Forty-six Afghans graduate from advanced training courses

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Gino Flores | Coalition forces, dignitaries and special guests salute during the playing of the Afghan national anthem at the start of a graduation ceremony held at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, July 28. The graduation marked the conclusion of Combat Medical Assistant, Basic Administration and Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Courses.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

08.02.2011

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Gino Flores 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Forty-six members of the Afghan National Security Forces received diplomas, July 28, after completing training at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province.

The graduation marked the completion of three courses at the academy: basic administration, combat medical assistant and anti-terrorism force protection.

The courses are designed to impart expertise and skills to the ANSF, and are taught by coalition forces and Afghan troops.
During the one-week ATFP course, students learned to plan, assess and mitigate vulnerable points on bases, compounds and events, to include security details during movement and escort of officials.

The two-week Combat Medic Assistant course shared a similar curriculum to the Combat Life Savers’ Course taught to U.S. Marines, said Sgt. Jonathan Galowitch, the JSAS operations chief.

“Students learn the basic skills, evacuate the injured from the battlefield, tend the wounds and get them to the hospital alive for further treatment,” said Galowitch, a native of Bethlehem, Pa.

Some of the courses have established criteria to measure performance and provide recognition for outstanding students.

Mohammad Yasin, an Afghan special forces commando, was selected as the honor graduate of the CMA course due to his overall performance, said Petty Officer 1st Class Terry Gray a hospital corpsman and the lead instructor for the CMA course.

“He displayed an outstanding attitude, scored perfect on the final exam and on the practical exercise, so he earned the honor,” said Gray, a native of New Albany, Ind.

The admin course taught the Afghan students the standard operating procedures of staff offices, records handling and financial management, and how to create reports.

Graduates who show exceptional promise during training at JSAS are typically identified as candidates to return to the academy for advanced courses or to become instructors themselves.

The latest batch of graduates will now return to their home units across Helmand province.

• Date Taken: 08.02.2011
• Date Posted: 08.02.2011 11:35
• Story ID: 74684
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF