Back on the frontline

Eighteen months after they went through some of the most intense fighting in decades, the Parachute Regiment is back in southern Afghanistan. Here, some of them tell BBC correspondent Alistair Leithead what that means for them.

CPL GAZ MCMAHON, GUNNER, 3 PARA SUPPORT COMPANY

A 'different' war in Afghanistan

We've just come out of winter and the poppies are about to be processed, so we expected it to be quiet, but I think after the poppy has been sorted and your average Joe Bloggs has nothing to do I think it will get busier and there will be more fighting.

I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to the next six months but you want to get out there and get on with your job.

Eighteen months between tours is a lot, but at the end of the day they expect it now to be at least two years between tours.

There are just not enough lads on the ground to do it otherwise. My family thought I was an idiot for coming in the first place and knew I would have to come back but they didn't think it would be so soon.

CPL BEN SMITH, 3 PARA MORTARS

We've had nothing yet but I'm expecting it to kick off a bit later. Last time it was quiet to start with and we didn't think anything was going to happen but it did, so we're just waiting.

Last time when we went into Helmand it was just us really. We've been given quite a bit more kit - new helmets which we're not that happy with and everyone is wearing the big body armour, which in my opinion...they've wrapped us up in suits of armour which makes no sense to me.

Better to move fast than to sit there like a target with a big lump of stuff on you.

From all reports the threat is mostly bombs and that now. They've not started shooting yet and I expect if we are going to be attacked like that it won't be until later on in the year anyway.

I think the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) threat is a lot higher than last time when there wasn't any of that.

CPL IAN POTTER, SECTION COMMANDER 1 PLATOON, 3 PARA

When I was on the plane I was apprehensive thinking about last time. I remember how high the tempo was and how many fire fights we were getting into. I'm part looking forward to doing it again and part asking 'what am I doing here again'?

Everyone trains and wants to be in a contact but when it happens it's good in a way as you are doing your job for real so everyone is happy to be in contact.

There were times when we were short of supplies last time - when helicopters couldn't get to us, but it was going to happen as I don't think the army was prepared for what happened.

My wife is pretty licked at me - I was married in August last year and I've only seen her for about four or five weeks. By the time I get back it'll be a year and a half and I'll have seen her for five or six weeks because of all the training prior to coming on this.

LANCE CORPORAL PETE MCKINLEY, 3 PARA

On the plane it felt like just the other day that we were here and I've got memories of all the stuff that happened with all the fighting and we kind of expected it to turn out the same way, but it's been just like it was last time - quiet while they are harvesting the poppies and everyone's expecting the worst really.

It was 24 hours a day, every day for months on end, it seemed. I don't care how many people say when they were back in England they weren't scared, but everyone was - it's just something you've got to deal with.

I got a Military Cross from the Queen last year on my birthday for saving the life of an American soldier - I had to run across open ground...I didn't have to but I did, and then another time when I got hit by shrapnel and I got up and carried on. It was quite nice to get it but it's just a bit of metal at the end of the day.

When I came last time the only progress we were doing was flattening buildings for them but they didn't want that. I think now, I'd love it to change. I'm not into kids walking around without homes and hopefully we do make a difference - I want to.

PRIVATE JOEL MITTON, B COMPANY 3 PARA

I was a bit nervous because I've never done this thing before. I don't really know what to expect but since I've got here all the blokes have been good to me and shown me the ropes and shown me what to do and the equipment is brilliant.

My family were a bit nervous with me being just 18 the other week. They were a bit shocked, but they know I enjoy it and there's nothing else I'd rather be doing than being out here with my mates doing what I enjoy and love really.

I'm most afraid of being injured too badly to stop me from doing this job - that'd be my worst fear.