NAM.2013-04-5-1

Oral history interview with Sapper Jack Cummings, 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). Interview conducted by Amy Cameron at Didcot, Oxfordshire, 28 Feb 2013. Conducted for National Army Museum Unseen Enemy exhibition (2013). Digital audio file: 56 min 40 sec. Associated with Operation HERRICK, Afghanistan (2002-2014) 2004- . Interview covers his Army service 2004-2011, describing his enlistment at 16 as a junior soldier; his training in Yorkshire; his father’s role in the Army; his main reason for joining, to start a career instead of going to university; his training and role as an electrician; his deployment to Afghanistan during OPERATION HERRICK 7 (2007-2008) and his role there in a Royal Engineer Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) Search Team, describing how only 3 teams were operational at that time compared to his later service in OPERATION HERRICK 12 when they had over 20 EOD teams; describes his expectations of Afghanistan, explaining how he did not volunteer for EOD and wanted to go to Germany with the Amphibian Squadron; describes his introduction into EOD and first reactions; the differences in IEDs from HERRICK 7 to HERRICK 12; describes operation to take Musa Qala, finding IED and opium factories; discussing daily life during the Musa Qala operation; describes what to look for when searching for IEDs; describes his attachments to different bases, regiments, etc. during HERRICK 12; describes working with the first high risk female searcher; discusses building team dynamic and team roles; his role as a sapper/searcher; relates how his first operation during HERRICK 12 was particularly memorable; describes the skills needed and equipment used to detect particularly advanced IEDs; describes what he enjoyed about his position; describes an incident when he was injured by an IED and then being in a coma for a month and in critical condition for months afterwards; describes his recovery and the impact it had on the family; his personal gains post injury, gaining independence etc.; describes being medically discharged from the Army and how he integrated back into the civilian world; describes job placement with a charity that creates video games for disabled children; discusses how he is unsure whether to recommend the Army to another person, because of his injury, but doesn’t regret the time he served

HERRICK, Operation, 2002-14 (Afghanistan 2001-2021)