LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – “Infaja! Infaja! [Blast! Blast!]” Afghan Nation Army soldiers called out as they hurried quickly towards the concrete bunkers to seek cover. A demolition charge of several blocks of C-4 plastic explosive was about to detonate. The soldiers crowded into the bunkers in anticipation, with huge grins on their faces. They had placed it themselves.
The Afghan soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps, were completing a week of training at their base here in late April, learning sapper tasks, combat engineering, and basic demolition taught by the 57th Sapper Company, out of Fort Bragg, N.C.
The 57th soldiers instructed the Afghan students on constructing obstacles using concertina and barbed wire, as well as basic demolitions – which they had all been eagerly awaiting.
Originally, the plan for the demolition training was for a small group of soldiers from the Engineer Coy of the brigade’s 4th Kandak, as the culmination of their engineer training validation, a certification process planned out by the Afghan brigade engineer, with help from U.S. advisers. The brigade engineer, however, did not want the skills confined to just the engineer coy.
“I always enjoy training the Afghan National Army. They are very attentive and quick to learn,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Eric Prescott, a native of Addison, N.Y. “This class now has soldiers from all of 4th Brigade and grew from 15 soldiers at first, to 33 soldiers. We normally work with the RCC [route clearance company]. However, this was a good opportunity to train ANA infantry as well as engineer soldiers.”
The Afghan Army, being infantry-heavy, will often incorporate other skill sets into their patrols. The high number of soldiers trained on demolitions allows the Afghan patrols to greatly extend the reach of engineer skills across Logar and Wardak provinces.
The 4th Brigade Explosive Ordinance Disposal instructor, Afghan Sgt. 1st Class Nazif, was there to assist the training. After the 57th finished teaching the basic demolition, the same group of students would enter his class the following week for more training in locating and destroying roadside bombs.
“Here is good,” Nazif said with a smile as he showed Prescott the training area he selected. “My EOD soldiers train here.”
He was proud of the training site, which had a large pit surrounded by barriers to conduct demolitions safely.
Sgt. 1st Class Nazif helped not only with direct instruction, but also to bridge the cultural and language barrier between the U.S. and Afghan engineers. He was able to tailor the training plan to the Afghan engineer equipment, something that was greatly appreciated by the 57th.
Nazif and Prescott supervised the Afghan students as they attached their C-4 blocks to the detonation cord, and followed them to the detonation site. The charges were placed, and the two designated soldiers started the time fuse.
With three minutes to take cover, they rushed across the rocky ground to the bunkers. Three minutes and ten seconds later there was a roar and the ground beneath them vibrated. The Afghan soldiers cheered and raced back to the detonation site to see the results.
“Yeah, I like blowing stuff up,” said Afghan Sgt. Ahzrat, one of the students, summing the week up perfectly.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2013 06:54 |
| Story ID: | 106995 |
| Location: | LOGAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Hometown: | ADDISON, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 400 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Afghan soldiers train on demolition, continue clearing roadside bombs, by 1LT Tyler Dovel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
