A Belfast born member of the Royal Gibraltar regiment soldier is providing life-saving medical training to Afghan soldiers while they continue providing security to the region. As we all set out for a fun packed Jubilee weekend Corporal Chris Milliken, is busy working with an advisory team advising the Afghan National Army in Helmand Province.

“Keeping your mucker next to you alive is the most important thing to me and I think it’s exactly the same with the Afghan National Army. It gives them the confidence that if anything goes wrong then there’s somebody there that will be able to treat them,” said Chris interviewed for the Army media centre.

The aim of the training is to get a number of Afghan soldiers to an increased standard of medical skills so that they can treat any injured comrades. Following the medical training, the British advisors will continue to ensure the Afghans maintain all their skills to a high standard.

“Like any soldier in any country, the Afghans can take a while to learn new skills, but when they get to grips with it, they really show their professionalism.”

Chris is one of two dozen British Army advisors in Forward Operating Base Shawqat who are working alongside the Afghan National Army both during routine barrack training and also in patrolling the local area.

“Working in such a close-knit team is making the time go much quicker. I’m learning off other people and they’re learning off me, ” says Chris.

He and his team are not

only training soldiers in basic skills but also making sure

that each part of the local Afghan Army unit is operating to its full potential and ready

to maintain security in the area.