It was my multiple’s turn for Quick Reaction Force (QRF) duty, this entails us being on a 24 hour standby to react to anything that may happen within our area of operations. For example, if an explosion happens or one of our call signs is attacked we may be called out at a moment’s notice.

I enjoy QRF days as if we are not called out we are in a comfortable room with our laptops and catch up with typing letters home or writing up this blog. There are certain things that need to be accomplished first before we can relax. The first being that we need to parade the vehicles, this entails us making sure that it is in good serviceable order, that it has the right equipment attached and stored inside it and that every soldier that boards that vehicle knows exactly where everything is kept and what his role is within the vehicle. Once this has been accomplished, everyone then stores there armour, weapons, helmet and ammunition where they are to be seated, so if the call comes we can go straight into action.

The day was quiet, no calls came through and we relaxed into the role.

Our other multiple of 16 soldiers were leaving for a foot patrol that evening when we received the intelligence that there could be a vehicle born suicide bomber going to hit somewhere close. It was getting late at this point and a few of the lads had been told to stand down and go to bed, but after hearing this information, there was no way anyone was going to shift them as we all wanted at this point to see some action, especially if our other call sign was the one to get hit. The hours rolled on and the patrol returned, at about midnight the Lieutenant could see that we were all shattered and ordered us to bed.

At this point everyone was more than happy to do so. We all went downstairs and jumped into the bunks provided, still wearing our uniforms just in case.