Willing and able, Afghans train for battle

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry have been working hard to set up their base at Howz-e Madad to accommodate a battalion of Afghan soldiers, and the time is drawing near when the Afghans will move in.

Before that happens, the two units conduct side-by-side training at Camp Hero, an Afghan base near Kandahar Air Field.

Audio of an Afghan training exercise. Afghanis have a different way of imitating gunfire. (Audio by Ben Brody for GlobalPost)

The differences between the two units are stark, but the Americans are hopeful they’ll be able to mold the Afghans, who just graduated from basic training, into better soldiers than the ones they’re now partnered with.

“I’m willing to settle for (the Afghan soldiers) being willing and unable — I can work with that,” said a U.S. squad leader helping to conduct the training. “If they’re willing and able, that’s great, but unwilling and able will leave us right where we are now.”

After a joint training exercise at Camp Hero, U.S. and Afghan troops shake hands and attempt to tell each other their names. (Photo by Ben Brody for GlobalPost)

After a joint training exercise at Camp Hero, U.S. and Afghan troops shake hands and attempt to tell each other their names. (Photo by Ben Brody for GlobalPost)

Afghan soldiers fresh from basic training demonstrate their skills to the U.S. soldiers they will patrol with for the next year. (Photo by Ben Brody for GlobalPost)

Afghan soldiers fresh from basic training demonstrate their skills to the U.S. soldiers they will patrol with for the next year. (Photo by Ben Brody for GlobalPost)

U.S. troops demonstrate combat maneuvers for Afghan soldiers fresh from basic training. (Photo by Ben Brody for GlobalPost)