THE ROYAL MARINES AND AFGHANISTAN

In an historic moment, troops from 40 Commando Royal Marines (40 Cdo) symbolically lowered the Royal Navy’s white ensign that has flown above their main operating base (MOB) Price, in the Nahr-e Saraj district, for the past six months – the last time the flag will fly in Helmand Province.

40 Cdo are the most recent Royal Marine unit to serve in Afghanistan after successive deployments that have seen Marines serve in areas such as Sangin, Nahr-e Saraj and Musa Qala.

40 Cdo were also the very first British troops to deploy to the country in 2001, securing Bagram airfield and going on to patrol the streets of Kabul.

The equivalent of over 14,000 Marines have deployed on operations in Afghanistan. The 7,200- strong Royal Marine Corps has deployed units to Afghanistan 12 times, along with many individuals who have been attached to other units.

And the Royal Marines have been awarded nearly 200 honours for their acts of bravery and distinguished service in Afghanistan, including a George Cross, seven Distinguished Service Orders and ten awards of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, including one posthumously.

The commando group have seen security improve dramatically during their tour. Working out of MOB Price, which the Marines nicknamed “HMS Price” in line with Royal Navy tradition, they have developed the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan police units in the area to take on responsibility for security and have worked together to successfully tackle the insurgency.

In the past year, the number of UK bases across Helmand has reduced from 80 to 12 as they are handed over to Afghan forces or dismantled, in line with growing Afghan security capability. MOB Price is expected to be handed over to the Afghans in due course.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

“The courage of the Royal Marines, and indeed all of our Armed Forces who have served in Afghanistan over the past decade, has been truly outstanding. Their commitment has made sure that transition of security to Afghan control is deliverable by the time we end our combat operations in December 2014.

I recently saw for myself the capabilities of the Royal Marines as they undertook arduous winter training in Norway.  I was extremely impressed by these Commandos who are absolutely committed to preparing for contingency operations that may arise whenever and wherever in the world.

The hard work of 40 Commando Royal Marines in Afghanistan over the winter has led to impressive progress in the capabilities of Afghan forces as they take on security responsibility, with decreasing levels of assistance from UK and ISAF forces. 

It is these Afghan forces, developed and trained by UK personnel, who will ensure that Afghanistan never again provides a safe haven for terrorists.”

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said:

“Royal Marines have been a key part of the Afghanistan effort since the UK committed to the region in 2001 and I would like to thank them for serving their country so valiantly, showing determination, commitment and courage.

“It has not been easy - with the many successes there have also been a number of sacrifices. Our thoughts and continued support are with those who were injured and their families and we will never forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“The seminal contribution made by the Royal Marines has undeniably helped the Afghan Army strengthen its capability and with that brought greater stability to the region.”

Lieutenant Colonel Matt Jackson, Commanding Officer of 40 Commando Royal Marines, described his unit’s work in Afghanistan as “absolutely exemplary”.   He said:

“The Commando group has been able to transfer lead security responsibility from ISAF to the Afghan National Security Forces in a very difficult area of Central Helmand. 

Working together over the winter, we have given the Afghan Army and the Afghan police the confidence in their own abilities to operate together. More importantly, we have given them the belief that they can operate independently from us; they now know that they are good enough to face down any future challenges that lie ahead.

This is in no small measure due to the sacrifice made not just by the 61 Royal Marines who have lost their lives in this campaign, but by all Service personnel.”

Chief of Staff for 40 Commando, Major Karl Gray, said the unit had previously deployed to Afghanistan in October 2001, then returned on operations in 2007, 2010 and 2012.   He said:

“Having been here on and off since 2001, it has been really encouraging to see the tangible progress that the Afghan National Security Forces have made in their ability to legitimately and effectively provide security in the region.

This is testament to the sacrifices and efforts made by each operational tour. We have sadly lost many outstanding Marines and soldiers during this campaign and, although only a small comfort to the families of the bereaved or injured, I can honestly say that these tragic losses have not been in vain.

Everyone who has served here has made a difference, not only in Afghanistan but also to the security of the UK by preventing Afghanistan being a haven for terrorists.” 

Some Royal Marines will remain serving in Afghanistan on an individual basis, working alongside their colleagues from other services, as the UK continues to support the development of the Afghan National Security Forces.

WHY ARE WE ASKING YOU TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ROYAL MARINES?

In the past decade the Royal Marine Commandos have borne the brunt of continuous operational service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost of these commitments has been severe in terms of amputation, blast injuries, gunshot wounds and post traumatic stress. Lives that would have previously been lost, have been saved by swift helicopter casevac, and in flight surgery.

The deployment of this corps d’elite of commandos, in the forefront of active service, is set firm for the future.

The RMCTF exists to provide swift and flexible responses to these outcomes of hard fought active service. Whilst there is active support from the major charities that work across the services, it is the RMCTF that gives Royal Marines the ready to hand resources that are sorely needed now for immediate and long-term rehabilitation and resettlement. Progress against targets, and achievements to date are well described in the RMCTF website ( http://www.rmctf.org.uk )

Please therefore raise as much as you can and come along to this very special Challenge and have a great time.

SO WHAT'S THE 17K ENDURANCE ALL ABOUT??

Prize Categories

1st, 2nd & 3rd in following categories:~

Individual Male or Female

Pairs - Males, Females or Mixed

Teams of 3 or more - Male, Female or Mixed

1st in Vets Category (average age of runners 33 years or more)

Best Fundraisers in each category

On-Line Registration Tips

1.   Team Captain collate all Team Members details - Address, DOB, Tel Numbers (if more than Individual entry)
2.   Team Captain Registers his/her details & Team tshirt order (do not submit the form)
3.   "Register another Runner" for each additional Team Member
4.   Once ALL Team have been registered click "Submit Now & Pay On-line"

THE 'CHALLENGE'

If you have already tried the FUN and MARINE Challenges in October - now in their 22nd Year - and you have outgrown them, then the Organisers have teamed up with the ROYAL MARINES CHARITABLE TRUST FUND and the ROYAL MARINES COMMANDO TRAINING CENTRE at Lympstone to bring you the truly authentic ENDURANCE Challenge.  The aim of the new event is to:

• Allow civilians to take on one of the Royal Marines physical Tests which all recruits have to pass on the road to earning their Green Beret
• To help the TRUST to achieve its aim of raising its £6M target by 28th October 2014 (the 350th birthday of the forming of the Royal Marines).

In 2011 over 60% of all Royal Marines were on duty in the hostile environment of Afghanistan.   As a result the 'Trust' needs to raise sufficient funds to put towards the rehabilitation of injured / wounded Royal Marines who have returned from that theatre of war - or are likely to in any future deployments.   PLEASE therefore when entering this event raise as much as you can in sponsorship -  it will all help!

      

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?     The 17k ENDURANCE Challenge starts and finishes at the Commando Training Centre and will be as authentic as the one currently undertaken by the Royal Marines themselves.  Although run as one Challenge - the course has 3 distinct phases, but is run as one course:

• PHASE I   =   From the Start Line at CTCRM all runners, Individuals, Pairs or Teams, advance to the ENDURANCE Course on Woodbury Common - a distance of approx 4 miles. 
• PHASE II   =   Tackle the cross country part of the ENDURANCE course with its tunnels, Peters Pool, Crocodile Pit and scary Sheep Dip - a distance of approx 3 miles
• PHASE III   =   The transition back to the finish line at CTCRM.  The first part of the run will be off the 'Common' and onto the lanes and roads of Devon - a distance of 4 miles  

HOW TO ENTER?   Download your entry form opposite - or Register on-line by clicking the box at the top of downloads, complete and send it in.   The event is open to Indviduals, Pairs and Teams of Three over the age of 16 with the entry fee being £36 per person.

WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT?  There is a huge amount of work to do with those Royal Marines returning injured - be it from Iraq or in recent years Afghanistan.   This rehabilitation can, in some cases, last a life time.   With your help we want to run with 1,000 people who can take on this world famous course - and to support OUR Royal Marines.

        

YOU CAN HELP EVEN FURTHER, by...............  

• Entering the ENDURANCE Challenge
• Convincing all your mates to enter
• Sending a link of this page to everyone in your address book
• Raising as much sponsorship as you can - much much more than the £100 we are asking you to raise
• Getting in touch with the Organisers who can send you PDF versions of the Entry Form and Poster for you to share with everyone in your Company, in your Outlook Contact List, your Company Newsletter, your Company Mailing List and even everyone who attends Network Lunches
• etc
• etc 

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT DOES NOT TAKE OVER FROM THE MORE USUAL OCTOBER FUN EVENTS ..........  the 4k FUN and 10k MARINE events are on 5th and 6th October 2013 - which is the 23rd  Anniversary

  

 

 

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2013 Entry Now Closed!

2014 Entry will be available soon!

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