African Patrol: Part II

May 15 2009 by Lisa Boyle

AYRSHIRE soldiers are currently involved in a gruelling six week training exercise in Kenya to prepare them for deployment to Afghanistan next year.

Ayrshire Post reporter Lisa Boyle joined the troops to find out how they are getting on and what life is like in the army.

Part two.

IT’S a tough job, but an army career provides young men and women with the opportunities of a lifetime.

Although the training exercise the 2SCOTS are currently involved in is testing their mental and physical durability to the limit, the Ayrshire soldiers relish the challenge.

The searing heat and dry, dusty terrain is very similar to the conditions the troops will face when they head to Afghanistan again next year.

And going back to the war torn country is something most of the brave soldiers are looking forward to.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Borton, the 2SCOTS commanding officer, explains: “The men we have in this battlegroup all joined up to be professional soldiers and to seek adventure and excitement. When they are deployed on operations that’s exactly what they get.

“They train very hard and it’s very rewarding for them to get the opportunity to go overseas to Afghanistan or elsewhere and actually conduct live operations.

“Although they are demanding and very tough they are also very rewarding and it’s great to put into practice what we train so hard to do.”