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    ANA train to defeat Taliban’s most deadly weapon: the IED

    ZABUL PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

    02.16.2014

    Story by Cpl. Clay Beyersdorfer 

    ISAF Regional Command South

    KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – When the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2002, one of the lesser-known weapons of war came center stage, as terrorist groups made use of the easily constructed, highly versatile, improvised explosive device- better known as the IED.

    Fast-forward more than a decade, and the Taliban is now being backed into a corner by Afghan National Security Forces, as they remain the lead force in providing security and stability to the people of Afghanistan.

    That force was recently on display in the Zabul province, where soldiers from the Afghan National Army’s 2nd Brigade, 205th Corps, continue to train and defeat IEDs.

    With help from International Security Assistance Forces, the ANA recently held two classes that covered counter-IED training at Camp Eagle, Afghanistan, starting on Jan. 31, 2014.

    The training featured a section on hand-held mine detectors, as well as an explosive hazard reduction and containment course.

    Eighteen hand-selected engineer soldiers from six kandaks, or battalions, of the 2nd Bde., 205th Corps, started the nearly three-week training course with 10 days of MD training, where soldiers received classroom instruction on properly maintaining and using the device.

    Captain Robert Soriano, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, who has overseen engineering training with the ANA as part of a security force assistance team at nearby Forward Operating Base Apache, talked about the training, and the ANA’s responsiveness to it.

    “The training going on right now is the hand held mine detector training, which is a ‘train-the-trainer’ course,” Soriano said. “The ANA really gravitate to the training because of the technology brought to the table.”

    He also spoke about the goal of teaching the ANA so that they can return to their perspective units and teach their own soldiers without ISAF assistance.

    “They know that they are going to be the future trainers,” he said. “So they are taking a personal interest on learning this equipment and doing the teach-backs. They will be able to return to their own Kandaks and train their own soldiers by themselves.”

    Along with proper maintenance and how to use the device effectively, soldiers were given an overview of IEDs – where they are typically located, why they are located where they are, and how to properly handle them in any given situation.

    Soriano talked about how the IED has changed the face of combat, and how the ANA can become effective in defeating those devices by using the hand held mine detector.

    “They biggest threat (the ANA) have is the IED,” Soriano said. “This training gives them the capability to go out there, find those IEDs and neutralize them.”

    In the next classroom over, nearly 20 soldiers from the six Kandaks of 2nd Bde., received training from ISAF personnel on proper explosive ordnance disposal and destruction.

    Lessons ranged from identifying components of an IED, ground signs of explosives, the warning signs of IED’s, as well as proper distance and security measures needed to effectively defeat explosives.

    Afghan National Army Sgt. Abdullah Sharem, an engineer with 4th Kandak (Battalion), 2nd Bde., 205th Corps, spoke about the benefits of the classes being taught.

    “We know this material a lot of it, but we are learning new ways to defeat the IED,” Sharem said. “Our forces are greater because of these teachings.”

    In a landscape where IED’s are prevalent and used by enemy forces like the Taliban, destroying them not only saves a local Afghan population of harmful devices, but it also sends a message.

    A message ANA Sgt. Abdul Wahid, a platoon sergeant with 4th Kandak, 2nd Bde., 205th Corps, is ready to deliver.

    “We are ready to show them we are not afraid of you (Taliban) and we will defeat you and you cannot hide from us,” he said.

    That message will be on display even more towards the end of both the hand held mine detector training and EHRC courses- where a final exercise will be held with both groups of students.

    A mock scenario will be presented to both groups, who will have to effectively clear, identify and destroy dummy IED’s located at a nearby training site on Camp Eagle.

    The exercise is just another positive step forward, as the ANA will be able to defeat the Taliban’s most notorious weapon, and help provide security for the Afghan population.

    “We will protect our country and do anything for the people to show we are ready and can do this,” Wahid said.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.16.2014
    Date Posted: 02.16.2014 06:55
    Story ID: 120715
    Location: ZABUL PROVINCE, AF

    Web Views: 439
    Downloads: 3

    PUBLIC DOMAIN