JTAC Hill
Encyclopedia
JTAC Hill - Joint Tactical Air Co-ordination - is a fort in Helmand Province
, Afghanistan
, originally built in 1841 by the Royal Engineers
for the tactical defence of British India. Since being strengthened, it has been used as an important strategic base in the ongoing war in Afghanistan
. JTAC Hill is the southernmost British forces' stronghold in Helmand Province
, almost 100 miles south of the main British base, Camp Bastion
, and just forty miles north of the frontier with Pakistan
.
reported that Prince Harry, then a junior officer of the Household Cavalry
, was operating as a Forward Air Controller on JTAC Hill with a Gurkha
unit. The Ministry of Defence had made agreements with the news media of the United Kingdom and some other countries not to reveal that the prince was there until he came home or until the news was otherwise released.
An Australian weekly women’s magazine, New Idea
, initially broke the story in January, but it was not followed up at the time. New Idea editors claimed ignorance of any news blackout. Then a German newspaper, the Berliner Kurier
, published a short piece on 28 February 2008, also before Drudge.
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, originally built in 1841 by the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
for the tactical defence of British India. Since being strengthened, it has been used as an important strategic base in the ongoing war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. JTAC Hill is the southernmost British forces' stronghold in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, almost 100 miles south of the main British base, Camp Bastion
Camp Bastion
Camp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan. Accommodating 21,000 people it is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, and exists to be the logistics hub for operations in Helmand....
, and just forty miles north of the frontier with Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Prince Harry
On 28 February 2008, the American web site Drudge ReportDrudge Report
The Drudge Report is a news aggregation website. Run by Matt Drudge with the help of Joseph Curl and Charles Hurt, the site consists mainly of links to stories from the United States and international mainstream media about politics, entertainment, and current events as well as links to many...
reported that Prince Harry, then a junior officer of the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
, was operating as a Forward Air Controller on JTAC Hill with a Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
unit. The Ministry of Defence had made agreements with the news media of the United Kingdom and some other countries not to reveal that the prince was there until he came home or until the news was otherwise released.
An Australian weekly women’s magazine, New Idea
New Idea
New Idea is a long-running Australian weekly magazine published by Pacific Magazines and aimed at women.-History:The magazine was first published in 1902 by Fitchett Bros. Southdown Magazines purchased Fitchett Bros...
, initially broke the story in January, but it was not followed up at the time. New Idea editors claimed ignorance of any news blackout. Then a German newspaper, the Berliner Kurier
Berliner Kurier
The Berliner Kurier is a regional, daily newspaper published by the Berliner Verlag GmbH for the Berlin metropolitan area in Germany....
, published a short piece on 28 February 2008, also before Drudge.