Commandos Complete Training, Poised for Battle DAND DISTRICT, Afghanistan – “Remember who you are,” said an officer from the 3rd Special Operations Kandak (SOK). “You are the best in Afghanistan. You are the commandos.” Commandos do not become the best of the best by accident, but through hard work and dedication. These brave Afghan men undergo a rigorous 12-week initial training at Morehead Commando Training Center near Kabul that transforms them into the elite fighting force within the Afghan National Army Special Forces. More than 75 commandos from the 2nd Company, 3rd SOK, known as the “Lions of Kandahar,” recently completed six weeks of intense refresher training that put their combat skills to the test in a culmination exercise in Dand district, Kandahar province, July 9. The Afghan-planned and executed exercise consisted of a simulated company size anti-insurgent clearing mission, encompassing all the skills covered during the six-week progressive training cycle. The Commandos learned and refined many skills, including marksmanship, small-unit tactics, close-quarter battle, patrol techniques, mobility operations, basic first aid, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, and quick reaction force techniques. Commandos continuously cycle through three phases of operations: rest and recovery, training and refining combat skills, and operational cycle. The purpose of the training is to refresh individual commandos as well as each of the 3rd SOK companies’ skill sets before they go into the operational cycle. “As the Executive Officer for this kandak, I know our officers are capable,” said LTC Zakir. “They can accomplish the mission and will succeed.” Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have taken the lead for Afghanistan’s security following the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s announcement of Tranche 5 by President Karzai on June 18, 2013. ANSF will assume full responsibility for the nation’s security by the end of 2014. “This training has made me become self-confident and strong,” said one commando from 2nd Company, 3rd SOK. “Being a commando makes me feel awesome. I am ready to accomplish upcoming missions successfully.” The Lions of Kandahar are ready for battle.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:19:12 +0000
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