Geckos on deployment? Series 1 Episode 5 | Fancy a Brew?
Find out more about life in the fight against Daesh in the Middle East in the latest episode of Fancy a Brew?
☕️ It’s that time again!
Grab yourself a brew and learn more about what life is like in the Middle East on Operation SHADER with our guests Padre Michael, Squadron Leader Lizzie, Reverend Jonny and Corporal Tom.
Haven’t listened to the episode yet? Make sure to tune in here:👇
The global terrorist group Daesh poses a threat to UK national security as it seeks to expand its terror network, using propaganda to radicalise and recruit citizens from the UK and around the world. That’s why the UK Armed Forces work day and night to help defeat Daesh.
The UK Armed Forces’ latest mission in the Middle East has seen them work alongside 80 other nations to help provide safe and stable communities for the Iraqi people to live and work in, conducting the operation on both land and in the air.
Take a look at some highlights from our latest episode: 👇
What is the most interesting thing you have done on deployment so far?
Padre Jonny: “Seeing the Air Force pull out all of the stops to get somebody from here back to their loved ones when they really need to be there has been absolutely amazing to see in action.
Corporal Tom: “I think for me, so far it is seeing my role as a small cog in the big wheel to ultimately get the aircraft in the air, which is what we’re all here to do. It’s been nice, because I think sometimes definitely in my role back home, you lose sight of why you’re in the military or why you’re doing what you’re doing. So I think being out on operations has definitely made me realise I have actually got an important role to play.
What is the living situation like?
Squadron Leader Lizzie: “The living conditions are pretty good. There’s been some issues with I think heating and hot water earlier on in the deployment but actually, from a personal perspective, I can’t complain.
Padre Michael: “I’ve got a bed to sleep in every night. I’ve got somewhere that I can go to the loo, I’ve got a shower I can use, and I get three square meals a day. It’s pretty good. Again, this is the learning for me just coming in.
What is the weirdest thing you have experienced on deployment?
Squadron Leader Lizzie: “I had a gecko that resided in my clinic for a week, so he’s been my little clinical friend. He’s actually scuttled away now so he managed to remove himself before he got named but yeah, that was a little bit strange.
Corporal Tom: “Nothing really strange, just the amount of cats around or mosquitoes.
Are you missing home?
Squadron Leader Lizzie: “If you’re busy and you are focusing on a task then you are okay but sometimes those quiet, reflective periods can just make you think of home a little bit more. But again, we’re fortunate that we have got people around us, we can interact far more out here than we could do back home, and we can go out for a run or go to the gym or utilise exercise as a way of dealing with those moments where it might feel a little bit more pressured or stressed being here away from family.
Corporal Tom: “I celebrated my birthday whilst I was out here. So I think that period of reflection definitely made me miss home but I have also made really good friends out here. And we are kept busy day-to-day, which has kept my mind off missing family as much.
What are the mental challenges that can affect people on operations?
Padre Michael: “I think that the challenges are felt right across the board. There is, without any doubt a mental challenge because you’ve got separation from family for extended periods of time. That can mean people being away from perhaps their spouse, their family members and maybe young children, and then they’re also trying to focus on the task in hand.
Padre Jonny: The last year has taught us that we can improvise and we can get better in our own space. We can find things to do at home, to exercise at home, to meditate at home, to pray at home, to do whatever. We’ve now learned a new skill in life, and that’s probably helping all of us in our jobs and helping our people manage it here.”
“Here we have a very specific operational focus to get on with, and so people are able to get on and do the job that they have actually trained for.”
— Corporal Tom
