Devon medics to take charge

Dozens of North Devon and Plymouth medics get ready for life on the front line in Afghanistan.

More than 2 hundred from 80 hospitals including North Devon and Plymouth's Derriford are currently undergoing rigorous training at RMB Chivenor.

Next week they'll undergo a 40 hour exercise dealing with casualties many of which will be played by amputees and Afghan actors.

It's all part of the process to get the men and women prepared for life on the front line.

LISTEN HERE: Andy Ballantyne spent the day watching the training

During the last tour of operations in 2009 for South west troops Plymouth's Kate Nesbitt became the first Royal Navy woman and the second female in history to be awarded the Military Cross.

They'll be deployed in spring with hundreds of South west based troops also going, including; 

Plymouth's newest commando unit, 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, 42 Commando from Bickleigh and the Commando Logistic Regiment from Chivenor, North Devon.

Army personnel will include 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, based in Plymouth, 24 Commando Engineer Regiment from Chivenor and 1 Rifles, which incorporated the old Devon and Dorset regiment and recruits soldiers from across the South West.

The Royal Navy will also be represented with personnel from 854 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons from Culdrose, in Cornwall.