Angus Royal Marines have been developing a reassurance role in the early stages of their six-month posting to Afghanistan.
The men of 45 Commando are almost a month into their posting to Nad-e Ali South in Helmand, the first time the Condor unit has served in that area.
Family and friends of the Arbroath personnel receive regular insights into their loved ones’ dangerous work through a variety of media, including the forces’ news channel.
And the latest bulletin covering the work of the Angus commando has revealed the tense environment in which the 600 men are working.
Working alongside the Afghanistan National Army, the Condor marines have been involved in regular patrols of the territory, protecting reconstruction teams and denying freedom of movement to the pockets of insurgents in the area.
Within their area is the former Taliban stronghold of Sayedabad, brought back under control last year after months of fighting.
The latest forces news insight into the work of the Angus men featured the reassurance their presence gave to locals after shots were fired in the area.
With the ANA, a patrol plan was put together and Lieutenant Tristan Stewart of X Ray Company told the news channel how shaken the local population had been by the prospect of trouble returning after a period of calm.
He said that the locals had not had contact with the Taliban for three months and were upset by the recent development, leading to the reassurance patrols by the Condor marines and their ANA counterparts.
“Part of the reason for the patrol was to talk to local people and see what information we can get from them,” said Lt Stewart of the operation, which led to two people being detained.
The deployment is the first summer tour to Afghanistan for the Angus unit, after postings to the country in 2006 and 2008.