Afghan Squad Leaders Course Trains soldiers to Teach Each Other

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, AFGHANISTAN

05.25.2011

Story by Cpl. Daniel Wulz 

Regional Command Southwest

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers completed the Squad Leader Course designed and operated by Marines from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, aboard Forward Operating Base Marjah, May 25.

At the graduation ceremony, speeches were given by ANA officers and Lt. Col. David Hudspeth, the battalion commander for 3/9.

“I have just two pieces of advice for you new squad leaders,” said Hudspeth, originally from Hamptonville, N.C. “Look after your soldiers, and always educate yourselves, especially if you are going to make the military your profession.”

The course follows the ‘instruct the instructor’ curriculum being taught by Marines throughout Helmand province. These new classes are part of the next step in moving the Afghan military toward independence and self-reliance, by helping them learn to teach their own troops.

“The students from this course, and courses like it, will create a chain reaction within their units,” said Maj. Aldrick L. Blunt, the officer-in-charge of the 3/9 advisor team, from Reddick, Fla. “Eventually, the Afghans will teach the course themselves and the Marines will simply become observers and subject matter experts.”

While in the course, soldiers reviewed infantry basics such as counter improvised explosive device measures, leadership principles, land navigation and rifle skills.

Now that the class has graduated, one student, selected by his Marine instructors, will stay for the next course to guide and assist the incoming soldiers who attend the course. The Marine instructors have adopted this practice for all the courses led by 3/9 to reinforce the instructing the instructor philosophy.

Currently the Squad Leader Course is scheduled to continue after 3/9 leaves Afghanistan, with the help of class graduates who have been trained by Marines to be instructors and squad leaders.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2011
• Date Posted: 06.08.2011 02:10
• Story ID: 71733
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, AF