ARMY troops preparing for deployment to Afghanistan faced their toughest challenge yet in what was the culmination of two weeks of intensive training.

Soldiers from Exeter's TA regiment 6th Battalion The Rifles, based at Wyvern Barracks — who could be sent out to the war zone — have been enduring scorching temperatures and countless exercises in Cyprus.

The training they have received during exercise Lion Star on the Mediterranean island could and may well save their lives.

In the midst of a realistic scenario, the part-time soldiers had to put into practice all the skills learned in the last few weeks.

The troops' mission was to clear an "Afghan" village, which had been infiltrated by insurgents. After being dropped in by helicopter about a mile from the village of Paramali, the soldiers made their way cautiously towards the community, but came under enemy fire as they approached.

Serjeant Mick Gibbons, of 6 Rifles, said the operation was extremely close to the real-life encounters experienced by troops in Helmand province.

"This is the culmination of the build-up training for the mobilisation of troops from 6 Rifles for their possible deployment to Afghanistan," he said.

"There has been a number of activities going on in this exercise, with insurgent activity mixed in with a civilian environment. We are testing the guys' abilities in order for them to become fighting troops. The village in the exercise has been deemed an insurgent stronghold and the soldiers must clear the area of insurgents and return the community to normality for the locals."

He added: "This kind of exercise is extremely difficult in real life as the insurgents mix with the civilians as a means of gaining cover.

"While we are getting fired at, we can't always shoot back. We have to be calm and collected.

"These kind of exercises are extremely high-risk out in Afghanistan and we are going into the unknown. The civilians often know where the improvised explosive devices are but we don't.

"This has been an invaluable exercise for the soldiers training here because of the environment we placed them in and the chance of operating in such tough terrain."

Rifleman Ben Cox, 22, a bank business specialist from Honiton, said the exercise had increased his desire to serve in Afghanistan.

"The exercise was brilliant but harder than I thought. The heat is just incredible and the terrain is really tough.

"In a real situation, it would be pretty scary as there is multiple enemy fire and when they are up on the hill, you can't always see them.

"I feel much more prepared for Afghanistan than I did at the start of the two weeks — I really want to get out there now."

Rifleman Richie Wall, 21, of Whimple, near Exeter, is a labourer and joined the TA more than three years ago.

"I absolutely loved it, the realism of it was the best bit about it," he said. "It does make me want to get out there and do it for real — each time we do these exercises, I get a bit better."