The Italian specialists of the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) cell together with the advisors of the Train Advise Assist Command West (TAAC-W) in Herat, planned and conducted the first of five courses aimed at combating improvised explosive devices, planned for the current year in favor of personnel from all the Afghan security forces (ANDSF), from operators of the local special forces and members of the Herat forensic laboratory, competent in extracting legal evidence from IEDs.
The course, carried out by specialized personnel of the Italian Army and the Carabinieri, is of the "T3" (Train The Trainers) type, aimed at training the Afghan instructors who will train the basic Counter-IED operators and from whom the teams employed in the departments of the local security forces will be selected against the serious threat of improvised devices.
The training and consultancy activity for the Afghan Defense and Security Forces through the principle of "train the trainers" has the dual purpose of creating new specialized skills and making the Afghan security forces increasingly autonomous in the training phase.
The course took place at the educational facilities and the training area of the Military Training Center of Camp Arena, where the Italian specialists have reproduced - thanks to their long experience in the fight against improvised devices - a very realistic training strip in which to lead the students. to search and clean up improvised devices typical of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan, also updating the participants on techniques, tactics and procedures to prevent and combat the threat of IEDs.
At the end of the learning phase, which culminated in a practical exercise in researching and securing an area following a find, Italian specialists evaluated the teaching skills of future Afghan instructors, certifying their demonstrated skills.
The improvised explosive devices represent one of the worst threats in Afghanistan for both the security forces and the local population, involved indiscriminately during normal movements on the routes that connect the cities and villages of the country.
In the month of July alone, the more than 120 IED accidents recorded in the western region alone caused numerous victims among the civilian population, many of which, about 20%, were children; however, the fight against improvised devices, which has now become systemic in the Herat region, led in the same period of reference to the discovery, reclamation and study of as many devices, avoiding that they could harm the community.
A very positive impact on the fight against FDI comes from prevention, based mainly on information campaigns conducted in schools in western cities and in rural area villages. In this perspective, the Italian advisors supported the Afghan security forces both by forming qualified teams that could carry out information activities in the institutions, and by producing graphic flyers on the devices to be distributed to the illiterate part of the population.
Within the next month, a C-IED training course dedicated exclusively to local police officers will be realized by the Taurinense Alpine Brigade, currently at the head of the TAAC-W. , aimed at women from the villages of the region.
