Alison Cobb - Headquarters 49 (East) Brigade

Cold foggy Autumnal mornings, frozen windscreens and icy roads are not weather conditions any of us look forward to but members of the Light Dragoons can?t wait to leave behind scorching summer temperatures and return to our typical British weather; they are currently working in temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius and above in Iraq.

Normally based at Robertson barracks, Swanton Morley, the Regiment is looking forward to returning home to Norfolk in a few weeks time.

Based in Camp Smitty in the Al Muthanna province of southern Iraq, they share the camp with about 500 Australian soldiers and various support elements including signallers, engineers and logistics personnel. The combined force is known as Task Force Eagle.

Commanded by Lt Col Robin Matthews, the Light Dragoons main effort has been to conduct security sector reform (SSR) as well as providing security across the province. The Regiment has been training and mentoring the Iraqi Police, Border Guards, Army and a whole host of other local security forces.

The goal is to train the Iraqis to the point where they can take over responsibility of the entire province from coalition forces. It is the Light Dragoons priority and is key to ensuring the development of Iraq into a stable democracy.

Patrolling the main urban areas in the province and training the Iraqi Police is the role of B Squadron which is commanded by Major Ed Kennedy. This includes having a troop permanently based in the Provincial Joint Operations Centre in As Samawah.

The Centre is where all the Iraqi emergency services are coordinated, and the troop led by Lt Villiers of B Squadron, mentors the Iraqi Captain who commands the Centre.

The squadron has also been tasked with training the Iraqi Police at the Police Training Academy in As Samawah. This mainly consists of leadership lectures to existing personnel followed by some command tasks to practice teamwork and problem solving.

WO2 Bartholomew, B Squadron Sergeant Major, has been responsible not only for designing many of the courses, but also for delivering many of the lectures and lessons. He said: ?We have seen a real improvement in the Iraqi police force since our arrival in April. We are very lucky herein that the relatively safe environment lets us get out and interact closely with the Iraqis. That way we have been able to build strong relations and seen some great progress throughout the whole of the Iraqi Security Forces.?

But the province is not always quiet and B Squadron has had to contend with riots in the streets of As Samawah. The police take the lead when dealing with these situations but the Light Dragoons are on standby in the Provincial Joint Operations Centre, ready to help if requested. So far however, the necessity has not arisen and the Iraqi riot police have handled the situation.

C Squadron, under the command of Maj Ben Warrack operates in the vast expanse that is the south western desert. This is an area of some 2000 square km.

Dotted along this border are forts manned by Iraqi border police (the DBE ? Department of Border Enforcement) and it is the task of C Squadron to train and mentor the DBE as well as maintaining security in the area.

The training involves lessons such as first aid, low level tactics, vehicle maintenance and the use of radios.

With an area the size of Wales to cover, C Squadron uses the new Merlin helicopters as well as specialised Land Rovers which enable them to react quickly to incidents anywhere in the area of operation. C Squadron is also ready to deploy en masse to deter any foreign fighters illegally crossing the border.

?The tour has given my troop and I the opportunity to really thrive in the recce role. The guys love it; this is what we joined the Army to do,? said Sergeant Nolan, Troop Sergeant , C Squadron.

HQ Sqn, commanded by Maj Steve Summerscales, is concerned with maintaining the camp and supporting the squadrons ?on the ground.? This includes communications, the hospital, the regimental restaurant, engineers and transport.

Corporal Allford from Kings Lynn said: ?This is my second tour in Iraq and it has been very different to Op Telic 2. Progress seems to have been made and the situation now is much better then 2003. I have enjoyed working in command troop. I maintain and control communications in camp to ensure that whilst on the ground the troops can keep in contact at all times.?

With elections imminent, B and C Squadron have been tasked to recce and report on the election sites that will be used in December. B Squadron have covered over 60 sites in and around As Samawah and detailed their suitability with respect to security.

After long, hot days in the desert or As Samawah, The Light Dragoons could be forgiven if they put their feet up in their own time however when evening comes if you walked around camp you would encounter a myriad of sports. Vollyball (beach ? no shortage of sand here), cricket, rugby league, football and softball are all played with various degrees of competitiveness.

One of the many advantages of sharing a camp with Australians is that there is no shortage of competition and a regular rugby league and volleyball league has been set up on Friday nights.

Being away from home is obviously hard for many of the soldiers, especially for those with families. There is unlimited access to the internet and free phone minutes to phone home. Other welfare facilities include a ?caf钠run by a Dutch Christian Charity (Echos), and a welfare tent with two large TVs, magazines and relatively current newspapers. There is also a well equipped camp gym, where, in the cool of the morning and evening, the troops can maintain their fitness.

All things considered The Light Dragoons have adapted to desert life very well. With just under two months to go before they are relieved morale is high and the outlook is positive. The Iraqis are responding to the training and the province remains relatively peaceful. There is no denying the fact that everyone is looking forward to going home to be reunited with family and friends but there is a real sense of achievement in the camp. The Light Dragoons are making a difference.