BALKH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A U.S. Army Embedded Training Team assisted the Afghan National Army to train qualified tractor-trailer drivers.
The Embedded Training Team from Task Force Roughneck, Task Force Sword, worked closely with the ANA 1st/209th Engineer Corps, which was recently fielded with new soldiers and equipment but required trained operators.
“We’ve always had a problem transporting our equipment,” explained ANA Sgt. Gul Ahmad with the 1st/209th Route Clearance Company. “Now, we’ll have enough qualified drivers to move our equipment from place to place. We’re very grateful for the Americans’ time and efforts to help us. We were in need of this technical training.”
This Embedded Training Team’s primary mission is advising and training ANA engineers to operate and maintain military transport vehicles.
The military tractor-trailer combination is very technical and requires detailed instruction.
The Embedded Training Team’s goal of having the ANA soldiers trained to self-sufficiency required quality instruction to those soldiers with leadership potential. Although the instruction was technical, the members found ways to keep the training fun.
“One was, if you hit a cone while driving, you had to do push ups,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Kienzle, a heavy equipment operator with the Forward Support Company, Task Force Roughneck. “They enjoyed obstacle courses, competitions and compliments. By reducing the number of soldiers on ground, we were able to keep them focused and gave them more hands on training. They were professional and fun to work with.”
Both ANA and U.S. soldiers said it was a positive experience and their biggest obstacle was the language barrier. They said it was hard translating experiences and knowledge.
“This was an experience we won’t forget,” said U.S. Army Spc. Joshua Whitford, a heavy equipment operator with the Forward Support Company.“We learned a little about their culture and they learned a little about ours. We really respected their eagerness to learn and to take control of their own destiny.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.28.2012 04:57 |
| Story ID: | 84423 |
| Location: | BALKH PROVINCE,, AF |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, ANA truck operators amplify skills, by SFC Glenn Sierra, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
