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By Army Sgt. Matthew Clifton
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan – The basic fundamentals of using weapons is taught to every Soldier going through basic training until all functions from safety to proper operation become second nature.
Military Policemen from the 508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, dedicated two weeks teaching this discipline to members of the Afghan national police in Logar Province.
"We don't really have a whole lot of time to teach them more specific functions, but we do try to instill at least the basic points of weapons marksmanship," said Spc. Justin Goggans, a 508th STB military policeman. "We go through safety first, because if they can't operate a weapons system safely then they can't operate it efficiently."
After the students learned the proper way to clear a weapon and engage the safety, they were taught how to load the weapon, fix the weapon in case of a jam and finally how to fire the weapon, he continued.
The introductory portion of the weapons class is taught in a classroom because of the very limited amount of time the Soldiers get to spend with the students.
"We're pretty much trying to teach these guys the stuff we learn during our basic rifle marksmanship, but in only two days," Goggans explained.
Once the classroom instruction is finished, the instructors take the students to where the real learning occurs; the range.
"I really think the best way to teach these guys the proper way to operate these systems is through hands-on training," Goggans said. "The classroom part is essential to their learning, but putting bullets down range is always more productive."
Goggans explained that the language barrier between the instructors and the students is a challenge, but with both sides eager to be successful, the ends justify the means.
Helping to break that barrier, the instructors used interpreters as well as two ANP officers who had already gone through the class.
The ANP officers helped the students learn the material because they have been through it already and know what's expected, Goggans continued.
"This class has been very good for our police force," said ANP Senior Capt. Akhan Aga, an ANP mentor. "The students will be able to take the lessons they learn here back to the districts where they will be working."
During the weapons class, students were taught basic fundamentals of marksmanship with pistols, AK 47s, shotguns, PKM machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Despite the time constraint and supply demands the students were eager and capable of learning the basics.
What they learned in this class will eventually mean a more stable security force for the various districts where the policeman will return, which adds to the security of the Government of the Islamic Republic Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2008 16:08 |
| Story ID: | 16890 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 284 |
| Downloads: | 272 |
This work, MPs pass weapons knowledge to Afghan counterparts, by SGT Matthew Clifton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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