British troops are to serve longer tours of duty in Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced yesterday.
Forces deploying to Afghanistan in October will serve an eight-month tour of duty before coming home, rather than six months, as was previously the norm.
And as the British Army prepares to withdraw the bulk of its deployment by the end of 2014, some troops sent to Afghanistan next year will stay for as long as nine months, Mr Hammond said in a statement to the House of Commons.
Mr Hammond said that between 2,200 and 3,700 UK military personnel were expected to serve for more than six-and-a-half months in Afghanistan on the mission codenamed Operation Herrick as a result of this announcement.
Those serving more than seven-and-a-half months – and enduring the "relatively more austere conditions" expected towards the end of the campaign as bases close and assets are removed – will receive a "Herrick drawdown allowance" worth £50 a day before tax on top of standard operational allowances, he said. Those expected to be eligible have already been notified by commanding officers.
Because of the gradually declining overall size of the UK deployment over the next 20 months, the majority of troops sent to Afghanistan are still expected to serve no more than six months in the country, with "significant numbers" staying for shorter periods.
Prime Minister David Cameron has already announced that the size of the UK force in Afghanistan will be reduced from its peak of 9,500 military personnel to about 5,200 by the end of this year.
Mr Hammond told MPs that numbers would be at about 7,900 by the end of this month and that Afghan national security forces will be leading 100 per cent of all security operations by the summer.
"After more than a decade in which fighting the insurgency has been a primary focus of the Isaf coalition, the campaign is changing and the UK's military role in Afghanistan is evolving from combat to one of training, advising and assisting the Afghans," said Mr Hammond.
Major General Patrick Sanders, the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations), said: ''This move is a sensible adjustment that will align our tours to key milestones in the campaign, ensuring the best possible support to the Afghan security forces.
"In keeping with the many thousands of British servicemen who have served with such courage, commitment and distinction in Afghanistan – many repeatedly – I know that they will approach their extended final tours with professionalism and dedication."
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