Star comment: Our troops are owed a huge debt
The soldiers who have been working in the volatile capital of Afghanistan for eight months provide us with a reminder of the everyday sacrifices that our military make.
They endure difficult conditions whether they are taking part in combat missions or logistical exercises.
With temperatures in Kabul reaching up to 40 degrees in vehicles, the military must be made of the right stuff simply to survive.
While some of us may from time to time complain about the heat of the day, the temperature on a crowded bus or in an office, our military suffer for many months without making a peep.
Beyond the unpleasant environment, the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment face daily threats in the city of five million people.
Suicide bombers and vehicle borne IEDs are prevalent and the risk is ongoing and daily. Additionally, the British military remains a prime target for the Taliban and in more recent times so-called Islamic State.
Such difficulties remind us of the work our military does to help make the world a safer place. We often talk about war and political decisions that lead to conflict in an abstract sense – one that doesn’t take into account the very real human cost of such conflict. The soldiers that carry out their orders do not regard themselves as heroes, they are simply doing their job.
And whatever they may think of the conflicts they become involved in, it is impossible not to admire what these people do, day in day out, sometimes living with the consequences of what many would see as political mistakes. It is also a reminder that while we live in a largely peaceful era as far as conflicts between nations are concerned, the world is not some peaceful idyll.
Many of us complain about our work, but spare a thought for the soldiers who put their lives quite literally on the line every day. Even those who are not involved in combat situations face the sort of dangers that many people cannot begin to understand.
We owe them – and those who went before them and served during a number of conflicts – a debt of gratitude.
We have enjoyed a lengthy period of peacetime and our military works tirelessly to extend it. We must be mindful of their work.
