FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHAWQAT, Afghanistan - Growing up just 40 minutes apart from each other in the U.K., Pvt. Michael Gledhill, 18, and Pvt. Kris Cook, 19, had never met. Little did they know, the two would end up spending their first two years in the British army together.
"We first met at Harrogate," said Gledhill, a native of Huddersfield.
Harrogate is where the two did their basic training, a 42-week long course where the two were in different companies.
"It was at Catterick that we got to know each other properly," said Cook, a native of Leeds. Catterick Garrison is a major Army base in Northern England.
"Yeah, at Catterick we were in the Ypres platoon together," added Gledhill.
Catterick is where they had their Infantry Training School.
"After we finished there, we ended up at the Weeton barracks," explained Cook. Weeton Barracks located in Lancashire, England, is home to the 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment. The two would deploy to Afghanistan shortly thereafter.
The two soldiers have experienced almost their whole army careers together, even their first contact with the enemy. They also recounted their most memorable combat experience together.
"Our platoon had just cleared a compound, when an Afghan man came to us with a gunshot wound to his hand," said Cook.
"Apparently, the [insurgents] shot him, knowing that we would send for a [medical evacuation team] to come get him," added Gledhill.
"When the helicopter arrived, the [insurgents] ambushed it with two rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire," said Cook. "Luckily, they missed and the medevac was able to get the man and get him to safety."
Although the two don't always have RPGs flying overhead, they often come into contact with the enemy while working in the Nad-e-Ali Valley in Helmand province with the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team Four, 2nd Regiment The Yorkshire, 11th Brigade, British army.
The OMLT's mission in Afghanistan is to mentor Afghan national army soldiers. The OMLT conducts daily patrols with the ANA and coaches the ANA in basic soldiering and medical skills.
Together with their comrades, they know they will be here a while and envision years of successful careers that lead them to frequent reunions with each other.
"It wouldn't be bad going somewhere else together," said Gledhill. "He isn't that bad of a guy."
"Yeah and I guess he isn't too bad either," said Cook with a smile.
As it is recorded throughout history, the one remaining bond is friendship.