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    173rd BSB Armorers conduct workshop with ANA

    NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

    03.09.2008

    Story by Capt. Monika Comeaux 

    Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

    By 2nd Lt. Monika Comeaux
    Combined Joint Task Force - 82

    NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A small group of mechanics from the Afghan National Army's 5th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 201st Corps participated in a small-arms repair workshop at Forward Operating Base Fenty, March 3.

    The class was taught by the armament section of Company B, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, to increase the competency level of the ANA mechanics in weapons maintenance.

    Participants familiarized themselves with the proper weapons clearing steps, disassembly, reassembly and functions check procedures as well as how to identify faults on the U.S. M-4 rifle and M-249 and Russian-made PKM machine guns. The ANA mechanics also learned about the eight steps in the cycle of functioning and the difference between gas operated and recoil operated weapons.

    "It seems like on the PKM they pretty much know everything that we showed them. They were very, very interested in the American weapons," said Army Chief Warrant Officer Jean Belizaire, an armament maintenance technician, who is the officer-in-charge of the Armament Section.

    Belizaire was really proud of his armament crew's ability to train the ANA and stated that in his 11 years in the Army, this is the best group of U.S. Soldiers he worked with.

    As for the ANA, "they are surprisingly quick in learning our techniques and troubleshooting and inspecting weapons systems," said Sgt. Micaiah Ragins, a small arms/artillery repairer, who also works in the armament shop and was one of the primary instructors for the class. Ragins was assigned to a Special Forces unit in Stuttgart, Germany earlier in his career, so he has first-hand experience with foreign weapons like the PKM.

    The ANA does not have separate weapon maintenance technicians in the 5th Kandak; it is the job of the mechanics to maintain the weapons if they break, explained Fazal Dod, one of the participating ANA mechanics. ANA soldiers mostly carry AK-47s and PKMs, but getting familiar with U.S. weapon systems was also helpful in enhancing their general weapon repair skills.

    Class participants also discussed the differences between the AK-47 and the M-4. Both nation's soldiers admired the other's weapons. Ragins really likes the features of the AK-47. He said it is a really durable weapon and quite accurate up to 400 meters.

    The ANA mechanics were amused and surprised at some of the features they found in the M4 and M249. They spent quite some time disassembling and reassembling the American weapons, trying to break them down to the smallest components. Ragins explained that removing the gas tube on the M249 can be quite a challenge for both U.S. and ANA troops if they don't know the trick to it.

    The ANA also spent some time learning how to disassemble the trigger housing on the M4. "It was a surprise how many small springs and pins there are in these American weapons," said Fazal Dod.

    This was the first time the armament section has taught a workshop for the ANA, but they expressed their hopes of teaching more classes in the future.

    "I think it is a great thing. We are here to help them any way that we can. For my guys, this is one of the ways they can help them, to make them more proficient in repairing weapons. That is something also these guys can look back on and say, 'yep, I did help the ANA'. I think we are doing a great thing over here," Belizaire said in conclusion.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.09.2008
    Date Posted: 03.10.2008 15:48
    Story ID: 17202
    Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF

    Web Views: 137
    Downloads: 95

    PUBLIC DOMAIN