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Afghan soldiers master driving Humvees

  • Published
  • By Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin
  • CSTC-A Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Humvees will soon become the Afghan National Army's vehicle of choice on the battlefield, but not until every soldier is qualified to safely operate them.

For this reason, Air Force Capt. Todd Klusek and Army Capt. William Snyder, combat service support senior mentors assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan here, are tasked to instruct the ANA soldiers to safely maintain and operate up-armored Humvees at the Kabul Military Training Center.

"We've made great strides with the Afghan soldiers," said Captain Klusek, a Kenmore, N.Y., native. "We started the UAH course with driver-school basics."

Most of our students have never driven a vehicle before, let alone a Humvee, said Captain Snyder, a New York National Guardsman.

Nearly 5,000 Humvees supplied by the United States will soon be delivered to the ANA. The 1151 model Humvee, used in driver training and on the battlefield, is heavily plated and fitted with an armored gun turret.

Afghan army Maj. Najibullah (some Afghans use only one name) said taking possession of the new vehicles will be a step forward in tactical ground combat for the ANA.

Major Najibullah, who serves as lead instructor for the course, expressed optimism about his country's future.

"With the arrival of the Humvees, our army will become more modern," Major Najibullah said. "It will help us be more secure. We are thankful America is helping us improve our nation's security."

During the training course, ANA soldiers are closely supervised when they get behind the wheel of a Humvee. They must pass a rigorous curriculum before they are certified to drive.

"We start them off in the classroom by learning to read signs and other fundamentals," Captain Klusek said. "We then teach them to drive (land tactical vehicles) and then move them up to unarmored Humvees. By the end of the course, they learn how to drive the up-armored vehicle."

One of the goals of the course is to prepare the students to take over as Humvee instructors for upcoming classes, Captain Snyder said.

"One of the newest instructors graduated from the course in April," Captain Snyder said. "So far, 75 ANA soldiers have completed the course, but plans call for an additional 400 to be trained."

Captain Snyder, a native of Grand Island, N.Y., said teaching the Afghans came easily to him, since he is a teacher in his civilian life.

"I teach eighth grade U.S. history at Oakfield Alabama Junior High School in Oakfield, N.Y. As a guardsman, I am excited to be here. I like being in a different country," Captain Snyder said. "When I return home, I can tell my students how we are helping a country's people learn to defend themselves."