Officer Profile - 2Lt Lou Connelly
Lou Connelly joined the First Battalion in October 2007 having completed his Platoon Commanders' Course.
He arrived as the battalion were getting into the swing of a tour in Afghanistan. Lou was initially appointed to run the Commanding Officer's Tactical Headquarters. This involved training a team to move through all types of terrain to allow the CO to command the battle.
After a month or so, he was put in command of 2 Platoon. His first deployment with his new platoon involved a major skirmish with the Taliban in Sangin.
Subsequent operations involved long foot marches through the night, crossing the desert in armoured vehicles, landing right next to Taliban positions by helicopter in the night, and much more.