his first 6 month tour in Afghanistan.

He said: “I get the best of both worlds – doing my bit for the community back home in the UK and then doing something extra with my RAF family. On my tour I worked closely with the Afghan National Army, providing force protection out on joint patrols. During my time there we could really see the changes in the infrastructure – we saw it build up, near the highways. One area used to be a small village of a few tents, now they have a petrol station and a parade of shops. Our team definitely made a difference, helping to provide the security to enable the locals to build.”

Bringing up the rear of the parade was an all female Military Working Dog team - handler Corporal Amanda Banks, 22, and 4 year old Alsatian Shandy. Cpl Banks has just completed 4 months in the Falkland Islands. “As a junior rank within my trade I walk the patrol areas with an Police dog - I’m security for the Airfield. I have 2 dogs I normally work with at RAF Coningsby, Shadow and Max, both boys, but I’m with a female Alsatian dog on the parade. Shandy is good in crowds and is a good tracker dog. I haven’t done a parade before - all of us being together as one, coming home from detachment, it feels like a great achievement.”

PHOTO: Ministry of Defence