By Airman 1st Class Robert Hicks
The Afghan National Border Police recently took the opportunity to train with Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, on Camp Shaheen in Northern Afghanistan.
During the three-day marksmanship course the ANBP trained on breathing control, trigger squeeze, sight picture as well as moving under fire.
According to Capt. Adam Pray, an instructor and program coordinator, the ANBP arrived at the shooting range excited. “You could see in their faces they were going to have a blast at the range.”
“We put three instructors on the range – they were in charge of making corrections and ensuring everything was flowing properly,” he said. “If we couldn’t get the policemen grouped [three shots in close proximity] we sent them to an instructor where they received extra training on proper firing techniques. After the training they would come back to the range and fire again.”
“They came a long way,” Pray added. “When we first started out, maybe 20 percent of them could get a grouping together within a four centimeter range, and by the time we completed the training it was up around 70 percent if not 80.”
More than half of the ANBP were hitting their targets center mass Pray said.
After the ANBP adjusted their weapon sights and achieved the proper grouping on their targets, they went through two rounds of dry-fire movement under fire exercises.
The purpose of the dry fire is to ensure the proper techniques and procedures are being carried out before they get actual live ammunition.
While other members of the ANBP were waiting to fire, instructors from the 1st BSTB offered a knife defense and personal security detachment training course.
“We always do side training while actually doing the focus training,” Pray explained. “The knife defense is a good class for them to have since their police skilled, and we offered the PSD course especially for this group because they’re the PSD for Gen. Kahlil.”
“This is just another step in our partnering with the ANBP, it allows them to carry on their mission set at a higher level,” he added.