Soldiers reflect on an eventful year

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SOLDIERS from a Redditch Territorial Army unit are reflecting on a busy year which has seen them serve in Afghanistan and help out at London 2012.

More than 80 members of Moons Moat based 37 Signals Regiment (Volunteers) opted to take part in operations over the last 12 months including in Afghanistan and Cyprus. They also helped with security at the Olympics this summer and took part in training missions in the UK, Germany and Morocco.

Corporal Marcus Ratcliffe, a father of two from Redditch, volunteered to go to Afghanistan and was there for 12 months where he served as an electrician, putting to use the qualification he achieved through the army.

He said: "Serving in Afghanistan was a really rewarding experience as I got to see first hand the good work the coalition forces were doing for a lot of needy people."

Next year is a challenging one for the Territorial Army as it needs to take on another 15,000 recruits.

Corporal Russ Taylor, from the Regimental Recruit Training Team, said: "It's amazing to think of all the work the Regiment has done this year. We're ordinary people but we get to do some extraordinary things thanks to the Territorial Army."

For more information about the TA call 01527 599324.

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