Clearance diver on op Slipper

A Chief Petty Officer (CPO) deployed to Kandahar in Afghanistan is literally feeling like a fish out of water.

Clearance Diver CPO Paul Knight is working at the Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell (CEXC) as an Australian embed in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters at Regional Command – South (RC - South).

“I take the evidence that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel bring to us from IED incident sites, including IEDs and IED components,” CPO Knight said.

“I then look at all the material, checking it against the list provided and make sure it’s safe to be examined further.

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Navy Helicopter Crews Prepare for Helmand

Sailors and Royal Marines from 847 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) are preparing to return to the front line in Afghanistan.

Around 50 personnel are deploying to operate the new Lynx Mk9A battlefield helicopter. They will be supporting British forces in Helmand province, as well as Coalition and Afghan allies.

The squadron previously deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan for seven months in September 2008. At that time the whole squadron successfully operated the Mark 7 variant of the Lynx helicopter.

The pilots and door gunners will be primarily escorting support helicopters as they resupply forward operating bases.