Four reservists are swapping their day jobs to go out to Iraq for at least six months.
The soldiers, who are with 45 Signal Squadron, 36 Signal Regiment, have been getting their last minute bits of kit together at the Territorial Army centre (TA) in Colchester before jetting off next week.
Ready for action - TA members Rose Prince, Tex Bennett and Robert Irvine Picture SEANA HUGHES
They will be in Iraq for six months and are likely to be in the south of the country. At the moment, they do not know exactly which regular units they will be attached to.
They will be undergoing medicals and last minute preparations before flying out.
Staff Sergeant Tex Bennett, 38, works for BT. He is no stranger to the Gulf region, as he served as a technician in the RAF during the last Gulf War.
He will be going out to the region near Basra, Iraq's second city, and will be working as a senior signals technician.
Staff Sgt Bennett lives in Earls Colne and works in Brentwood.
Signaller Robert Irvine is also no stranger to the Gulf. He lived in Kuwait when he was younger.
He said: "I speak a little bit of Arabic, which might come in handy."
The 32-year-old computer teacher at Braintree College said he hopes he will be able to pass on his experiences to his students when he returns in six months time."
Staff Sergeant Rose Prince, who lives in Eight Ash Green, works as a computer programmer for Britvic in Chelmsford and expects to be in Iraq for eight months.
Corporal Lee Farrow, 30, works for BT. He lives in Colchester and is a driver operator in the TA.
Published Friday, May 30, 2003
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