News story AFGHAN ARMY STEP UP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST IEDS Afghan National Army warriors are taking the lead role in the battle against improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Report by Richard

Long. This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government The Taliban’s weapon of choice throughout the campaign in Helmand province has been the

improvised explosive device. Claiming scores of lives and responsible for countless injuries, the lethal bombs have been the scourge of UK Armed Forces personnel. While British forces have

developed an impressive arsenal of vehicles, kit and ground techniques to counter this threat, the roadside risk could pose a significant problem for the Afghan National Army (ANA) as they

during a 22-week training programme in Mazar-e Sharif before polishing their skills in a validation package staged at Camp Shorabak under the watchful eye of UK soldiers from the Brigade

Advisory Group. Sergeant Major Baz Mohammed has served for three years with the ANA and is now taking a starring role within this growing asset: > The lessons from the British Army have 

really helped us,” he said. > We have covered all kinds of IEDs and they have taught us everything > we need. > I am now performing this role within the ANA. We have finished our

> lessons and we can deal with the threat. We are very confident and > happy with the skills we have. > I want to continue and become an instructor in the future. It is > very 

important for our country that we take the lead. > The training in Mazar-e Sharif was completely different from what we > are doing here. The British troops are reminding us that we 

can > solve the problems ourselves. During a confirmation exercise, the skill and attention to detail Sergeant Major Mohammed displayed mirrored that of the experts within ISAF’s ranks.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Moxy James, Royal Logistic Corps, part of the validation course team, believes the Afghans are well placed to assume full responsibility for this crucial work and

revealed the operatives have taken a lead role on tasks in the field: > We go out with them, not to do the job but to act as a comfort > blanket. We are trying to move away from that 

now and the hope is > they will go on the next engagement without us. > One of these guys did three tasks before he was validated and he was > fine. They are trained to 

international standards and are out there > doing an excellent job. > Another dealt with eight devices and a 120kg main charge. He is > still alive so it shows they know what they 

are doing. While the job brings these soldiers face-to-face with deadly IEDs, it also comes with a host of secondary dangers: > A lot of these guys come from places like Kabul. When they 

do this > course they become targets for the insurgents, so they risk a > lot,” WO2 James explained. > But when the training is complete they get posted to places far > removed 

from where they live. > They are keen to do the job and do it for themselves. There are four > British military operators in Mazar-e Sharif doing the teaching so > they are doing it

 exactly like we would. > The validation course is about making sure they are up to speed, > informing them about what is happening and ensuring they are happy. The role has encouraged

a change in mentality to ensure IED tasks are approached in the right manner. WO2 James said: > Their culture is not to question someone in authority. If they are > told to blow a 

device they will do it. > But if these guys go down to an IED and they do not like what they > see, they will come back and work out a plan to deal with it. > They are always 

thinking, and now have the confidence to do > something about it. And while progress is clear in terms of the front line, plans are already being made to create a lasting legacy for the

Afghan counter-IED force: > There is a process in place where the guys coming through this > school will be trained as instructors,” the senior > non-commissioned officer said. >

 They will then filter out and we can step out of the frame. > If we see individuals who are good at instructing they will be > pushed forward so we can start to build. > The IED 

side is very important in terms of transition. It is the > main weapon the Taliban use against us, and it is the main weapon > they will use against the Afghan National Army. > It 

has to be successful and they need to have the skills. I am > confident that will be the case. This article is taken from the July 2012 edition of Soldier - magazine of the British Army.

SHARE THIS PAGE The following links open in a new tab * Share on Facebook (opens in new tab) * Share on Twitter (opens in new tab) UPDATES TO THIS PAGE Published 6 July 2012