CAMP SHORABAK, Afghanistan— Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps completed the Afghan Tactical Air Coordinator course aboard Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 2.
The course was designed to familiarize the soldiers with map reading and coordinating with airborne pilots on friendly and enemy troop positions on the battlefield.
“Today we graduated eight students,” said Capt. John Graas, an operations advisor with the Consolidated Corps Advisor Team.
“They learned how to talk to pilots in the air, how to integrate air support into the ground scheme of maneuver on the battlefield and how to call for casualty evacuations. The course consists of map reading, commander’s intent, and the correct procedures for situation reports and providing an attack or casualty brief to the pilots. They definitely learned a lot.”
This course was significant because this was the second time it has been taught to Afghan soldiers.
“There was a lot of studying during the week, and today we got to experience what we have been training for,” said Capt. Abdul Fahim, a student in the course. “The training was very helpful because we can do this job in any type of situation.”
The students will bring back the added knowledge they have acquired to their units throughout Nimroz and Helmand provinces.
“This was a great course,” said Sgt. Abdul Marwf, a student in the course. “Joining the military was my dream. I love my job and with the completion of this course, it has given me more experience that I will teach others in my unit.”
“Their work ethic was great,” said Graas, a native of Los Angeles. “They worked hard all week, no matter how much homework they had. These students will provide a better capability for the 215th Corps in the future.”