Defence News

Four engineers from the Afghan National Army (ANA) have commenced a series of Trade Courses at the Trade Training School in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, overseen by Australian Army Engineers.

This is the first time that the ANA engineers have been assigned to participate in the full suite of courses offered by the Trade Training School and they will be trained in carpentry, plumbing, advanced carpentry, concreting and tiling.

Recently deployed from the 3rd Combat Engineering Regiment (3CER) in Townsville, Lance Corporal Jason Corradi is a mentor within the Trade Training School and is responsible for the training of the ANA Engineers.

“Previously ANA personnel would attach to a course to learn a specific set of skills over a short period,” LCPL Corradi said.

“Having the ANA engineer soldiers on the series of courses will allow them to have the necessary skills to maintain their own compounds and patrol bases as ISAF begin to hand over bases to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).”

Currently the courses are being conducted with non-military students, predominantly local youth.

The Provincial Reconstruction Team is scoping the possibility of creating an ANA-specific course which will focus on patrol base maintenance, working with septic tanks, plumbing and water supply. It is an option that will further enhance ANSF capability and set them up for independent success in the future.

The Trade Training School model is unique in Afghanistan and has been run by Australian Forces since it was established in 2006.