UK marine begins Afghan challenge

Rich Robertson wanted a physically challenging career

Royal Marine Rich Robertson is one of 5,500 UK servicemen currently in Afghanistan.

The 22-year-old spent some time talking to the BBC in the run-up to his departure.

On any average day, 500 military personnel fly from the UK to either Iraq or Afghanistan.

On 10 October 2006, Rich Robertson was just one of those guys.

He flew out from RAF Brize Norton to begin a six-month tour of one of the harshest battlegrounds the British forces have encountered since World War II - Afghanistan.

'Apprehensive'

Originally planning a career in law, Rich was studying for his degree when he left university after deciding on a more physically challenging career.

"The exciting lifestyle, the physical challenges, I think they were the main factors as to why I wanted to join up," he says.

Rich and the other men of M-Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, had trained for nearly a year before they were deployed.

"I'm very apprehensive about going out. I've heard a lot of stories about what the Paras have been getting into but I'm looking forward to it at the same time. We want to do the job we are trained to do.

"We've heard stories on the grapevine that conditions are cramped and there's no running water.

The men of 42 Commando Royal Marines trained for nearly a year

"You go into a safe house, the helicopter goes in and it will be there for absolutely minimum time. You jump off and the other guys jump on.

"You're working that way for 4 to 6 weeks. I would like to get out patrolling rather than being in a safe house waiting to be shot at."

Whenever possible, Rich swaps his fatigues for his wetsuit. The North Devon swell is his passion.

Apart from his friends, family and girlfriend, Rich says he will miss the surf the most. "Six months and then I'll get back into the water", he says.

For those he leaves behind, emotions are mixed. Rich knows how hard it is for them.

"My family are obviously quite nervous, my girlfriend is absolutely petrified of me going out there and my friends, I don't think they are bothered. Of course, a lot of them are actually going with me."

It's hard to know what to say to him when he goes. See you later? Have a good time? Enjoy it? I'm not sure if he will Rich Robertson's brother, George

His mother, Sally Parsons, admits she didn't want him to go into the armed forces at all: "We tried to dissuade him from joining up.

"The world is a different place and Rich would be going into areas of high conflict but when someone wants to do something so badly, you have to let them go."

The week before is the hardest time, she says: "You get to a point where he is so focused and you really don't know what you should and shouldn't be saying."

George, 14, Rich's brother, agrees: "It's hard to know what to say to him when he goes. See you later? Have a good time? Enjoy it? I'm not sure if he will. It's hard because you just don't know what to say."

Claire, Rich's girlfriend, says: "The worst thing about him going away is the not knowing. I don't know anything about it, I don't know where they're staying and I don't know where they are from one day to the next. It is stressful, I just have to wait for the next phone call."

His mother spends the run-up to his departure preparing for what she knows will be a very emotional time: "He knows how proud we are of him. I have to be really brave because I have to keep Claire going and George of course, he absolutely adores Rich. Rich is like his hero."

The BBC will be keeping in touch with Rich Robertson throughout his six-month tour of Afghanistan.