FORWARD OPERATING BASE PASAB, Afghanistan – Sgt. Harrimullah Hasim is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the EOD road clearing company of 3rd Kandak, 205th Corps of the Afghan National Army. At 24 years old, he has been in the army for two years.
I wanted to serve my country and help my family. It is a financially stable career but I feel I am mostly doing this for my country," said Hasim.
Through a translator, the young sergeant smiled as he related why he feels so committed to his EOD mission.
EOD is an important branch in the army and I am pleased to serve in it. It is a service for my country, because for most Afghan villagers their biggest problems come from emplaced mines and a lot of innocent people die from them. I hope by doing this for my country God will be pleased with me, said Hasim.
Hasim went on to talk about a typical work day.
Yesterday I got a call there were two mines in my area. I prepared myself mentally by thinking about how I would approach the situation, specifically how I would deactivate the mine. So when I went out looking for two mines, I ended up finding and deactivating six of them. I was able to do this by focusing on the proper ways to find an Improvised Explosive Device. I was very aware of the damage they could do to the local population if I was not able to deactivate them.
Hasim knows how his initial EOD training and continued re-training is how he and his fellow Afghan EOD soldiers are able to be so successful.
I got great experience from my Afghan and U.S. led EOD classes in Mazir-e-Sharif and the working experience I have gained working here in Zharay has solidified my knowledge, said Hasim.
Hasim has personally found 58 IEDs and he and his team have found many more together.
“He is probably the best EOD technician in the company. When the call comes in for mine reduction he is asked for specifically by name. He is very good at what he does. If I left Afghanistan today I would be comfortable. He is an example of where all ANA should be and he passes his knowledge onto his soldiers through training,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Jones, an engineer equipment mechanic, 84th Engineer Support Company, 878th Engineer Battalion.
I just want to say thank you for the [Afghan and U.S.] countries working together. With mine removal and humanitarian assistance distribution we have done a lot together to help the local Afghan people, said Hasim.
Hasim is a native of Badkhshan Province and when he is not at work he plays volleyball, soccer and studies robot and EOD courses.