Photo By Sgt. Connor Mendez | Mobile Strike Force Vehicles, such as the one pictured above, provided Commandos...... read more read more
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The Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps launched the inaugural Cobra Strike Maneuver Course at the ANASOC Mobility School of Excellence, Pol-e Charki, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2018. The course trains Afghan Commandos for mobile offensive operations, bringing increased capability to the region’s elite light infantry special operations force.
The inaugural CSMC class of 650 Commando-qualified soldiers will execute the first 12-week training and evaluation course comprised of 28 platoon and company-level collective tasks, and mission essential tasks required for combat operations.
Upon graduation, the entire class will establish the 6th Cobra Strike Kandak (Battalion). The 6th CSK will take part in spring offensive operations as early as May 2018.
As part of the Afghan-led 2020 Roadmap, ANASOC will establish six additional CSKs. This new mobile capability will allow ANASOC to employ CSKs nation-wide in concert with the existing Commando force.
"The enemy is scared from the Commandos' fury,” said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during his visit to ANASOC on Jan. 19.
Never defeated in battle, the Commandos are the cornerstone of offensive operations targeting the Taliban and ISIS-K. As the Afghan Special Security Forces grow in size and capability, the ASSF apply increased military pressure on the enemies of Afghanistan.
Key to the success of the CSMC and future CSKs is the force generation methodology applied to grow the Commando force. CSK personnel are selected for Commando training from existing Afghan National Army units. Investing in what works, ANASOC then trains the seasoned soldiers, resulting in a high graduation rate at the Commando Qualification Course.
Passing the 14-week CQC earns the new Commandos a training slot at the CSMC. Upon graduation from the CSMC, the CSK will maintain unit cohesion from its shared ANA experiences and sustained Commando training.
The CSKs will operate in Mobile Strike Force Vehicles, the ANA’s mobile firepower platform of choice. MSFVs are heavily armored and mine-resistant wheeled vehicles capable of employing a variety of heavy weapons from their 360-degree turrets.
| Date Taken: | 02.03.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2018 05:57 |
| Story ID: | 264575 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 664 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
