An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

Sailors, Coast Guardsmen train for Afghanistan, Pakistan Hands Program

  • Published
  • By By Wayne Cook
  • Army Support Activity-Dix Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Sailors and Coast Guardsmen from across the country have entered into the final phase of their training here as they prepare to embark on their mission assignment to the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands Program.

The Af-Pak Hands Program was initiated by, and is under the direct oversight of, the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The goal of the program is to link up U.S. military personnel with subject matter experts from the host nation to provide cohesive relationships that will ensure progress toward achieving both U.S. and host-nation objectives of zero tolerance for terrorism.

"We will integrate with the local populace outside the wire. We will work side-by-side with host- nation personnel to build lasting relationships anchored in trust and commitment with each other," Rear Adm. Samuel Cox said.

Cox is the former Director of Plans and Policy and Director of Fleet Intelligence for Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command, Norfolk, Va. He volunteered for the Af-Pak Hands Program because he believes in the contributions of Sailors to the shore mission in Afghanistan. This belief has had the admiral living, working and running with the Sailors and Coast Guardsmen through each training event.

According to an article on the www.centcom.mil Web site, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen assigned to the program will have a three to five-year commitment. They are re-assigned from their former units and report directly to the program at state-side duty locations such as the Pentagon, the U.S. Central Command's Center for Excellence, U.S. Special Operations Command or the Joint Special Operations Command.

The overseas tours of duty will primarily take place in the southern and eastern portions of Afghanistan and will last anywhere from six months to 12 months. A troop can expect to pull two to three tours overseas during the duration of his or her assignment to Af-Pak Hands.

Initially, upon assignment to the Af-Pak Hands Program, personnel go through a 16-week language and cultural training course taught by the Defense Language Institute at Fort Jackson, S.C., focusing on the three dominant tongues of the area: Dari, Pashto and Urdu.

Upon completion of the language course, the personnel move to Army Support Activity-Dix for more involved tactical and strategic operations training.

"The type of training we go through at Dix is much more involved than at Fort Jackson," Cox said. "The instructors are really motivated and integrate their own personal experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan into the training and scenarios."

For nearly a month the seafarers have been going through weapons familiarization and qualification, vehicle familiarization, counter-insurgency tactics, improvised explosive device detection, convoy operations, land navigation and other mobilization training here.

According to a native of Pensacola, Fla., Coast Guard Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Powell, assigned to Port Security Unit 308, Gulfport, Miss., the training he received here has helped him tremendously.

"I feel much more aware of my surroundings and mission. The instructors have real-world experience and they didn't hold back on sharing it. Much of what we were taught here is not available to us onboard ships or at our ports. The instructors took more time and got more involved in the training than I have experienced in the past. I believe what I have learned here will really enhance my performance overseas," said Powell.

As stated on the www.centcom.mil Web site, the program has garnered the support of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander, International Security Assistance Force and commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan.