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    ANA, Coalition combat engineers continue joint training

    ANA, Coalition combat engineers continue joint training

    Photo By Spc. Gregory Argentieri | Combat engineers from Company A, 173rd Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 173rd...... read more read more

    NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

    12.17.2007

    Story by Spc. Gregory Argentieri 

    173rd Airborne Brigade

    By Spc. Gregory Argentieri
    173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

    NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Afghan combat engineers and Coalition forces destroyed two weapons caches during joint demolition training, Dec. 3.

    As often as twice a month, Soldiers from Company A, 173rd Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and 4th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 201st Corps, Afghan national army soldiers hold joint demolition training with unexploded ordnance.

    "We like to do joint demolition training with the ANA. We partner with them," said Army Capt. Jonathan A. Zimmer, 30, from Breezeway, Mass. "They are combat engineers, this is their skill, and we are combat engineers too."

    Besides demolition training, the Soldiers of Co. A teach basic rifle marksmanship and drill and ceremony to the ANA. This is the second company of ANA soldiers to come through Forward Operating Base Koghyani since the 173rd arrived in May.

    "At one point, we want to turn this country over to them," said Army Sgt. Stephen M. Dodge, 24, from Springfield, Mass., a combat engineer from Co. A, who was lead trainer for the demolition mission. "We have to 'backbone' the ANA and get them up to speed, so they're able to accomplish those daily tasks and missions, from demolitions, to patrolling, to holding down security on a FOB."

    Zimmer also sees the necessity of the training and says it's good for both armies.

    "We train them and we get the training benefit, but also, they get the training. We have a good working relationship with the ANA," Zimmer said.

    Coalition forces have a Small Rewards Program, which pays money to Afghan citizens for the recovery and turn in of weapons caches. The intent of the program is to encourage Afghans to help make their country safe. The caches destroyed this day were turned-in as a part of that program.

    "Usually, what gets turned-in are rocket propelled grenade heads, RPG boosters, mortar rounds, old ammunition, grenades, (and) mines," Zimmer said. "We'll get some anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines, and sometimes we get improvised explosive device making material."

    "This country is filled with ordnance left here by the Russian's since the '80s," Dodge said.

    Dodge has completed two advanced schools for combat engineers. He graduated from Sapper school and is a demolitions expert. Also, just before this deployment, he sacrificed his leave and chose instead to go to school for six weeks and become an explosive ordnance clearance agent. This EOCA qualification enables Dodge to take care of any unexploded ordnance.

    "EOCA is a valuable class to have, it relates pretty well to the mission, Dodge said. "It's pretty much what I've been doing the whole time I've been deployed in theater three times."

    Zimmer said the ANA Company they are currently training is very well trained, strong, and fully capable of doing independent operations.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.17.2007
    Date Posted: 12.17.2007 12:42
    Story ID: 14740
    Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF

    Web Views: 327
    Downloads: 295

    PUBLIC DOMAIN