4 Scots increases patrols, check points to keep insurgents at bay

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan David Chandler | Sgt. Finn Beary, a team leader with 4th Battalion, the Highlanders, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, communicates with his troops during a patrol in Lashkar Gah District, Helmand province, July 23. The battalion has recently stepped up its patrol presence to counteract insurgent activity in its area of operations.  

LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN

07.27.2011

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan David Chandler 

Regional Command Southwest

PATROL BASE BOLAN-T, Afghanistan - Recent insurgent activity in the area of operations for 4th Battalion, the Highlanders, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, in Lashkar Gah District, Helmand province, has led the battalion to step up its patrol presence.

Insurgent activity in the area, where 4 Scots protects key routes into Lashkar Gah city, has increased due to a recent influx of Afghan security forces and the construction of new local police stations.

“We are the first point of defense leading into Lashkar Gah city so we have to prevent the insurgents from passing through our area of operation to keep the Afghans safe,” said Highlander Mark Mackenzie, 4 Scots, and a native of Stoneaway, Scotland. “We have the check points to try and stop the insurgents from using the roads to move around in our area of operation.”

The battalion has increased the frequency and changed the patterns of its operations on key routes in the area.

Patrols are nothing new to the Highlanders. Since arriving in Lashkar Gah in March, 4 Scots has conducted daily patrols through local villages and farmland alongside its partnered Afghan police units.

“We take out the local police and unformed police on our patrols and check points,” said Highlander Lee Mortimer, 4 Scots, and a native of Wales, Scotland. “We try to only provide security while they conduct the actual searches of persons and vehicles. Our goal is to teach them what to look for during patrols and check points while we just make sure they stay safe while they do their job.”

In addition to using its patrols to mentor local security forces, the battalion also reaches out to the local populace.

“We do our patrols to not only stop the insurgents but to show the Afghan people that things are safe and we are here to protect them,” said Sgt. Finn Beary, 4 Scots, and a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. “We talk to the locals and ask them if everything in their area is OK, along with asking if they need any help from us.”

Although insurgent activity in the area has increased recently, the growth in Afghan police forces and stations means there are now more occupied check points in the area to assist in developing security.

“The goal now is to get the area to a state where they can police themselves with little or no help from us,” said Beary.

• Date Taken: 07.27.2011
• Date Posted: 07.27.2011 11:34
• Story ID: 74384
• Location: LASHKAR GAH, AF