Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

ANA shoot the ‘big guns’ in JannatStory and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO Soldiers with Company A,

1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in-structed soldiers from Weapons, Platoon 3rd Company of the Af-ghan National Army at the range to get them acquainted with the M-249 and M-240 machine guns, Sept 21.

“We did an overview class earlier this week on assembly and disassembly of the M-249 and 240,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Cooney, a senior squad leader with Company A. “We showed them where they need to place (the weapons) in their formations and the best ways to use the weapon’s systems.”

The ANA who attended the training are all noncommissioned officers who are in charge of teams, squads or platoons.

“We are training their NCO Corps so they can train their soldiers later on,” Cooney said.

The range allowed ANA to gain experience in firing both the M-249 and M-240.

“This training is helping us a lot and I’m getting confidence on this so I can fight against the enemy,” said Afghan Sgt. 1st Class Abdul Nasier, platoon sergeant.

“We are trying to make sure the ANA are proficient with the

Issue 72 Oct. 1, 2011

Staff Sgt. Adam, Marzan, a squad leader with Company A, instructs an Afghan Na-tional Army soldier to push the bolt for-ward of an M-240 at a range Sept. 21. The Soldiers of Company A are training the noncommissioned officers of the ANA on the M-249 and M-240 weapons systems so they can go back and train their soldiers.

Cpl. Kyle Cochran, a team leader with Company A, signs to pull back the charg-ing handle of an M-240 to the Afghan National Army soldier who is about to fire the weapon Sept. 21. The range was held for ANA to get experience in firing the M-249 and M-240 weapons systems.

Soldiers with Company A, 1st Bat-talion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, sit beside their Afghan Na-tional Army partners while they fire the M-240 machine gun at a range Sept 21.

weapons systems,” Cooney said.“If we continuously train it

is very good for the soldiers because that way they are going to be more confident in their shooting and they can fight better against the enemy and for the missions they are going on,” said Afghan 2nd Lt. Sadat Masroor, the platoon leader.

Soldiers are always thinking of what the enemy might do and thinking of

ways to outsmart them. A tunnel detection team is making the rounds throughout the Warhorse area of operation in Kandahar province to take away a method the enemy might consider. “We are helping to keep the camp safe,” said Steven Sloan, a research geophysicist for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Miss. “We make sure nobody is coming into the camp using underground avenues that normally wouldn’t be seen and wouldn’t be monitored. We check smaller isolated areas - usually areas of interests and perimeters.”

The detection procedure is time consuming but helpful. “It’s a slow going process,” said Owen Metheny, a field engineer for ERDC. “We cover about 600 meters in four to five hours.”The researchers do a lot of traveling for their job. “We travel to different regional commands and help out in the battle spaces of different military branches,” Sloan said. “We use

Geophysicists search Afghanistan for tunnels Story by Maj. Kevin Toner and Spc. April York2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

geophysical techniques to look for anomalies underground. We look for things that stick out as abnormal that might indicate that there is a void or something else of interest. As we work our way through an area we look for how things change from spot to spot.”

Photo by Spc. April York

“I really enjoy my job,” Metheny said. “I’m doing something for my country and helping keep people safe. Plus where else could a bunch of civilians get to come to Afghanistan and look for tunnels.”

Warhorse PridePage 2 Issue 72 Oct. 1, 2011

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded news-letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public

Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook.com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor:seth.barham@afghan.swa.army.mil

Col. John S. Kolasheski...................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa..............2nd BCT CSMMaj. Kevin Toner................................................2nd BCT PAOSgt. Seth Barham..................................................PAO NCOICSgt. Ruth Pagan......................................Layout and DesignSpc. April York.........................................Layout and Design

Warhorse Pride

Lonestars train ALP to detect IEDs Riding in styleStory and photo by Capt. Bonnie Hutchinson2nd Special Troops Battalion

Soldiers assigned to the Afghan Local Police training detachment

with Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, attached to 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted an improvised explosive device lane at Joint Combat Outpost Masaw, Sept. 15. Planning for the lane took place Sept. 12-13 and focused on teaching the ALP about identifying and securing IEDs.

The ALP received classroom training that provided an overview on the components of an IED, common locations for emplacement of IEDs and proper steps to cordon the IED in preparation for an explosive ordnance team.

After the classroom training portion was completed, the ALP participated in the IED lanes. There were two separate IED lanes, and ALP members were given a task and purpose in order to guide them through each of the scenarios.

ALP were directed to identify any IEDs or caches, practice reporting the incident to their higher headquarters, and to identify the type of IED in order to request EOD support.

“Since we assumed responsibility for the Masaw battle space, we have watched the ALP

makes vast improvements,” said Capt. Brian Kern, ALP training detachment commander. “The ALP program is vital for a secure and prosperous Afghanistan.”

Kern went on to say, “The ALP members displayed their ability to identify IEDs, which is one of the biggest threats in this area of operations. I am confident that they will be able to secure and protect their fellow citizens.”

An Afghan Local Police officer observes the ground in search for signs of an improvised explosive device dur-ing an IED training lane held at Joint Combat Outpost Masaw, Sept. 15. The lane was conducted by Soldiers as-signed to the Afghan Local Police training detachment with Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment attached to 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to teach the ALP about identifying and securing IEDs.

Photo by Sgt. Ruth Pagan

A man rides his motorcycle through the street as 1st Lt. Andrew Bisset, a platoon leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, does a patrol, Aug. 4. Motorcycles are a common mode of transportation in Afghanistan.

The four bodyguards arrived armed with the typical Afghan weapon–

the AK-47. Soldiers with Security Force Assistance Team 4, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, trained the Arghandab district governor’s bodyguards to help them become more

proficient and accurate with their weapons. “Because the governor is a strong leader he is a threat to the enemy and must be protected by men who are confident with their weapons,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Watson of SFAT 4. “The training we set up is to help

them become more accurate and comfortable in close range shooting.” SFAT 4 trained the bodyguards on threat indicators, attack precursors, preformed drills with the M4 and held a close quarters shooting range. The two senior bodyguards also carried Smith and Wesson 9

SFAT train Afghan bodyguards Story by Sgt. Ruth Pagan2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

mm pistols, so the Soldiers also made sure all four men were trained in pistol marksmanship. “Two of the guys had never even touched a pistol before this,” said Watson. “They definitely improved from this training.” “This was good training,” said Ramatullah, a bodyguard. “I feel that the governor is safer now because of this knowledge.” This is not the last of the classes for the bodyguards. SFAT 4 is planning more training events to improve their skills. “I am glad for this training and am excited to learn more,” Ramatullah said.Photo by SFAT 4