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LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Eighteen Afghan National Army engineers with the Garrison Support Unit, 4th Infantry Brigade, 203rd Corps, attended a generator maintenance course provided by U.S. military advisers, Aug. 20, on Camp Maiwand, eastern Afghanistan.
The generator maintenance portion was part of a 24-day engineering course scheduled to include carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning training to help the ANA engineers sustain their facilities.
U.S. Army National Guard 1st Lt. Matt Doyle, a platoon leader for the Georgia National Guard 149th Vertical Construction Company said, “The whole point of this program is to make them a facility engineer unit able to cross train each other.”
As the officer in charge of the engineer facility partnership mission, Doyle is responsible for coordinating training plans and providing instructors with the knowledge and experience to advise the ANA soldiers.
This includes attending a Dari language class, twice a week, provided by U.S. Army Spc. Assal Ravandi, a native Dari speaker, and an automated logistics specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Doyle said the language course has been very helpful and has allowed them to interact better with the ANA soldiers.
“They are more willing to work with us; [they] understanding we are trying,” added Doyle, a Prestonsburg, Ky., native. “Definitely one of the most rewarding things you can do … help them be self-sufficient.”
ANA Col. Nassarullah Nasrat, the facility engineer for the 4th Inf. Bde., 203rd Corps, praised the ANA engineers who attended the training for their dedication to the training program. “These instructors will go back to their countries, so we have to learn now, to use for our future,” he said.
The generator maintenance portion was led by U.S. Army Sgt. Ian Snyder, a utilities equipment repairer with Forward Support Company, 8th Engineers Battalion, in support of Task Force Vanguard.
The training provided a class room, hands-on, and checks-on learning portion that focused on identifying main components, trouble shooting problems and maintenance of the generators.
“The classes have been going very well,” said Snyder, a Pueblo, Colo., native. “These are very, very resourceful soldiers … and they have a lot of hands-on experience.”
The training is one of the ways U.S. soldiers continue to show their support and commitment to their Afghan partners.
“We are here to help,” added Snyder. “We are here to ensure they can carry on the mission after we leave, and that starts from the ground up – that’s the basic maintenance of their equipment.”
During the course the more experienced ANA engineers were called to help their fellow soldiers.
ANA Lt. Abdul Jamil, said, “It’s a good feeling for me to learn as I teach my friends, and for my friends to learn from me.”
Jamil, a Logar native, said they were very grateful and looked forward to Snyder’s lessons. “We are trying to learn from the countries here to help us … until we stand on our own two feet,” he added.
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2013 12:36 |
| Story ID: | 112565 |
| Location: | LOGAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Hometown: | PRESTONSBURG, KY, US |
| Hometown: | PUEBLO, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ANA engineers learn to sustain generators, facilities, by SFC Elvis Umanzor, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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