FIFTY troops from the Balearic Islands left Palma yesterday headed for Afghanistan seen off amidst emotional scenes by their commanding officers and members of their families.
Their tour of duty will be six months and loved ones will be counting the hours until their safe return, but one little girl clearly felt there was no need to wait that long: Daddy, come home soon.
Despite the unspoken risks of deployment to a notorious war zone, everything seemed calm on the surface as soldiers from Palma's 47th Infantry Regiment with its headquarters in Calle Jaime II, gathered in front of the Air Europa desks at Palma airport at first light.
Family groups drew together to see off their loved ones, making the most of the last few moments on Majorca before the troops departed for their mission of operational support and training for the Afghan army.
Although the soldiers themselves are not officially authorised to discuss their work with the media, some of their relatives were not so retiring, and let slip how worrying it was when their menfolk were away on such potentially dangerous missions. They confessed that although they trusted that the soldiers would return safe and sound, there was always a nagging worry at the back of the mind that something could happen.
Clearly making an effort to put a brave face on the departure, relatives were unable to hide their silent tears, even behind sunglasses.
Seeing the soldiers off was not an official act by the military as that had already happened weeks ago in a ceremony attended by senior government representatives of the Balearic Islands.
One of the troops, with his head completely shaved and a thick beard said that the worst thing about the mission for him was being away from his two young daughters for six long months. He was the last in saying goodbye to his family and rejoining the group as they started to make their way down the long corridors of the airport. He bade farewell to his eldest daughter on several occasions but she kept wanting one hug after another. Daddy! she called after him. Daddy will be back soon, her mother consoled her.
The top General Commander of military forces in the Balearics, Mariano Estaún Solanilla was very much in evidence at the airport. He said a personal goodbye to each of the troops who in Afghanistan will be under the command of Lieutenant Colonel José Andrés Luján Baselga from Palma's 47th Regiment.
Although the role of the Balearic troops will not be front-line combat, they are forming part of the United Nations' mission to turn the already-existing Afghan army into a professional fighting force. The ultimate aim is to equip the local military with sufficient ability to ensure the safety of the civilian population and to defend the country when the international occupying presence in Afghanistan leaves, and hands the responsibility over to the national government.
Troops of the Balearic General Command have already completed military mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Kosovo in 2006 and 2008 respectively,
The mission that the soldiers are now being sent on to Afghanistan is a recognition of their high level of training and ability to operate effectively in conflict zones. It also shows that they are considered to be as capable as other crack troops of the Land Army. For security reasons, the General Command has not made it known when the soldiers will arrive in Afghanistan, nor what route they will be taking.
Today, the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will speak to the national congress in Madrid about the situation of Spain's military presence in Afghanistan where it has more than 1'500 troops deployed.
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