ANA + (82) AA = Good Training

10.28.2006

Story by Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky 

Joint Readiness Training Center

by Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
Joint Readiness Training Center PAO

To prepare for upcoming missions while at the Joint Readiness Training Center, members of the Afghanistan National Army conducted training on American military equipment.

"We've been working to familiarize them (the ANA) with our 50 caliber (machine gun), M107 sniper rifle and night vision goggles," said Sgt. Colin Cleek, Scout/Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

The 82nd Airborne paratroopers also trained the ANA on map reading, he said.

Though many of the 42 ANA Soldiers grew up in a war torn country and have combat experience, they may not have had modern equipment to work with, said Staff Sgt. James Darnell, platoon sergeant.

The United States wants the Afghans to take the lead on all operations, Darnell said, so it is important to teach Afghan security forces not only on tactics, but also on weapon systems.

"The better they are trained, the less fighting Americans will have to do," Darnell said.

The Afghan Soldiers were very pleased with the training and seemed eager to take on a greater responsibility for their country's security.

"It will be very useful and practical to us in Afghanistan," said Jomar Nayz, ANA team leader. "We never saw some of this equipment before and appreciate you guys (U.S. Soldiers) teaching us. What we learn here we will teach other soldiers back in our country."

The paratroopers also learned from the Afghans.

"It's a good experience for my Soldiers who never deployed to get a chance to interact with soldiers from other countries," Cleek said. "Their situation is our situation; they're as much a part of the fight as we are, so it is good to work with them here."

Darnell, who spent nine months in Iraq training with an Iraqi company, agreed.

"It is important to know their culture, the do's and don'ts" he said.

Just as the Afghans were eager to learn from the paratroopers, they too were eager to share their knowledge.

"They know the (Afghanistan) land and territory better than any of us," Cleek said. "It was a good learning experience interacting with them. Anything I can do to help prepare my Soldiers is good."

Such two-way interaction is a strong indication of both countries wanting to work with one another for a common cause, Cleek added.

The Afghans agreed.

"It was nice to work as a team," Nayz added. "We enjoy cooperating with your country and love being trained here."

• Date Taken: 10.28.2006
• Date Posted: 10.28.2006 11:52
• Story ID: 8166