LOCAL politician Juan Watterson travelled to Afghanistan for a four day visit in January.
The Rushen MHK joined members of the United Kingdom parliament including a member of the House of Lords.
During his time away he met with senior staff at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province where around 4,200 British service personnel were based.
Mr Watterson said: "It was one of those visits that really shifts your view on life. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve got the greatest of admiration for them and the work that they do. All the soldiers we met were keen to show off the work that they do and were very proud of the work that they do. Consequently that made us very proud of them of them coming back as a party."
The tour was the culmination of a year's secondment to the RAF through the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.
