As the Royal Marines once again set off for the Afghanistan front line, Graeme Strachan looks at the impact of going to war on a Brechin mum of three who is coming to the end of her six-month tour of duty in Helmand Province.
Captain Lisa Irwin (42) says being away from her children has been the most difficult part of her tour of duty.
Cpt Irwin, who lives in Edzell Woods, has been working with 16 Air Assault Brigade as a Female Engagement Team commander and is due to come home next month.
Her task is to engage with Afghan women to gain their trust and help them, so that they may in turn influence their male relatives.
Her parents Mike and June Hudson also live in Brechin, where they run their own bed and breakfast, and they have been looking after her children while she has been working in Helmand.
Cpt Irwin’s son Connor (17) is a student at Glasgow University, daughter Charlie (15) is a pupil at Mearns Academy, while son Sam (9) is at Luthermuir Primary School.
“I would like to say thanks to everyone at home for their support especially my wonderful parents who have stepped up to care for my children whilst I am away,” said Cpt Irwin.
“Without the support of my family none of this would be possible. Being away from them is without doubt the most difficult aspect of the tour.”
Cultural norms in Afghanistan mean male soldiers are unable to engage with Afghan women, so Cpt Irwin has been playing a crucial role. She sometimes works as an individual and sometimes enlists the help of other female soldiers deployed in Helmand to assist with her work.
Cpt Irwin said, “In the past British forces have not been able to engage with Afghan women, which has meant that we have not been communicating with 50% of the population. My role enables us to engage with women, help them, and directly advise and influence them.
“My civilian qualifications and experience enable me to bring lots of different strands to the role and the job is constantly varied and interesting. I am able to get out on the ground, meet the people of Helmand province and, hopefully, ultimately make a difference.”
Cpt Irwin participated in a three-day operation which involved her and other troops being inserted into an area by helicopter under cover of darkness, searching compounds and patrolling the area.
“I speak a small amount of Pashto, the local language, and was therefore able to have limited conversations. I managed to engage with 22 Afghan women.
“I am also participating in a health initiative where we train local health professionals and teachers about health education so that they can then train others. My role necessitates me moving all around our area of operations and regularly patrolling with the guys in order to be able to meet local women.”
This is Cpt Irwin’s second tour of Afghanistan and she is nothing if not versatile. On her previous tour in 2008 she worked as a senior mechanic in an HGV repair workshop, fixing and maintaining vehicles.
Cpt Irwin joined the Territorial Army in 1986 but only commissioned as an officer earlier this year, having previously worked her way up through the non-commissioned ranks. Her TA career has also seen her serve abroad in Belize, as well as carry out duties around the UK.
Cpt Irwin will be going back to Afghanistan again after she successfully applied for a job that will see her going back on another tour of duty.
“My application for a full-time reserve service post as a cultural adviser was successful, so later this year I’ll begin a three-year contract. It means completing a 15-month Pashto course before yet another tour but I am looking forward to it and am so relieved that I have a job.
“I’m also looking forward to becoming semi-fluent in Pashto and coming out here again and next time being able to properly converse with the Afghans I meet.”