Jersey soldier shares memories

Sapper Justin Jegou server a seven month tour in Afghanistan

Justin Jegou has just returned from the front line in Afghanistan where he served a seven month tour.

The former Les Quennevais pupil said that, although he was scared at times it was like being in a family unit.

Justin said he had doubts over the purpose of the mission in Afghanistan, while he was serving at Camp Bastion.

But he also explained that he did eventually come to see that Afghanistan civilians seemed to appreciate the work his platoon was doing.

When he was on the flight out to Afghanistan Justin said it didn't feel real at first, that it wasn't until the plane lifted off that the reality of the situation kicked in.

When they're firing at you, you just don't know what to do sometimes. You're laughing but at the end of the day you are scared. Justin Jegou

"I wasn't scared, you see it and hear it on TV but you never think it is going to happen to you, you're just nervous because you don't know what to expect," said Justin.

Walking was one of the things Justin remembers as a dominant feature of his life in Afghanistan, that and being under attack several times a day.

"Every day was pretty different to tell you the truth, you'd wake up first light to make sure you're ready and then you'd be patrolling all day.

"Normally you would take a compound and stay in there through the night if not you'd be out the ground staying there or patrolling through the night. It's non-stop walking," said Justin.

Justin also remembered finding himself under almost constant threat, with enemy engagement several times a day.

"They engage us two to three times a day, if not more. Normally at morning, lunchtime or dinner, they do it when they know you're eating.

"They know when you're lunchtime is, roughly what time scoff you have and they do it when you go to bed as well to disturb you," Justin said.

Although the soldiers are well trained to deal with the situation they're in, it doesn't stop the fear when you're being fired on.

"When they're firing at you, you just don't know what to do sometimes. You're laughing but at the end of the day you are scared.

"It's surprising actually because the amount of contact you have you'd think more people would get injured," said Justin.

With everyone in the same situation a family bond develops and it becomes like 'being out with the lads'.

"It's like a family bond when you're out there, even if you don't know them you felt like you did, you felt like they've got your back. Like being out with the lads," said Justin.

Justin said it is like being in a family unit

However, seeing friends injured and being fired on did cause him to question what he was doing there.

"Being out there I think you have a different perspective because you have lost someone close or someone close to you has been hurt you think to yourself why are we here, is there any purpose to being here.

"When you get told it is to bring peace to their community and help them out you wonder whether it is worth it or not," Justin said.

And with people from a multitude of nationalities in the country, Justin said that everyone helps everyone else, regardless of nationality.

"We help each other out a lot, but everyone does out there no matter what nationality, no matter where you come from everyone helps anyone," said Justin.