As recently as a month ago, warriors of the Afghan National Army (ANA) based in Patrol Base Hanjar were unable to patrol.

However, hard work from the members of 1 Platoon, A Company, 3 RIFLES, has paid off with the ANA now conducting joint patrols on a daily basis.

Every day the men of 1 Platoon train with the ANA, teaching the skills and drills that will keep them alive while out on the ground.

The ANA warriors are now out patrolling with 1 Platoon every day and have already added value to each patrol that is conducted.

Search for IEDs

The standard of the ANA warriors is now at the level where they too are searching for and finding IEDs, side by side with UK soldiers.

Second Lieutenant Connor Maxwell commanding 1 Platoon said: “It is fantastic to see the ANA taking the leading role, finding IEDs and interacting with the local population.

On a recent patrol from the base, in the Sangin Valley, a joint UK and ANA patrol headed out to a well-known road junction near the base. The ANA were starting to secure the junction when one ANA warrior found an IED.

Once the junction was secured and the IED disposed of, the ANA and UK troops conducted a vehicle checkpoint to stop and arrest any insurgents that would try to cross the junction.

Intelligence

A local approached the ANA at the checkpoint and told them about insurgents that travel through a nearby village. This was followed up by another patrol, resulting in an arrest.

The amount of actionable intelligence given by locals has dramatically risen since joint patrols have begun (as opposed to UK-only patrols).