KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Twenty soldiers in a level 3 Afghan National Security Forces class and 29 soldiers in the first supply Pohantoon-e-Hawayee level 3 course for the Afghan Air Force graduated on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, July 4.
The completion of the Security Force class marks the last group of ANSF soldiers that needed to be trained throughout Afghanistan. The security forces training have trained approximately 700 soldiers per year for the last four years. This class was 100 percent trained by Afghan instructors.
Colonel Feraidoon Popal, lead security force instructor at PeH, has trained and advised the classes for the last year. "I am happy that all the soldiers are trained with the basic security force knowledge. [The soldiers] are very capable to perform the tasks assigned and were eager to do the training."
During the time the classes were taught, the teaching staffs traveled to locations in Afghanistan to train the soldiers. The soldiers learned how to conduct vehicle searches, handcuff people, establish entry control points, and administer first aid to fellow soldiers.
"The class was very good," said Capt. Amrulluah Asqrar, Commander of Kandahar Air Wing Security Forces. "The non-commissioned officers and soldiers here have more skills and knowledge about the operations they will be performing."
This class provided a solid base of training across the force.
"Before this training, we had a problem with our soldiers not having any experience or knowledge about operations," Asqrar said. "Now, they are ready for the missions we will be conducting. I am sure our [Quick Reaction Force] and [Military Police] soldiers are ready for their missions."
During the graduation, the soldiers exclaimed "life" when they received their certificate. After receiving the certificate, the soldiers faced the crowd, held their certificates high above their head and stated "I serve to my country!"