Corporal's Course students participate in CIED training

Photo By Lance Cpl. Gregory Aalto | Lance Cpl. Matthew Castro, an armorer with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, uses his rifle combat optic to observe a portion of the airfield's explosive ordnance training course July 2. Marines took part in the one-day basic class as part of the airfield's Corporal's Course.  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

07.02.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Gregory Aalto 

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing   

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Marine Attack Squadron 214 "Black Sheep" and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352/152 Detachment "A", all with Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, Corporal's Course students attended a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device basic course here recently.

The one-day training focused strictly on current Afghanistan IED tactics used by enemy insurgents.

"Iraq and Afghanistan are two totally different [areas]. They shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath [in relation to IED use]," said Australian Army Sgt. Maj. Neil Patrick, the senior CIED instructor with NATO Regional Command South.

Patrick, who has 20 years of experience as an explosive ordnance disposal technician and multiple deployments to Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, added that one increased focus of the course is dealing with the post-IED blast reaction.

The course was directed by RC South for all service members here to attend.

"Ideally, this is the final stage of training, however for most, it is the beginning," said 1st Lt. Dan Pueda, CIED training officer in charge for Task Force Paladin.

As a nation, Afghanistan has an estimated 7-10 million pieces of unexploded ordnance left in the country, according to class instructors.

"I had a totally different picture of what a mine was in my head. [The class] gave me a whole new outlook to what a person on a patrol is facing," said Cpl. Kenneth Ducker, VMA-214 maintenance administration clerk.

Some additional training offered to Marines here includes medical training, an MRAP rollover trainer and a shooting simulator for various weapons and scenarios.

• Date Taken: 07.02.2009
• Date Posted: 08.28.2009 12:11
• Story ID: 38073
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF