Marines launch tactical officers’ course at Helmand academy

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

11.06.2011

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan David Chandler 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The inaugural running of the Tactical Leaders’ Course, a training program for small unit-level Afghan officers, has begun aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province.

During the nine-week course, the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest will host 21 lieutenants and captains from various Afghan security forces and provide advanced training in skills key to small unit success.

The students come from all branches of the ANSF in Helmand province, including the Afghan National Army, Police and National Security Directorate, said 1st Lt. Joshua Oresko, a native of Crown Point, Ind., and an instructor at JSAS.

“We want to make successful squad leaders, platoon commanders, company commanders, and staff officers,” said Oresko “Just like every course at JSAS, the TLC is joint in order to provide all services' officers with a common knowledge and skill set.”

The course will provide training packages in map reading, land navigation, weapons kills, tactical leadership, driving, tactical communications and dismounted and mounted patrolling. Students will also be exposed to operational planning and considerations for running operations centers.

The result is a training package similar to that U.S. forces experience during pre-deployment and basic officer courses.

“This class will benefit the students because we incorporate so many new ideas that few of them have mastered, or even been exposed to,” said Oresko. “We want the students to walk away from this course being able to train their men properly, receive a mission, process that information, plan an operation, prepare and issue an order, make tactical decisions, all the skills that a good officer should have.”

• Date Taken: 11.06.2011
• Date Posted: 11.06.2011 05:34
• Story ID: 79629
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF