A (Norfolk) Company, C (Essex) Company and D (Cambridgeshire) Company returned to Helmand this October for a six month tour in support of 11 Light Brigade. The Battalion was chosen in mid August to provide 380 troops to assist in the counter-insurgency mission in Afghanistan. The three companies have been sent to reinforce different Battlegroups across Helmand province.

The Vikings were chosen to become part of a reinforcement package after a very successful summer when the Battalion had an excellent TESEX (Tactical Engagement Simulation Exercise). This was a three week Battlegroup level exercise on Salisbury Plain where the Vikings fought against a free thinking enemy force in a complex environment. This exercise took place during the five month period in which the Battalion served as the Spearhead Land Element Battalion - a contingent force which is held in the UK at very high readiness to deploy anywhere in the world. This training meant that the Vikings were probably the best prepared Battalion available and were able to start an intensive, bespoke, six week Helmand specific training package. The package was excellent and was a real improvement on the training received prior to the Battalion's last tour. It was supported by recently returned troops who were able to pass on the most up to date tactics and techniques, and the soldiers were equipped with all the specialist kit available in Afghanistan.

Overall August and September 2009 have been a hectic and challenging period during which the Battalion has received training on new equipments and tactics for Afghanistan and practiced and honed our shooting and field skills. The culmination of the training was an in-depth package based on Thetford and Otterburn training areas and was supported by a huge array of specialists from across Defence including Attack Helicopters, Support Helicopters and Fast Air. The Battalion's preparation included use of the state of the art training facility in Thetford where replica Afghan villages, Forward Operating Bases and re-creations of the notorious 'Green Zone' are set up, complete with Afghan speaking civilians and an enemy force provided by ex Ghurkha soldiers. This then switched to Otterburn, Northumbria where live firing from 105 mm Light Guns, AH64 Apache and 81 mm mortars supported complex Infantry ranges including compound clearances and simulated casualty evacuations using real Merlin helicopters.

Once this package was complete there was a short period for leave before troops deployed to Helmand. A Company are supporting the Household Cavalry Battlegroup in Musa Qala, C Company are with the Grenadier Guards Battlegroup around Nad Ali and D Company are attached to the Danish Battlegroup around Gereshk.

For those left back in Pirbright, life remains busy with much work going into supporting the families of those deployed and many of the soldiers are training hard in case they are needed to reinforce the companies in Afghanistan.