Unseen Support: Civilian Contributions to the Afghanistan War - Softcover

Canning OBE, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1636244335 ISBN 13: 9781636244334

Publisher: Casemate, 2024

Synopsis

An insight to the often unseen civilian life in a modern war zone.

After decades in the Royal Marines, Andrew Canning spent four years working for coalition forces in Afghanistan as a civilian. During his time there, he met extraordinarily committed and brave civilians, not only on the program he was delivering but involved in supporting military forces in many other areas of the conflict. Coming to Afghanistan from across the globe, these civilians were making varied, crucial contributions to the conflict, much of it unseen to external observers.

Canning brings his unique perspective to examine the part of civilians in supporting modern military operations, especially in campaigns of long duration. He was particularly impressed by the fortitude and resilience of those ensconced in some of the most remote forward operating bases in Taliban bandit-country and under repeated attack – isolated and utterly reliant on ISAF protection. He also explains some of the trials and tribulations of daily life for those living in a war zone, especially for civilians that do benefit from the “umbrella” of national government protection and provision, and pays tribute to the unheralded civilians who worked to the common good in Afghanistan.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Prologue

Ch 1 What Next?
Ch 2 A Civvy in a War Zone
Ch 3 100 Days – Moods and Views
Ch 4 Civvies in Kandahar
Ch 5 Life on KAF
Ch 6 The Boardwalk
Ch 7 Civvies in the Dining Room
Ch 8 Christmas on KAF
Ch 9 Femke
Ch 10 Mo
Ch 11 Mortuary Affairs
Ch 12 The Gym
Ch 13 Curry, Cricket and Corruption
Ch 14 Movement by road
Ch 15 By Aeroplane
Ch 16 By Helicopter
Ch 17 Mr Duck
Ch 18 The Americans
Ch 19 Drawdown
Ch 20 A Few Reflections

Epilogue

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Canning spent over 33 years as an officer in the Royal Marines, serving worldwide and in various well-documented conflicts. During that time, he also worked with other Government departments including DfID and the FCO. He led the British military operation in Mozambique to provide rescue, recovery and relief operations following catastrophic floods in the country in 2000, all under DfID direction. He spent 3.5 years as the defence attaché to Norway, working directly for two ambassadors in-country, advising on military capabilities and perceived military threats to Norway from abroad. Andrew was awarded an OBE in 2000 for his services to the development of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, based on his operational and diplomatic deployments to West and Southern Africa to effect and promote FCO policies through the military. Andrew played his part in the war zones of Sierra Leone (four times), and was instrumental in the evacuation of British citizens from Sierra Leone to Senegal in 2001.
On leaving the Royal Marines, Andrew organised and managed a specialist training and mentoring programme delivered to the Afghan Police and Army, on a civilian contract let by the United States government.

Edition details

• Publisher: Casemate
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1636244335
• ISBN 13: 9781636244334
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208