COLCHESTER’S airborne medics celebrated their birthday, as they pass from recovery from last year’s tour of Afghanistan to preparation for next year’s return.

16 Medical Regiment held a parade and family day yesterday, to mark ten years since the unit was set up and moved to the town, from Aldershot.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jez Hair said the event marked “a threshold” for the regiment.

“This is our chance to celebrate and say thanks to our troops and their families for their commitment over an incredibly busy ten years,” he added.

“The event falls exactly one year after we returned from Afghanistan and one year before we are likely to deploy back to Afghanistan again.

“Last year was a difficult and demanding tour and we’ve had a parade of recuperation since.

“We have done our own thing, with adventure training and battlefield tours while we keep our skills up.

“Now we’ve got a year to ramp up the training and focus on the next tour, with a busy programme ahead of us.”

The unit is set for training in Kenya, culminating in Operation Sharp Point, which sees it carry out a medical project in remote and inaccessible areas of the country.

Yesterday’s parade, led by the Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps, saw the Army’s top medical officer, Major General Michael Von Bertelli, inspect the unit and present awards and promotions.

He told the unit: “I was responsible for your move and change of name, so it is rather special for me to come here today to help celebrate ten years.

“You have done two really quite demanding tours of Afghanistan in the last three years, which means, as a medical service, your level of experience and expertise is unprecedented.

“The treatment you give people is better than ever before.”