Soldiers from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment met the Prime Minister during his recent visit to troops in Afghanistan. Ten soldiers from the Regiment are currently deployed to Helmand province with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

They have been working from a patrol base in the Lashkar Gah district, supporting the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police in securing a key route to the provincial capital. They mount frequent patrols with the Fusiliers to deter insurgents from using the route and to reassure the local population that the Afghan security forces are able to protect them in going about their daily lives.

Private Aiden Cooper (19) is the second member of his family to meet a Prime Minister. His father, Colour Sergeant Mark Cooper, was also in the Royal Gibraltar Regiment when he met Tony Blair in Iraq. Aiden said, ‘It was obviously a huge honour for the Royal Gibraltar Regiment guys here. The visit was kept quiet until the last minute so we knew someone was coming but we didn’t know it was the Prime Minister. It’s obviously great for morale for us and the Fusiliers to know that the Prime Minister is actually prepared to put himself in danger just to come and have breakfast with us!’

 The Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s detachment is due to return home in October.