Afghan NCO's increase skills with RPG training

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

10.24.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers from the 215th Corps and Afghan Uniformed Police officers attending the joint noncommissioned officer course at the Joint Security Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, were the first group to fire live rocket propelled grenades, Oct. 24.

The NCO's received the rare opportunity to participate in a live RPG range because of an upgrade in weapons handling requirements for the courses at the academy. This type of training is just one of an advanced range packaged designed to further these Afghan national security force members’ skills for the betterment of the security in the region.

“Any weapons portion is pretty much just trying to keep them alive,” Sgt. Steven R. Walker, 22, a JSAS weapons instructor, from Tucson, Ari. “The longer they stay alive the less likely the Taliban will infiltrate their town and take it over.”

This type of training is important because of the varying skill levels of the NCO's. Some have more experience than others depending on how long they have been part of ANSF and how much training they have received.

“Many of these students were civilians who turned into soldiers and just recently graduated from military training centers,” said Azizrahman, 22, a soldier with the 215th Corps, from Parwan province. “This is their first time shooting. The more we fire, the more effective we will be.”

As the students progress through the joint NCO course, they are learning leadership skills through the mentoring efforts of their Marine instructors. These small unit leadership skills will help them improve their units.

“We are here to be trained and when we go back to our units we will train our soldiers and NCO's,” Azizrahman said. “It is important for us to have the right information and skills so we train others.”

Teaching fellow soldiers and officers in ANSF will not only help increase unit effectiveness across the region, but will also enhance leadership abilities at the individual level. These skills are essential as it will give the different units a backbone of internal support.

The Marine instructors at JSAS will continue to work with the students for another three or four weeks; continually progressing into skills not taught in the recruit training classes given at the academy.

• Date Taken: 10.24.2010
• Date Posted: 10.25.2010 05:58
• Story ID: 58723
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF