By Sgt. Matthew Thompson
RC-East PAO
LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan—The booming rapport of the SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle reverberated off the walls of the valley while the M2 .50-caliber machine gun tore through reinforced targets.
Twenty-three Afghan National Army soldiers completed a three-week training course on three heavy weapons systems at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Dec. 22.
“You have done an excellent job,” said Afghan National Army Lt. Col. Rayees Khan, the officer in charge of training. “Continue to train like this to defend Afghanistan.”
“You should share your training with your units,” added French Army Capt. Jean Michael Filipi, Infantry Mobile Training Team Leader. “You should do everything in your power to defend your country.”
The Soldiers were trained to effectively use, maintain and employ the SPG-9 recoilless rifle, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and 82 mm mortars.
“I like the SPG-9,” said an ANA soldier. “It makes a big sound, and if you want to destroy something, it does it almost immediately.”
One-by-one, the soldiers were issued their certificates of achievement for completing the course.
“To better serve Afghanistan!” each Afghan soldier cried out as he received his certificate.