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KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan National Police have 38 new explosive ordnance disposal technicians following this week’s graduation ceremony at Central Training Center-Kabul.
During the three-month course, students learned how to counter conventional unexploded ordnance, including rockets, artillery rounds and landmines. The majority of graduates will be staying at CTC-K for a training course in defeating improvised explosive devices, the weapon of choice for many insurgents.
As reported by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, IEDs caused the second highest number of civilian casualties in the first half of 2015. Coupled with a landscape littered with landmines from the Soviet occupation, the ability to combat the threat from both IEDs and unexploded ordnance is essential to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Counter-IED Directorate coordinates, synchronizes and advises implementation of counter-IED initiatives with the Ministries of Defense and Interior.
Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer clearance diver (EOD Tech) Kevin Paul serves as the Counter-IED Chief Advisor to Central Training Center-Kabul. Paul, who hails from the northern beaches of Sydney, is responsible for training, advising and assisting Afghan National Police leadership, including Brig. Gen. Basir, the commandant of CTC-K, on EOD and counter-IED training.
“The students who make it through the initial stages of training genuinely want to be there; [they] get qualified and get out to their posting location so they can do their part in making Afghanistan a safer place,” said Paul.
U.S. Army Col. Jay F. Klaus, Counter-IED directorate lead, joined his team of advisors at the graduation and addressed the new EOD technicians at the ceremony.
“You are now qualified to protect your people, defend your people and serve your people,” said Klaus, who hails from Leesburg, Virginia. "The Coalition, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police are making a difference together in Afghanistan, and it is an honor to stand with you.”
Hayat Ullah, a 3rd sergeant from Kandahar who has served in the ANP for the past ten years is one of the new EOD graduates.
"I appreciate my training and advisers from this course. EOD may be dangerous, but with this training I can defeat them [unexploded ordnance]," said Ullah.
Ullah plans on taking the counter-IED class, as well as a course on robot maintenance and repair, to further his ability to counter enemy tactics.
Basir, who oversees the EOD training, congratulated the graduates on completing the course, and recognized them for choosing to enter a dangerous profession that is essential to security in Afghanistan.
“You must take what you learned here and be careful, as your first mistake is your last,” said Basir. “You chose to serve and defend our country, bringing hope to our people, and I thank you.”
| Date Taken: | 02.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.13.2016 11:58 |
| Story ID: | 188820 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Hometown: | SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AU |
| Hometown: | LEESBURG, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | THE PENTAGON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,753 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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