TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - Afghan Counter Improvised Explosive Device instructors have taken another step towards independence by completing their second independently run course.
Twenty-two members of the 4th Bdrigade, 205th Corps and 8th Commando Kandak graduated from the independent, three week Explosive Hazard Reduction Course at Multi National Base – Tarin Kot (MNB-TK) on June 13.
The course at the CIED facility at MNB-TK was planned and executed by Australian Army trained ANA instructors.
As Afghan National Security Forces takes the security lead and continue to grow into a fully-fledged, professional force, Afghan trained instructors now deliver up to 90 percent of all training across the country as they focus on specialized skills and capabilities.
Lt. Dominic Santilli, engineer adviser, Security Forces Assistance Team, is from the 2nd Cavalry Task Force and said the course focused on the enhanced awareness of IEDs and improved the ANSF techniques for disabling them.
“This is my first deployment to Afghanistan and I am stoked to have the opportunity to work with the ANSF,” he said.
“This is a step for Afghan independence and is improving their capabilities to deal with the IED threats in Uruzgan.
“It’s great to see Afghans can instruct and deliver the lessons on Afghan techniques and procedures which will allow them to react to explosive devices and mines safely.
“The ANA will certainly face challenges in the future, however the efforts of the advisers and mentors over the past years, have set them up to overcome problems on their own.”
Lt Santilli’s comments are supported by statistics which show a downward trend of 16,000 to 14,500 IED incidents in Afghanistan between 2011 and 2012.
Of the 1056 Afghan National Army troops killed in 2012, 850 were killed by IEDs and mines, according to statistics released by the Afghan Ministry of Defence.
In Uruzgan, the ANA are locating and rendering safe an increased number of IEDs, demonstrating the effectiveness of these new skills.
IED’s pose a serious, but not insurmountable threat, as the ANSF makes great strides in becoming an effective force.
Sgt Mohammed Hasan, 4th Bde, said he had been a soldier in Uruzgan for four years.
“I’m pleased the ANA 4th Bde engineers now have the capability to organise this course which was previously run by the Australian advisers,” he said.
“Our students have done well and I am very happy.
“They now have new skills which will enable them to face every type of explosive or IED and deal with it.
“As the process to full Afghan responsibility continues we will now be able to train our soldiers and solve our problems independently.”
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.28.2013 09:30 |
| Story ID: | 109450 |
| Location: | TARIN KOWT, AF |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ANA Explosive Hazards Reduction Course, by OR-5 Mark Doran, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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