• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Afghan engineers take lead, Aussies mentor

Mar 18, 2011

By Spc. Edward Garibay, 16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MIRABAD VALLEY, Afghanistan -- Afghan National Security Forces are beginning to take the lead in all aspects of their country, while coalition members take a backseat mentoring role.

A good example of this is in the Mirabad Valley, Uruzgan province, where a new Afghan National Army base, Patrol Base Mohammed, was built completely by ANA soldiers, for ANA soldiers.

A small group of Australian mentors were on site to supervise, but the ANA themselves did the main work effort.

"They're very keen to work and they like to get hands on," said Australian Army Warrant Officer Class 2 Mark Chirta, site supervisor for the build from the Field Engineer Construction Team. "They like to build things, the ANA."

Patrol Base Mohammed was the third project the Sydney, New South Wales, native worked on with the ANA and they've gotten more proficient each time, he said.

Many times a new Afghan engineer will come on the job with no prior experience. It's the Australian mentor's job show them, from scratch, how to perform construction tasks properly.

"On the job training builds confidence," said Australian Army Sapper Kurt Sheridan, 4th Force Support Unit. "Both we and the ANA know that they can do the job completely and safely."

The training is so good that even the new engineers who helped build Patrol Base Mohammed are able to instruct others coming in, said Afghan National Army Sgt. Jonakhan Khaksar, engineer noncommissioned officer for Engineer Company, 4th Infantry Brigade, 205th Atal Corps.

Chirta said one of the most astounding things is even though many of the Afghan engineers can't read, they can still use a tape measure written in English script. All they need is to be shown the concept.

"After the ANA are shown how to do something new, they are quite willing and able to do it on their own," said Chirta.

From there, the Australian mentors sit back and allow the ANA to build their own base.

"It is truly their base," said Chirta. "After we leave they will be able to do all of their own maintenance if they need to."

With the construction of Patrol Base Mohammed complete, the Afghan engineers will continue on to other projects and continue to hone their skills.