Goodbye and good luck will be said all this week when 470 soldiers from Colchester-based 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, (2 PARA) set off for a six-month deployment in Iraq.

The Battalion, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Colchester, have already left Meeanee Barracks in small groups this week, with the bulk of the soldiers departing this weekend.

Their mission will be to mentor the fledgling Iraq Security Force in the UK controlled area of southern Iraq in the Al Muthanna province, a largely desert area north west of Basra, as Iraqis take over responsibility for their own policing. The Iraqi force has undergone extensive training by the British Army for this vital role.

2 PARA will be under the command of 7 Armoured Brigade, who take over from 12 Mechanised Brigade in November. One company, D Company, will be under the command of The Scots Dragoon Guards in Maysan province, north east of Basra.

The coalition’s top priority is to work with the Iraqis to improve the security environment and build the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces so that increasingly they are able to take responsibility for delivering law and order . Over 190,000 Iraqi Security Forces have been trained so far and the number of Iraqi units capable of conducting effective counter-insurgency operations is increasing steadily.

Lieutenant Colonel James Chiswell, the Commanding Officer of 2 Para, said: “The Battalion is well prepared for the challenges that may lie ahead and we look forward to continuing the work of building the Iraqi forces. For many, this will be their second deployment to the country and we are fortunate therefore in having plenty of experience upon which to draw.” He added: “We will miss our families and friends but I know the Battalion will do an excellent job.”