PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Tension runs high as Afghan National Army soldiers guide a remote controlled robot to a site of disturbed earth where an improvised explosive device is placed.
They peer through the eyes of the robot made for dismantling IEDs and keeping people out of harm’s way. As the mechanical arm lowers over the site to press on the dirt and expose the device, the device went off. Instead of being met with an intense blast of heat and sound, they were greeted with an alarm simulating the detonation of the device.
U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the 704th EOD Company, set up scenarios, June 29, for ANA soldiers with the 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 203rd Corps EOD Combat Support and 2nd Brigade, 203rd Corps Route Clearance Company, to simulate realistic situations they could face.
“The training focuses on the tactics, techniques & procedures the enemy are using,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. David Erck, the officer in charge of partnership with the 704th EOD Company. “It’s focused on directly seeing if the EOD techs here can defeat an emplaced IED.”
The training is centered around the changing devices that are being implemented on the battle space, said the Houston native, but the training goes further into detail than that.
“We also want to make sure that they are trained up to the core soldier task skills from medical, weapons and to knowing their full basic functions of the EOD kit,” Erck said. “That’s how we engage our partnership here, is to make sure they can operate to the same level that we do.”
They also push the trained ANA soldiers to take action in training and teaching their own.
“If I can train them to train there own guys, they’re cultivating their own set of skills,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Hay, also a native of Houston and an EOD team leader with 704th EOD Company.
The training takes place every Tuesday and Thursday to fit around the schedule of the ANA EOD soldiers going out on missions, which Erck said he has seen a great deal of success from.
“While on route clearance, [they] have found IEDs and defeated them using the set of skills and procedures that we have showed them,” said Erck. “So we know that our training is working at that level, however, we certainly know that they will continue to need development.”
With the coalition forces pulling out in the near future, Erck emphasized on the significance for the ANA soldiers to learn the techniques and skills necessary to defeat one of the main weapons the insurgency use.
“This training is important because we are not going to be here forever,” Erck said. “We want to empower [the ANA] to be capable to stand on their own two feet before we leave out of here.”
“I’d like to see them running 100 percent of the missions and [coalition forces] no longer being in a combat role,” Hay said.
The ANA EOD soldiers they work with are filled with a national sense of pride and passionate about defeating the insurgency, said Hay. They are always willing to except a challenge and when a challenge presents itself they are always up for it.
“When I say to them, ‘If you want I can make this harder and I can challenge you’,” Hay said. “They all respond, ‘bring it on’.”
One of their most fully operational Afghan EOD team leaders gave his thoughts on the partnership and that training they are conducting.
“The training is excellent,” said the ANA EOD team leader. “What they are teaching us is really valuable and vital for our people and our country. We are learning a lot from the instructors.”
He says that with some better equipment, more training and being able to train new soldiers, they will be ready to assume the lead for their country when the coalition forces leave.
As the tour comes to an end for the 704th EOD Company, they will leave knowing that they helped the ANA take one step closer to taking the lead in their country.
“Being able to focus on [the training], especially as my tour comes to an end, its almost a way to carry on a legacy,” Hay said. “By us training them, they are going to be able to protect themselves and their country.”
| Date Taken: | 06.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.04.2012 07:25 |
| Story ID: | 91087 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Hometown: | AL 'UZAYR, IQ |
| Hometown: | AL 'AQABAH, JO |
| Hometown: | AL AZRAQ, AZ, JO |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | HOUSTON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan EOD soldiers train to defeat IEDs, by SGT Cody Barber, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
