A member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Operations Co

Photograph: A member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Operations Company shaking the hand of a young boy in a village north of Lashkar Gah.Digital photograph taken by Cpl Mike Fletcher, Royal Logistic Corps, Helmand Task Force Photographer, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 24 Jul 2006. From a CD of 309 images.The Operations Company visited the village to discuss security issues with the Afghan National Army based there.The Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in Lashkar Gah (LKG) has the task of helping the Helmand authorities rebuild its infrastructure and civil amenities such as hospitals and schools. To allow this to happen, security within Helmand Province must first be achieved, and this paramount mission for security forces within the area. Providing security for the PRT and the town of LKG is a primary mission for the PRT Ops Company. This at times can be a very dangerous but rewarding job. The rebuilding of civil amenities can not begin unit a safe working environment for all concerned has been achieved. In the past, large sums of money have been wasted by building schools and hospitals which have days later been destroyed by the Taliban. The PRT Operations Company based at LKG, the provincial town of Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan, is the eyes and ears for the British base there. They provide security for the PRT base, the town and surrounding areas. The Ops Company daily carry out security patrols within LKG, day or night, in temperatures that reach 50 degrees. They work very closely with the local Afghan National Police (ANP) and the Afghan National Army (ANA), mentoring them on skills that British Forces have learnt over many years in theatres such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq.The Operations Company is made up of soldiers from 21 Air Assault Battery, Royal Artillery; 216 Signals Squadron and 16 Close Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps. The Officer Commanding (OC) for the Operations Company is Maj Collin Thomas, normally the OC 21 (Air Assault) Battery, Royal Artillery, based at Thorney Island.This image was taken on Operation HERRICK IV, the UK's deployment into Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan. Operation HERRICK IV has seen the development of the Helmand Task Force in the province, which has seen the cross Governmental Provincial Reconstruction Team set up in Lashkar Gah to help the Afghan Government build strong governmental institutions, security and create jobs. The Task Force was made up of 3, 300 troops from the British Military, with the majority being taken from 16 Air Assault Brigade

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