RAF Regt take on Taliban

                             RAF Regt take on Taliban as Becks flys in
07 June 2010
                                                                                                                            FOOTBALL legend David Beckham flew into Afghanistan and got
                                                                                                                            a taste of front line action as he teamed up with II Sqn RAF Regiment
                                                                                                                         – just hours after insurgent fighters launched an attack on Kandahar
                                                                                                                          Airfield.
                                                                                                                          The 35-year-old sportsman landed at Bastion from RAF Brize Norton last
                                                                                                                          week as part of a goodwill visit to the 9000 UK forces personnel stationed
                                                                                                                          in Helmand Province. After meeting ISAF troops he flew to Kandahar
                                                                                                                         where he paid personal tribute to the Gunners who just hours before fought
                                                                                                                          off Taliban fighters who launched a sustained ground attack releasing
                                                                                                                           mortars and small arms fire on the northern perimeter. Beckham said: “The
                                                                                                                           morale here is incredible. These are the bravest people I have ever met and
                                                                                                                           it is a privilege to be here. “They are putting their lives on the line for us and
                                                                                                                           we owe them a great debt. “I have represented my country on the field and
                                                                                                                            I’ve got great team mates but every now and again I can let them down on
                                                                                                                           the field. You get another chance in football. “Out here you have to trust the
                                                                                                                            people who are next to you and you don’t get another chance if you get it
                                                                                                                            wrong. It is a real honour for me to be here.” Sgt Jamie Thorpe said
                                                                                                                            Beckham was aware of the previous night’s attack but there were no plans
                                                                                                                            to cancel the visit for security reasons. Sgt Thorpe said: “We were part of
                                                                                                                           the Quick Reaction Force and we just responded to the attack like any other job. “Our role was to take the fight to the insurgents outside the perimeter fence and foil a potential attack
from the south of the airfield.”
Earlier in his tour at Camp Bastion, Beckham paid tribute to the fallen at the Camp Bastion memorial,
The visit gave members of II Sqn the chance to challenge the former England captain to a game of five-a
-side – an offer he refused due to the injury that has blighted his 2010 season.
But the father-of-three did take time out to chat to personnel about the problems of working so far from
their families.
Beckham said: “Being here has been one of the best experiences of my life. Seeing first-hand what our
Forces personnel go through is very moving.“You have to leave your families, your friends, your loved
ones and your kids. That must be hard.”
An ISAF spokesman who helked organise the trip said: “It has been fantastic for British Forces that
David has shown so much interest in the work that we are doing.
“His effect on morale has been phenomenal and we are very grateful. The whole place is buzzing.”