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MIRWAIS, Afghanistan – As the sun rises above the skyline, high in the mountains of central Afghanistan, Australian engineers have been busy setting up search training lanes for the local Afghan National Army.
Engineers of Mentoring Team 2, Australian army, are a key ingredient to the future transition of the Uruzgan province and the overall success of the Afghan National Security Forces. Training lanes are made to mimic real-world scenarios to give the ANA soldiers as close to reality as possible, while keeping safety to the forefront.
“The primary focus of the engineer detachment is Afghan improvement in search processes,” said Lt. Reece Owen, engineer detachment commander.
The search process uses different tools including metal detectors, to find improvised explosive devices, weapons caches and then extract or blow in place.
There are some challenges to the training process. One of those challenges is how the information is interpreted.
“Some words or descriptions don't necessarily translate the same,” said Lance Cpl. Matthew O'Reilly, engineer detachment trainer. “This sometimes gives the ANA soldiers the wrong picture.”
Hands on training allow the trainers to work through the difficulties of interpretation.
“They pick up the details much quicker,” said O'Reilly.
Another of the challenges the trainers face is the equipment they utilize. It's not a matter of right or wrong, but that they train with equipment closer to what the ANA will use during operations, or as some would say, train to fight.
“Where Australian engineers will use paint or bright colored markers to mark possible IED locations, the ANA soldier will use rocks,” said O'Reilly. “They will stack the rocks up in formations as markers.”
Not only are the mentors training new recruits, but also building a solid non-commissioned officer corps or Zabet, who will train their own forces in the future.
Staff Sgt. Azziz Mahad, an Afghan engineer with the 2nd Kandak in Mirwais, has been in the army for six years. He has worked in multiple locations including Helmand and his current location of Mirwais.
“The younger soldiers work very hard and learn quickly,” said Mahad. “They have a much better knowledge of the situation and security in the area.”
The younger soldiers also see a brighter future as they work toward transition in the province.
Sgt. Mahammad, who works under Staff Sgt. Mahad, sees a lifelong career in the engineers. He has been in the ANA for only six months but has learned fast and gained the rank to show.
“I have worked with weapons in the past but really like the detection work much better,” said Mahammad.
This confidence and dedication to the security of the province will lead to a safe and secure future for Uruzgan and ultimately, Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.10.2012 02:57 |
| Story ID: | 86511 |
| Location: | MIRWAIS, AF |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Mentoring teams prepare Afghan engineers for the future, by MAJ Lawrence Carmack, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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