Afghanistan’s first small arms instructor course graduates in Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

06.15.2011

Story by 2nd Lt. Douglas Magill 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army has its first certified weapons instructors.

Sixteen Afghan National Army soldiers from the 215th Corps graduated from the Small Arms Weapons Instructors Course from the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, June 15. It is the first course of its kind in Afghanistan.

The students received instruction on 10 different weapons systems ranging in size. The weapons that the course teaches range from as small as the 9mm pistol to as large as the RPG-7 – a Russian-produced, portable, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the idea for the course was hatched when Regional Command-Southwest identified a need for safe and efficient weapons training in the southwest.

“These graduates will be able to return to their units and run quality, safe and effective ranges on a wide variety of small arms weapons systems organic to the ANSF [Afghan National Security Force],” Marine Capt. Joseph Dalton, JSAS assistant director said.

Sgt. 1st Class Asad Ullah, a squad leader from 3rd Brigade, 3rd Kandak, ANA was the honor graduate of the course and also knew enough English that he was able to serve as an interpreter on the firing range.

“I learned 10 different weapons systems that I didn’t know before,” Ullah said. “It was a very interesting class.”

The course is just a symbol of what future training will be held at the site. Dalton said with the spring and summer Afghan Uniform Police courses surge now at an end, the sustainment academy will now direct its training towards developing the force rather than generating it.

“The bottom line is that this class is a big deal,” Dalton said. “The Afghan National Army was extremely lacking in its ability to safely and efficiently run its own ranges and weapons training. Obviously, this is a vital necessity when generating and sustaining a military force.”

• Date Taken: 06.15.2011
• Date Posted: 06.26.2011 09:16
• Story ID: 72772
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF