CAMP SPANN, Afghanistan — The first class of Afghan National Army soldiers and commandos to go through the Explosive Hazard Reduction Course here graduated, Saturday, May 19.
The class of 16 students was trained by coalition service members and contractors to safely locate, identify and blow in place improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance.
“[The students] learned explosives safety so they can blow in place, identify the components of an IED, do basic demolition, and conduct standard reporting,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron S. Helmer, of Navy EOD Mobile Unit Three.
Everything that the students learn at EHRC is a building block for EOD school and we keep the curriculum close so qualified individuals can eventually move past the interim skills they learn at EHRC to become full EOD techs, said Helmer.
“The course was stood up to fill a need,” said EOD Tech. Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory F. Gaylor. “The big part is to get them trained and then get them experience in the field.”
The aim of EHRC is to provide trained individuals who can act as organic assets for Afghan units to remove simple IED threats.
“Basically it’s providing ANA commanders with freedom of movement by giving them blow in place capabilities,” said Helmer. “It’s devised from the Army sapper course.”
“It gives us that capability that technicians don’t give us,” said Helmer. “It lets Afghans step up and take that position of first responsibility.”
It’s an important step in the coalition drawing back and having the Afghans take the lead in the fight, said Helmer.
While the course will provide ANSF with important capabilities, getting it started required overcoming some challenges.
“The main challenge has been the language barrier,” said Helmer. Different ideas about time and work schedules also proved challenging.
As the coalition prepares for a withdrawal slated for the end of 2014, the school will have to be transferred over to Afghan-led instruction.
Identifying the right students to become future instructors has also been a challenge, said Helmer.
The students who graduated will go on to units and hone their skills in the field. Some may eventually attend school to become EOD technicians.
“After training, advanced commandos get additional dismounted training while the ANA receive additional mounted training,” said Helmer.
“Right now, the coalition developing this training and these skills in the Afghans is what will eventually pull us out of the front lines as they take the lead,” said Helmer.
Navy EOD MU3 is part of Combined Joint Task Force Paladin, which is responsible for all counter-IED operations in theatre.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2012 13:14 |
| Story ID: | 88739 |
| Location: | CAMP SPANN, AF |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, EHRC graduates give ANSF a new tool in fight against IEDs, by LTJG Andrew Carleen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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