My background in the UK is politics and finance, rather than the military. I was under no illusion that my presence on the frontline was going to win the war against Isil. Apart from the solidarity that I could offer the Kurds, I really needed to understand exactly what they are going through. I could then draw attention to the conflict, the Kurds and the solutions that I saw on the ground. Even in those early days I knew British policy toward Isis was flawed and ripe for change. I had to find a solution that would expedite the destruction of the Islamic State.