CAMP SHAHEEN, Afghanistan - Afghan national security students in the Improvised Explosive Device Mitigation Team course here were recognized in a graduation ceremony, Wednesday.
The eight graduates of this course received basic counter-IED training to familiarize them with how to counter the threat on the battlefield.
“It’s initial training for Afghan students to understand IED mitigation,” said Petty Officer First Class Christopher J. McCarthy, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Navy EOD Mobile Unit Six, who helped to mentor the class. “It’s also meant to prepare them for follow-on learning.
This particular class was made up of soldiers from the Afghan route clearance company based out of Camp Shaheen. The skills that these students bring back to their unit will set them up to learn from individuals who have completed more advanced training.
“Having these students here will really facilitate IEDD1 operators,” said McCarthy. “They can learn from IEDD1s and come for follow-on training.”
Improvised Explosive Device Defeat training is a more advanced course to prepare ANSF to be EOD team leaders. IEDD training is a six month course and is open to members of the ANSF who show sufficient aptitude and education.
The students in this IMT course have impressed their instructors and mentors with their enthusiasm for learning the material.
“[The students] have been really receptive,” said McCarthy. “A lot of the time, Americans have trouble bridging that language barrier. This group is great. They’re really receptive to American military members and they’re good at listening.”
While the mentorship mission has been rewarding, the MU6 members have also found that it comes with its challenges but that these have been overcome through adaptation and flexibility.
“Language is always there [as a challenge],” said McCarthy. “The beginning of Ramadan was tough. Once they got in a grove though, they were great. They really muscled through.”
The members of MU6 see their roles as mentors to training programs, such as IMT, as important to the overall mission of the coalition and ANSF in this conflict.
“IMT provides an extra set of capable hands,” said McCarthy. “Big picture we want to see these guys come back as IEDD students. It’s important to prepare these guys to take the lead in the fight.”
MU6 is part of Combined Joint Task Force Paladin which is responsible for coalition counter-IED operations and training in theatre.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2012 01:34 |
| Story ID: | 93057 |
| Location: | CAMP SHAHEEN, AF |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, IMT preps ANSF for counter-IED fight, by LTJG Andrew Carleen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
