Thirty four additional infantry troops have deployed from the 2 LANCS Theatre Reserve Battalion, based in Cyprus, to secure a new area of operations in the Nad e-Ali district.

As the UK’s Theatre Reserve Battalion, 2 LANCS can be called upon to deploy anywhere in the world within 48 hours. They hold this rapid reaction duty for 15 months.

The Battalion already has three of its four Companies in Helmand, securing ground in the Nad e-Ali district.

The additional infantry men will supplement this effort, while the rear party remaining in Cyprus are on 48 hours notice to move to push forward to join them if needed.

Good general view of the whole situation

Speaking from Afghanistan yesterday, their Commanding Officer Lt Col Robbie Boyd said: “The soldiers will be used in multiple strength to move into checkpoints around my area of operations patrolling and securing Nad e-Ali.

“Over the 15 months we have served in Musa Qala, through Sangin, all over Lashkah Gah and now in Nad e-Ali, where we have formed our own combined force location here in Nad e-Ali north.

“The fact that we have been all over Helmand gives us a very good general view of the whole of the situation here and how it has progressed.

‘Things have improved since Panther’s Claw’

“Our first deployments were at the back of Panther’s Claw, which was a much more kinetic time across central Helmand than it is now, through HERRICK 11, and now as a combined force in our own right.

“What has really stood out about that is how much things have improved. It’s got better and better and we are in a unique position that we have watched it and contributed to it getting better over a long period of time.

“And there is absolutely no doubt in any of my soldiers’ minds that things have improved since Panther’s Claw, even in our area of operations which is still quite robust.”

There are currently more than 300 2 LANCS soldiers deployed in Helmand, with each soldier in the Battalion serving on average seven to eight months in Afghanistan over two tours.