Photo By 2nd Lt. Rebecca Linder | Two Afghan National Army soldiers launch a 122mm D-30 Howitzer during a live-fire...... read more read more
KABUL MILITARY TRAINING CENTER, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers along with U.S. and coalition forces took part in the official opening ceremony of the ANA School of Artillery Oct. 4 at Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The ceremony included a live-fire demonstration by ANA student instructors who fired 122 mm D-30 howitzers, which finalized the completion of a two-month, train-the-trainer course taught by the Australian Training Team – Kabul.
According to a fact sheet by NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, the new school will serve as the foundation for the professionalization of the ANA artillery branch. The school’s opening is the first major step forward in developing a capable and professional ANA artillery branch.
“Mastering artillery will add a greater level of capability to the ANA,” said Australian Army Maj. Piero Bertocchi, executive officer, ATT- K. “This enhanced capability equates to more fire power and an increased ability to fight.”
About 20 to 170 students will attend one of nine different courses targeted for enlisted and officer personnel. Each course ranges from eight to 16 week classes, and this year, nearly 2,500 students will graduate as artillerymen.
Soldiers at the school will be educated on gun drills, fire support and direction of fire and further learn about artillery tactics, leadership responsibilities, radio procedures, map reading and navigation skills. In addition artillery education, each Soldier will have approximately 70 hours of literacy and numeracy training in the curriculum, added Bertocchi.
The Australians are not alone in training the Afghan students. With expertise from 10 Soldiers of the Mongolian Mobile Training Team, soldiers are able to train on weapons such as the 122 mm D-30.
“The MTT brings a wealth of knowledge on the technical and tactical aspects of field artillery,” said Maj. Kyle Holt, liaison officer, Mongolian Expeditionary Task Force III, 761st Military Police Battalion, Alaska Army National Guard. “The Mongolians have had a train-the-trainer relationship with the ANA for 10 years. They live and work with the ANA at Camp Alamo [Kabul] for six-month stints and help train the Soldiers.”
With a partnership of training from the Australians and the Mongolians, ANA soldiers will be ready to fight with the skills and knowledge they learn at the ANA School of Artillery.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.05.2010 07:47 |
| Story ID: | 57525 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 655 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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