Combat couple's key role in Kuwait

A HELENSBURGH woman and her husband are working in Kuwait to ensure that used combat equipment goes home in good order.

Carol-Anne and Jon Miller, both Corporals, first met during basic training when they joined the Royal Military Police six years ago but were posted to different units.

When they were posted last year to the same unit, 174 Provost Company based in Shropshire, their relationship developed and they married in July.

"'There are only a few other couples serving together - it"s very rare,' said Carol-Anne, 26.

But shortly after moving into their married quarters in Donnington, Telford, they were told their unit was to be sent to Kuwait for Operation TELIC.

Jon, aged 30, whose family is from Washington, Tyne and Wear, believed that both of them being sent to Kuwait was an advantage.

He said: "We were able to support each other and help each other prepare. We could sort out all the kit we needed together."

He added: "It"s also been easier coming out here together than just one of us deploying, because we"re not worrying where the other one is and if they"re safe."

Their unit is responsible for checking all military vehicles passing through Shuaiba Port in Kuwait on their way back to the UK, to ensure they are free of any unauthorised kit.

Jon and Carol-Anne are a part of the huge operation to bring back the UK"s kit from Basra in as good a state as possible so that it can be refurbished quickly and made available for troops on training or in Afghanistan.

They work on the jetty at Shuaiba Port, near Kuwait City, carrying out spot checks on containers and anything from Mastiff armoured personnel carriers to Challenger Two main battle tanks.

By the end of May their unit will have searched through more than 1000 vehicles, from quad bikes to Challenger Two main battle tanks, and checked 800 containers.

Jon is expecting to be sent home early, as his work gets done, so he can look forward to another reunion with his wife, who could be staying in Kuwait until later this summer when the operation is due to finish.