Heavy Weapons Course ends with a bang

Written by Sgt. Matthew Thompson RC-East PAO Wednesday, 28 December 2011

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan—The booming rapport of the SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle reverberated off the walls of the valley while the M2 .50-caliber machine gun tore through reinforced targets.

Twenty-three Afghan National Army soldiers completed a three-week training course on three heavy weapons systems at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Dec. 22.

An Afghan National Army soldier lines up his target through the sights of an SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Dec. 21, during a three-week heavy weapons course. Afghan National Army soldiers trained on the SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and 82 mm mortars. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Thompson, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

“You have done an excellent job,” said Afghan National Army Lt. Col. Rayees Khan, the officer in charge of training. “Continue to train like this to defend Afghanistan.”

“You should share your training with your units,” added French Army Capt. Jean Michael Filipi, Infantry Mobile Training Team Leader. “You should do everything in your power to defend your country.”

The Soldiers were trained to effectively use, maintain and employ the SPG-9 recoilless rifle, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and 82 mm mortars.

“I like the SPG-9,” said an ANA soldier. “It makes a big sound, and if you want to destroy something, it does it almost immediately.”

One-by-one the soldiers were issued their certificates of achievement for completing the course. 

“To better serve Afghanistan!” each Afghan soldier cried out as he received his certificate.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan—Smoke fills the air after an Afghan National Army soldier fired an SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Dec. 21, during a three-week heavy weapons course. Afghan National Army soldiers trained on the SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and 82 mm mortars. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Thompson, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan—An Afghan National Army soldier prepares to fire an M2 .50-caliber machine gun during the culmination of the Heavy Weapons Course training at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Dec. 21. Afghan National Army soldiers trained on the SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and 82 mm mortars. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Thompson, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan—An Afghan National Army soldier holds his certificate of achievement over his head during a graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Dec. 22, after a three-week heavy weapons course. Afghan National Army soldiers trained on the SPG-9 73 mm recoilless rifle, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and 82 mm mortars. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Thompson, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

 

(c) CJTF-1