Marines Help Develop Afghan Security Force Discipline

HELMAND PROVINCE – The shooter, one of many Afghans who have joined the ANSF, prepares himself as he's been taught. He bends at the knees, torso square to his target, elbows squeezed tight against his body.

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The grimace on his face shows discomfort, a sign he's positioning himself correctly. He isn't supposed to feel comfortable. The command comes from the line. "HAMMER PAIR! FIRE COUP!" The shooter squeezes off 2 shots in the direction of the green silhouette down range. The command comes again and 2 more shots ring out. The process continues 2 more times. When the shooter approaches his target, the disappointment is clear, and he mumbles to himself. The shots are low and did not strike within the circle, which represents a potentially fatal wound. The comrade next to him points at his own target where the shots are also low, but near or within the circle's circumference. The accuracy of the shooter's comrade only frustrates the shooter more. When one of his instructors, Sgt. Tyler Brown, approaches the shooter's target, he's silent, but when he addresses the shooter he points out the shooter's shots are low, but in a tight group. Brown explains the shooter is already improving from minutes earlier, when his shots merely peppered his target, and with a little work, the tight group can be raised so the shooter hits his intended target dead center. "The majority of them have progressed very well," said 1st Lt. Christopher Doty. "They've gone from not being able to do anything in the prone position to being able to shoot controlled pairs within a diameter of 10 inches." "Since we're working alongside ANSF, they have to be as effective at engaging a target as we are," said Brown. "Their training should be valued just as much as any Marine's or soldier's training in Afghanistan." "The whole idea of the marksmanship program was to increase the proficiency of the Afghan soldiers," said Doty. "Marksmanship ties into being an infantryman. So it ties into how you conduct yourself, what your appearance is, how you look on patrol, and how the Afghan people view their soldiers." One of the key things Doty and others focus on when teaching professionalism, is teaching the ANSF NCOs how to act, obedience to orders and other basic military disciplines. "Marksmanship ties into how you wear your gear, weapons maintenance and gear maintenance, and that all ties into discipline," Doty said. With ANSF members acting as more than just foot soldiers, but as reps of the Afghan govt, the need for discipline and professionalism is extremely vital to the country's stability. "The Afghan people see the ANP and ANA as instruments of the GoA," said Doty. "So I always tell ANSF the way the public perceives you is how they're going to start respecting the govt."

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