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RAF Sergeant gets troops fighting fit in Afghanistan
10 Dec 09
An RAF Sergeant has been pulling out the stops at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan to ensure that British troops can recover from their injuries and return to the front line when possible, as soon as possible.
RAF Physical Training Instructor Sergeant Lee Gilham serves with the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Team at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan
Sergeant Lee 'Gilly' Gilham has been serving with the
Defence Medical Rehabilitation Team at Kandahar
where the forces of twenty-one nations working within
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are
based. As an RAF Physical Training Instructor, and
formerly a rehabilitation specialist at the Defence
Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court,
Sgt Gilham's skills have been called upon to help
Service personnel in Afghanistan get back to full
operational effectiveness.
Sgt Gilham said: "No two days are the same out here.
Depending on the injury, I develop an exercise-based
therapy programme that develops muscle strength and stability around the affected area."The work we do in the medical centre gym also helps to improve the soldiers' general fitness and boost their confidence in the injured area, all of which helps them to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible."Sgt Gilham has worked closely with many different units including The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), who were recently deployed across southern Afghanistan to carry out a combination of tasks including many deliberate offensive operations.Sgt Gilham's efforts were rewarded with a commemorative plaque by the 3 SCOTS Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, who was fulsome in his praise for Sgt Gilham.
Lt Col Cartwright said: "Just the nature of Regional Battle Group (South) operations meant that young soldiers were carrying extreme weights for long periods in the most demanding of circumstances and, as a result, we have suffered a number of musculoskeletal injuries."Due to the most impressive efforts and dedication of Sgt Gilham, we have rehabilitated a high percentage of our injured soldiers very quickly, so that they can take part in future operations."The Battle Group owes an enormous debt to his hard work, flexibility and support of operational capability in southern Afghanistan."As part of his duties, Sgt Gilham has travelled to Kabul every second weekend to treat Afghan National Army, ISAF and Foreign and Commonwealth Office personnel at Camp Souter.
Sgt Gilham said:"The journey to Kabul does cause some trepidation but, once there, it's business as usual. It also gives me a greater understanding of what the troops that I treat have to go through every day of their tour."
Sgt Gilham joined the RAF in 1995, initially as a Personnel Administrator, and then retrained as a Physical Training Instructor four years later. He said:"I am really proud of being a rehabilitation specialist and it is extremely satisfying returning personnel back to full fitness. I thoroughly enjoy helping the troops get back to peak condition.
"These are not injuries that can be healed by soaking in a warm bath - although such a treat would be most welcome out here as we move into winter!"
10 Dec 09
An RAF Sergeant has been pulling out the stops at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan to ensure that British troops can recover from their injuries and return to the front line when possible, as soon as possible.
RAF Physical Training Instructor Sergeant Lee Gilham serves with the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Team at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan
Sergeant Lee 'Gilly' Gilham has been serving with the
Defence Medical Rehabilitation Team at Kandahar
where the forces of twenty-one nations working within
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are
based. As an RAF Physical Training Instructor, and
formerly a rehabilitation specialist at the Defence
Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court,
Sgt Gilham's skills have been called upon to help
Service personnel in Afghanistan get back to full
operational effectiveness.
Sgt Gilham said: "No two days are the same out here.
Depending on the injury, I develop an exercise-based
therapy programme that develops muscle strength and stability around the affected area."The work we do in the medical centre gym also helps to improve the soldiers' general fitness and boost their confidence in the injured area, all of which helps them to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible."Sgt Gilham has worked closely with many different units including The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), who were recently deployed across southern Afghanistan to carry out a combination of tasks including many deliberate offensive operations.Sgt Gilham's efforts were rewarded with a commemorative plaque by the 3 SCOTS Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, who was fulsome in his praise for Sgt Gilham.
Lt Col Cartwright said: "Just the nature of Regional Battle Group (South) operations meant that young soldiers were carrying extreme weights for long periods in the most demanding of circumstances and, as a result, we have suffered a number of musculoskeletal injuries."Due to the most impressive efforts and dedication of Sgt Gilham, we have rehabilitated a high percentage of our injured soldiers very quickly, so that they can take part in future operations."The Battle Group owes an enormous debt to his hard work, flexibility and support of operational capability in southern Afghanistan."As part of his duties, Sgt Gilham has travelled to Kabul every second weekend to treat Afghan National Army, ISAF and Foreign and Commonwealth Office personnel at Camp Souter.
Sgt Gilham said:"The journey to Kabul does cause some trepidation but, once there, it's business as usual. It also gives me a greater understanding of what the troops that I treat have to go through every day of their tour."
Sgt Gilham joined the RAF in 1995, initially as a Personnel Administrator, and then retrained as a Physical Training Instructor four years later. He said:"I am really proud of being a rehabilitation specialist and it is extremely satisfying returning personnel back to full fitness. I thoroughly enjoy helping the troops get back to peak condition.
"These are not injuries that can be healed by soaking in a warm bath - although such a treat would be most welcome out here as we move into winter!"
RAF Physical Training Instructor Sergeant Lee Gilham (centre) with members of 3 SCOTS
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