Soldier's return trip to troubled Helmand

9:00am Wednesday 24th September 2008

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A SOLDIER from Chippenham about to be deployed to Afghanistan for a second time said he is 'apprehensive but looking forward' to going back to the troubled Helmand Province.

Corporal Nick Ireland, 23, who is with the 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 Rifles), based at Beachley Barracks in Chepstow, will be part of an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) in Helmand Province, where he will share his knowledge and soldiering skills with the Afghan National Army.

The teams, consisting of six to eight men, will mentor the Afghan soldiers with the aim of enabling them to take on much of the responsibility themselves.

Cpl Ireland, a former pupil of Hardenhuish School, has served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo as well as Afghanistan.

He said: "The enemy we are facing is determined and knowledgeable and we are going to be in their back garden.

"It won't be easy but what we have to do is an important job. Of course I am a little apprehensive this time compared to other tours, but I am looking forward doing what we have to do after having undergone some of the best training we can get."

Cpl Ireland is married to 28-year-old Natalie, who admits she is worried about him deploying but is supportive about the job he has signed up to.