Oxfordshire forces are on the front line in Afghanistan. Reporter Tom Jennings spent a week with them in Camp Bastion and Kandahar to learn about their role. All week he has been telling their stories and, in today’s final chapter, he looks at what the future has in store for the country – and gives his own personal account of his trip IT was a week of firsts for me: first time in 46C, first time in a desert, first time under rocket fire and first time in Afghanistan.

I spent a week in the country, visiting Oxfordshire personnel from the Army and Royal Air Force in Camp Bastion and Kandahar.

Over the last week we have told their stories, from searching out homemade bombs and flying jets to leading vast convoys and disposing of scrap material.

The trip began for me in the early hours of the morning at RAF Brize Norton, along with dozens of personnel returning to Afghanistan after time off.

After two delayed flights, I was found a spot on a C-17 cargo plane and spent an arduous flight amongst material for defences and a shipping container.

We landed in Camp Bastion at night, but even in the small hours the heat and the dust hit me as I stepped off the plane and – as it suddenly dawned on me – into a war zone.

Camp Bastion is mind-bogglingly huge and is a maze of tents, shipping containers, compounds filled with trucks and razor wire.

Everything is a dusty yellow-grey and, with the washed-out sky and complete lack of plants, the entire scene is monochrome.

My first day was filled with training: how to search out homemade bombs, how to get out of an upturned vehicle and how to stop someone bleeding to death.

The highlight was hearing stories from the IED instructor, a Royal Marine who told us he had killed with every weapon the military has and tracked someone for a month posing as a cameraman.

It was 46C that day and by the afternoon I was exhausted, despite drinking about a dozen bottles of water.

Keeping hydrated is incredibly important and everywhere I went I was asked if I wanted a fresh bottle – the equivalent of a cup of tea back home.

That night I flew out to Kandahar, a converted commercial airport with brick buildings and even trees.

I visited personnel from RAF Brize Norton and was shown around a Hercules aircraft. It was an unbearable 62°C in the plane’s cockpit.

Later I was shown the Board Walk, a square of take-away joints and shops.

It surrounds sports pitches and a track that a man was inexplicably running around wearing a mask designed to restrict breathing. I sat watching him in the baking sun while eating a burger and chips.

During my stay in Kandahar the base came under rocket attack. I had just got out of the shower and was brushing my teeth when the sirens went off and I had to run to my room to don my body armour.

I didn’t hear the explosion (I was later told it landed outside the base) and sat there by myself wondering what you are supposed to do during a rocket attack.

Eventually, an all clear was sounded on the loudspeaker and I carried on with my day.

That night I flew back to Camp Bastion and the next day visited the Merlin helicopter team from RAF Benson as they prepared to leave Afghanistan for good.

They were impressed by my shorthand and I was impressed that they could fix a helicopter. I kept thinking, sure, I can write fast, but you can make this thing fly.

Over the next few days I saw Oxfordshire troops from 3 Close Support Logistic Regiment, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and 23 Pioneer Regiment.

Now, at my desk in the UK, I am left struck by the dedication and bravery of our troops in Afghanistan. They are doing an incredibly dangerous job in ridiculous temperatures – often for 12 hour shifts – away from their families for up to six months at a time.

Having had a taste of what they do I know two things: they are immensely impressive and I couldn’t do it.

JOB DONE: British forces have played vital role in making country safer

AFGHANISTAN is a safer place because of the efforts of British forces, Oxfordshire personnel have said, but the future of the country is now up to its people.

British forces will pull out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014 after more than a decade fighting Taliban insurgents across the country.

The draw-down is already taking place and the number of outlying bases in Helmand province has been reduced, from 137 18 months ago to 13 now.

British troops have been pulling back to Camp Bastion as they train up and hand over security to the Afghan National Army.

Oxfordshire personnel have said the country has improved but, ultimately, whether or not the Taliban return to power will be up to the people themselves.

Wing Commander Kevin Marsh, chief of staff operations for 904 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), said the history books will decide if the conflict has been a success.

But he added: “Personally, if success means the country – which was effectively in a medieval state under the Taliban – has a chance to succeed, then yes it has been a success.

“Whether or not it will be a functioning, vibrant democracy I have no idea, but we are playing our part. No one’s got a crystal ball but things are positive.”

904 EAW, which is based in Kandahar, includes personnel from RAF Brize Norton.

Major Ben Adams, officer commanding one half of 3 Close Support Logistic Regiment (CSLR), said: “One example of how the country has progressed is the other week we were out on an Op (operation) and we were stuck behind a farmer on his way to market who had dropped all his bales of hay. On the very same Op, we moved down the road and were held up because a local election was going on.

“Whilst the boys were incredibly frustrated because they were stuck in 45 degrees, that is evidence of progress. That is exactly what they should be frustrated by – normal, routine things that would happen every day in the UK.

“Unfortunately, on the same Op we got shot at.”

Maj Adams added: “We have done everything we can to ensure that the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) are successful in the future. We have set enough up for success. It is up to the Afghans whether they want to continue that.”

3 CSLR is known as 3 Logistic Support Regiment in the UK and is based in Abingdon.

Lance Corporal Ian Hughes, 31, of 3 CSLR, said the country had become “a lot safer” since his last tour in 2008.

He said: “Back then we travelled in the desert and wouldn’t dare go into Gereshk or drive down in Lashkar Gah. It was a no-no.

“Now it has changed so much that we are venturing in there, and everywhere we go now the civilian population is back in full swing.”

He added: “I think the country’s in a better place already. Last time around the Afghan National Army were rookies, but now they do what they’re supposed to do.

“But you can only take a horse to water, you can’t make it drink. It is their responsibility to step it up and take over and make sure they continue on with the work.”

Lieutenant Sarah Dunn, 24, of 3 CSLR, was optimistic about the future of the country and fading power of the Taliban.

She said: “You expect to go out and everyone to be holding AKs, but actually there are a lot of children and families and women, and they just want to get on with their lives.

“The Taliban is targeting the Afghan National Army and the people are saying how can you justify this, when you are targeting your own people?”