IT IS set to be the toughest two weeks many of them have experienced yet.

Scorching temperatures and a barren landscape are all that greet more than a hundred soldiers from Exeter's 6 Rifles, based at Wyvern Barracks, as they begin an intensive training camp designed to prepare them for service in Afghanistan.

The skills they learn during the exercise on the island of Cyprus could and may well save their lives.

For most, thoughts of serving in the war-torn country are never far behind as they are pushed to the limits in an environment designed to be as hostile as possible.

These are no ordinary soldiers — they also hold down day to day jobs in schools, offices, banks and shops. And increasingly the support provided by the Territorial Army (TA) to regular troops serving in Afghanistan has become ever more vital.

Much of the exercise is based at an austere training camp close to RAF base Akrotiri in Southern Cyprus. With temperatures close to 40C (104F) and little in the way of home comforts, the soldiers' quarters are stiflingly hot and more than just a little basic.

The experience is aimed to give the troops a taste of what life would be like should they be deployed to Afghanistan.

Heading the operation, Major Paul Gaskin, of 6 Rifles, told the Echo the exercise provided vital training for deployment to the war zone.

"The TA provides a proportion of troops to Afghanistan — around 15 to 20 per cent of troops out there are reserve forces," he said.

"Cyprus being hot and relatively barren provides a very good training medium and gives the guys a taste of what it would be like out in Afghanistan.

"The soldiers are receiving advice and training from guys who have been out to Afghanistan recently. The training we do on this exercise enhances what we can do in the UK — it is a new experience for a lot of the guys out here.

"There are soldiers here who may be deployed to Afghanistan and they will remember their training from Cyprus."

During the training, imaginary scenarios are set up and played out to test the servicemen — unbeknown to them — to enhance the sense of realism surrounding the exercise. These pretend situations are often based on real life encounters faced by serving troops.

Major Gaskin said: "The scenarios we place the soldiers in take them to a different level of training.

"And we focus on Afghanistan but without being too specific as things are constantly evolving out there.

"We create an unstable country for the purposes of the exercise and as part of the scenario, the guys are here to help and assist so the local people can go on with their normal lives — very similar to what is happening in Afghanistan."

For the soldiers, the training is intense and demanding. But it is also about camaraderie and gaining crucial skills.

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

"If you've got good morale then this is great," he said. "You can't do this with the wrong attitude. This is another skill under our belts and it's what we've trained for — it's our bread and butter."

The soldiers are keenly aware of a possible impending tour to Afghanistan where some or all of them may be called upon to serve.

Rifleman Ben Cox, 22, a bank business specialist from Honiton, said: "If the chance comes up for a tour to Afghanistan, it would be good to go. I have a girlfriend but she knows I love doing this and she understands that I may go to Afghanistan."