Colwyn Bay soldier speaks of Afghanistan conflict

Feb 25 2010 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

Gareth Williams

A COLWYN Bay soldier on his second tour in Afghanistan has spoken about the ever changing conflict and his role in trying to rebuild the war-torn nation.

TA soldier Gareth Williams, 43, remembers his first tour in 2004 when the Afghan National Army (ANA) numbered only 3,000 soldiers after years of Taliban control.

Now the former PE teacher believes his role in helping to build Afghan National Army, operating independently is a key component to the UK’s withdrawal strategy for Afghanistan.

Gareth is stationed as the team commander of the Kabul Military Training Centre’s non-commissioned officers leadership team – a centre which trains and prepares 5,200 Afghan officers and soldiers every month for the fight against insurgents.

The centre aims to have trained enough soldiers and officers by October this year to have built the ANA up in numbers to 134,000 – a strength greater than the UK’s own army. The feat will be achieved by only 64 British Army personnel together with American and NATO troops.

“This is a massively interesting job, to be part of history like this and contributing to a future where ultimately we can leave Afghanistan,” said Gareth.

“It’s a really worthwhile job, as the harder we work here to train the ANA, and build stability in Afghanistan, the less of our guys will have to be in Helmand taking ground.”

For Gareth, who was originally going to be serving this tour in Helmand, the threat those soldiers face is very clear.

“In 2004 when I was last here I remember we could go out on patrol without electronic counter measure. It was the tour after this that was to suffer the first suicide bombers and IEDs.

“On this tour you can see the learning curve effect on our operations from suicide bombers and IEDs. There is more armour and restrictions on movements now.”

It is these lessons though that the ANA want to learn from if they are to operate without the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in the future.

“The ANA’s willingness to learn has really impressed me. The ANA Warrant Officer I am shadowing, Atiqullah who leads the ANA instructors in training new soldiers, killed his first Russian at 14,” said Gareth.

“At 14 I kissed my first girl, but here I am now training him about war fighting. But it’s a very different warfare and they accept that and seem very pleased that we are here.”

Training under Gareth, Atiqullah believed the training was vital to his country gaining independence: “In time we will have the strength and training to stand alone when ISAF leave. I am confident of this.”

Gareth, an infantry warrant officer with 3 Royal Welsh, has also served in Northern Ireland, has two months left of his second six-month tour in Afghanistan when he will return home to his wife Fiona and their three children.