Afghan tour inspires student Rachael

Rachael Davies’ year out from her degree as an army Captain in Afghanistan proved a life-changing experience.

Rachael, 24, from Darlington, is a final-year student on the University’s BSc (Hons) Disaster Management degree. She worked as an army Captain in Afghanistan, overseeing vital reconstruction work.

This experience proved so inspirational that she is aiming to return to Afghanistan once her studies are complete this summer, possibly as an interpreter.

Rachael has served with the Territorial Army (TA) for seven years and completed officer training with the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

Rachael said: 'I’ve always wanted to be in the regular army and when I first joined the TA I just liked the social side. I loved being in the TA so much I realised I wanted to go down the officer route. Then I became interested in third world development when I was in Sri Lanka during the 2004 Tsunami. I worked for a year to get some funds so I could return there as a volunteer teacher.'

The Afghanistan post came through the CIMIC (Civil Military Co-operation) group, who work on the country’s stabilisation, including reconstruction and development.

Rachael was promoted to the rank of Captain Rachael was promoted to the rank of Captain, and worked in Afghanistan for six months. She was first based in Nad E Ali with the Royal Marine Commandos, overseeing civilian compensation claims and the digging of bore holes and water pumps. This involved various negotiations with tribal elders through an interpreter.

Rachael then moved to the town of Nawa, where she supervised the start of reconstruction work on a school, clinic and mosque. Through the ‘cash for works’ project 200 Afghans were employed on the building work, in teams of ten. The work was fraught with danger, as Rachael and her team were subject to heavy rocket attacks from The Taliban.

Rachael said: 'The attacks were fairly terrifying, as we were living in an area roughly the size of two football pitches and the only thing you could do to defend yourself was to lie on the ground.

'Despite that, I loved every minute of my time there; it was a varied and fulfilling tour. Being involved in the rebuilding of a community and seeing the Afghans reclaiming their dignity through this work was a unique experience.

'There was one time when I was sat in a helicopter looking over the landscape and I thought ‘I’m a student, a civilian in the TA, what am I doing here as a Captain?’ My fellow officers didn’t know I was a TA soldier; some were surprised when they found out. As long you prove you are capable and step up to the mark the soldiers don’t care.

'My parents Irene and Keith were very anxious for me although we wrote letters all the time and they sent me books and chocolates. I could also speak to them on the phone for 20 minutes once a week but operational security is at the top of your mind and there are only certain things you can say. I did play down a lot of what was happening!'

After her six-month tour Rachael worked as an army instructor in Camberley for a further six months, with soldiers who were about to serve in Afghanistan. Rachael added: 'I didn’t feel ready to go back into civilian life so was thrilled to be given that opportunity. Hopefully sharing my experiences will have helped the new guys about to go out.'

Rachael is now finishing the last two terms of her Teesside degree. Her next aim is to return to Afghanistan in another role, such as an interpreter for either the foreign office, Red Cross or United Nations. She said: 'It would be good to look at what we started to implement the last time. And to see how the work has progressed.'

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Watch Rachael on video out in Afghanistan