This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22520249

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Longer Afghanistan tours for British soldiers Longer Afghanistan tours for British soldiers
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of British troops will start serving longer tours in Afghanistan from October, the defence secretary has announced.Thousands of British troops will start serving longer tours in Afghanistan from October, the defence secretary has announced.
Soldiers deployed this autumn will serve up to eight months instead of the usual six, Philip Hammond told MPs.Soldiers deployed this autumn will serve up to eight months instead of the usual six, Philip Hammond told MPs.
He said those deployed next year could serve for as long as nine months.He said those deployed next year could serve for as long as nine months.
Up to 3,700 personnel could be affected by the move, which means troops will remain in Afghanistan into 2015 - after combat operations are expected to end.Up to 3,700 personnel could be affected by the move, which means troops will remain in Afghanistan into 2015 - after combat operations are expected to end.
This is in order to finish returning valuable equipment to the UK after the end of operations, which MPs predict could cost up to £2bn.
'No policy change''No policy change'
Mr Hammond told the Commons the Ministry of Defence had been looking at how best to "deploy declining numbers of troops".Mr Hammond told the Commons the Ministry of Defence had been looking at how best to "deploy declining numbers of troops".
He said service personnel serving more than seven-and-a-half months would be paid an extra allowance of £50 a day.He said service personnel serving more than seven-and-a-half months would be paid an extra allowance of £50 a day.
But the announcement would not affect future troop deployments and was "emphatically not a shift in policy". But Sharon Huntley, who has one son serving in Afghanistan and another who recently returned, said: "No amount of money can compensate for what they see and experience over there."
Most international troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The defence secretary said the announcement would not affect future troop deployments and was "emphatically not a shift in policy".
There are still questions over how many foreign soldiers will remain after the 2014 deadline, with an acceptance that some special forces will stay to conduct "counter-terror operations" and others to support and train Afghan forces. He said it was not possible to be precise about the number of British troops who would be affected by Tuesday's announcement.
Nato is in the process of handing over security control, and some strategically important areas have already been transferred to Afghan forces.
The UK - the second largest contributor to Nato's Afghanistan operation - has about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The defence secretary said it was not possible to be precise about the number of British troops who would be affected by Tuesday's announcement.
But "current estimates suggest between 2,200 and 3,700 overall may deploy more than six-and-a-half months", he said.But "current estimates suggest between 2,200 and 3,700 overall may deploy more than six-and-a-half months", he said.
Some 4,000 more will be brought home by this summer, with the remainder leaving before 2015.
'Heart sank''Heart sank'
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says the Army wants to give itself as much flexibility as possible as operations in Afghanistan begin to enter their final phase. The mother of one soldier who has been told to expect an eight or nine-month tour said it would make life much harder for those serving and their families.
The insurgency in Helmand has not gone away, even if it is now Afghan troops doing most of the fighting as Nato forces focus on bringing about an orderly exit for combat troops and the huge amount of military equipment used in the long campaign in Afghanistan, she adds.
The mother of one soldier who has been told to expect an eight- or nine-month tour said it would make life much harder for those serving and their families.
"He loves his job, but he's not happy about the length of time," said Jacqui, whose son was told about the extended deployment a month ago."He loves his job, but he's not happy about the length of time," said Jacqui, whose son was told about the extended deployment a month ago.
"When my son told me he was going on a longer tour my heart sank... It's so hard trying to remain positive and strong as it is without increasing the length they will be away." "When my son told me he was going on a longer tour my heart sank. It's so hard trying to remain positive and strong as it is without increasing the length they will be away."
And one veteran's charity called for the longer tours to be properly managed.
"Long deployments require significant post-deployment respite and stability if they are not to have a detrimental long-term effect," said Combat Stress chief executive Andrew Cameron.
Responding to the government's announcement, Labour said they wanted the extension to be successful.
"We see the logic in the government's move but many will be concerned about the impact on the individuals affected," shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy added.
Liam Fitzgerald Finch, who served in the Army for 12 years and was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for defusing bombs in Helmand, said there would be "tangible mental health issues" for the soldiers concerned.
"It properly ages you," he said. "The tempo the guys work at is ludicrous but all [the government] are looking at are the costs - not the impact on the individual."
British forces have been mainly based in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan after operations began in 2001.British forces have been mainly based in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan after operations began in 2001.
Most international troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
There are still questions over how many foreign soldiers will remain after the 2014 deadline, with an acceptance that some special forces will stay to conduct "counter-terror operations" and others to support and train Afghan forces.
Nato is in the process of handing over security control, and some strategically important areas have already been transferred to Afghan forces.
The UK - the second largest contributor to Nato's Afghanistan operation - has about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.