SOLDIERS from 1Rifles have been deployed to Mali as part of an international training mission.

The unit is not being deployed to Mali in a combat role, but as an essential training regiment as part of a mission that will be undertaken in a secure area.

They will be deployed for six months. The 21 volunteers have prepared for the mission with extensive pre-deployment training including cross-country driving, close-quarter marksmanship, foreign weapon handling and French language lessons.

Major Bill Eden explained that the unit had already experienced African conditions after twice being deployed to Kenya.

He said: "Training is what we do and we have a wealth of training experience that has been gained over recent years.

"The heat and humidity will have the biggest impact on us. But it will not get in the way of helping us to train the Mali soldiers so that they can help stabilise the country as armed rebellion is rife, making the country unstable."

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