Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Zahir Khan Afghan border patrolman, checks the serpentine belt on an...... read more read more
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CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan — Over 120 Afghan border police returned to their home units recently with the ability to train their units on newly-acquired up-armored High-Mobility, Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. The ABP attended a four-week class taught by Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan's Logistics Embedded Training Team. This course was held at the Ministry of Interior's Afghan national police transportation battalion training area.
The ABP is responsible for securing the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as the border areas across Afghanistan. This has been a difficult and deadly task with the increase of insurgent activity. The ABP were using Ford Ranger pickup trucks to search and patrol the border, but these trucks did not provide the protection needed against improvised explosive devices or possible ambushes by insurgents. This resulted in a decision to get the ABP trained in operations of up-armored HMMWVs.
The ABP students arrived from provinces such as Jalalabad, Nooristan and Kunar and then took their newly acquired skills back to their respective provinces to train their fellow team members. The course was divided into two, two-week classes that focused primarily on preventative maintenance checks and services, safe vehicle operations, convoy techniques and tactics and driving skills.
Throughout the four-week course, students were evaluated on everything they were taught. In addition, students were also provided classroom lectures, practical exercises on IEDs, and training on communications equipment.
Capt. Khalid Zaman, the class leader, commented on the training: "Much of the information we learned was new to us, and some was a much-needed refresher. Every day at the beginning of class, the instructor would have the class recite rules for helmets, seat belts, combat locks and headlights, referring to the four things we must have on for safety."
Upon graduation, the ABP took possession of their newly-assigned vehicles and convoyed to their respective provinces. They even provided their own gun truck security for the trip home.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.05.2009 05:14 |
| Story ID: | 35978 |
| Location: | CAMP EGGERS, AF |
| Web Views: | 296 |
| Downloads: | 281 |
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