The first course of altitude fighting techniques dedicated to the kundaks (battalions) of the 3º army corps of the Afghan army, which allowed the formation of an organic platoon and which will continue with the training, was concluded after about 207 weeks of training. training of similar units. The course held at Camp Arena, Italian base home of the Train Advise Assist Command West (TAAC-W) was developed by the 2 Alpine Regiment of Cuneo in the indoor training area inaugurated last October. The Italian training center is able to provide a wide range of useful elements for individual and platoon training of Afghan units, enabling effective and realistic indoor exercises, with both tactical and logistic advantages for training forces.
The objective of the course, strongly requested by the leaders of the local Armed Forces, was to teach mountain combat techniques a first organic unit, continuing in the future with further courses aimed at the formation of an entire battalion. Through the execution of numerous tactical exercises carried out in the artificial wall and at the training islands of the complex, the Afghan students showed, with a very complex final exercise, the skills acquired during the Mountain Warfare course - absolute excellence and the only one of its kind in Afghanistan - positively impressing the authorities present with technical skills, courage and enthusiasm.
General Hedayat, commander of the 207 Armed Forces of the Afghan National Army, thanked the Italian contingent for the work he has done so far to raise his training level by highlighting the latest achievements of his brigades through the assistance provided by the TAAC W's expeditionay advisory package (EAP) to support commands involved in counterterrorism operations.
General Massimo Biagini, commander of the TAAC W, has prompted the students of the ANDSF to continue working with energy and enthusiasm to be more effective and defend their country from those who threaten peace and prosperity.
The interest that the Afghan Security Forces and the NATO coalition have long shown to the operational capabilities of mountain troops, particularly suited to a typical orographic environment typical of the northern area of Herat province, pushed the alpine brigade Taurinense - currently leading the Italian contingent of Resolute Support - to embark on mountain-based combat training in ordinary unit training programs to implement the effectiveness of the ANDSF during operations in the north of Herat.
The creation and professionalization of the Afghan National Defense Forces (ANDSF) was, during the 2017, a priority aspect for the Afghan government and for the Resolution Support mission, and in this sense the Italian contingent managed to make a decisive contribution training and assistance in operation to the Afghan units located in the province of Herat, protagonists in recent months of many interventions to combat terrorism and to maintain security in the entire region.
