Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, May 2008

Digital photograph by Corporal Ian Houlding, Royal Logistic Corps.

Carleton-Smith became Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan as Commander of Task Force Helmand in April 2008. In April 2016, following a period as Director Special Forces, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general and became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations). He is pictured here on patrol near Musa Qala District Centre. Note the poppy seed heads collected in his pouches.