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HERAT PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, fulfilled mandatory training requirements preparing them to work alongside U.S. Special Operations Forces across Afghanistan, June 2-12.
The battalion will supplement the U.S. Special Operations Forces mission of building the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces and providing security to Afghan villages, allowing for social and economic development and local governance to flourish.
The Fort Bragg, N.C.-based unit arrived in Afghanistan and immediately began training with U.S. Special Operations Forces instructors on multiple tasks.
The training covered tactical driving, counter-improvised explosive devices, tactical combat casualty care, communications, and weapons ranges.
Soldiers received familiarization on the various vehicles used by Special Operations Forces, to include proper preventive maintenance checks and services, and how to install weapons and communication devices on the vehicles.
After familiarizing themselves with the vehicles, soldiers took turns operating as the driver, vehicle commander, and gunner while operating the vehicles on a controlled course.
The training was beneficial to Soldiers on their first deployment and a refresher for those who have been to Afghanistan or Iraq on previous deployments.
Deployed soldiers are not only expected to be proficient with vehicles and weapons in combat, but they also need to be able to provide immediate medical attention to wounded Soldiers or themselves in case of an injury.
Tactical combat casualty care training taught the Soldiers its three main goals, which are: treat the casualty, prevent additional casualties, and complete the mission. These measures can also be taught and applied to Afghan forces and citizens.
“Some of the new troop-training procedures, [which are] different from Iraq and early Afghanistan, definitely helped,” said Sgt. Willy Kellett, C Company, 1st BN, 505th PIR, 82nd ABN. DIV.
The soldiers were instructed on methods for femoral-bleeding care, clearing an airway, treating sucking chest wounds, intra-venous treatment, and battlefield first-aid. They also covered the different tactical evacuation methods available to them.
While in combat, soldiers need to be able to communicate with other members of the team, their higher headquarters, and additional support elements at a moment’s notice. Soldiers of the 1st/505th were taught how to use different tactical radio, including handheld to base units.
The soldiers also spent time on numerous weapons ranges where they re-zeroed their individual weapons and got familiarization on large crew-served weapons and mortars.
Soldiers spent the first morning re-zeroing their M4 assault rifles, M249 squad automatic weapons and M240 machine guns.
When every soldier had demonstrated an understanding of the information they received, the instructors gave the soldiers a target and allowed them to shoot; feeling firsthand the recoil of the larger weapons and how to implement the lessons they just learned in case of a malfunction on the battlefield.
The soldiers from the 1st BN, 505th PIR, finished their training with a better sense of the mission ahead of them and ready to bring added security to the area.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2011 06:38 |
| Story ID: | 73274 |
| Location: | HERAT PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1st/505th PIR train to build the capacity of the ANSF and secure the Afghan population, by SSG Dayan Neely, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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