Our weapons and transportation instructors are former Navy
SEALs and other Special Forces types with extensive experience in
Afghanistan. Retired now, they look
like any good old boy you would meet at the gas station, affable and always
with smiles on their faces. Though a bit fuller than when they were in their
prime, these guys are still scary good in their skills.
Their leader, who I call SEAL Pete, runs a
nice little business training us. He has
the look of the lead singer for a Dobbie Brothers tribute band, but no doubt,
behind his mellow demeanor lies one of the Department’s best and was at one
time was a personal body guard to a world leader. He and his team spent two days teaching us
how to observe, plan a mission for success, navigate, convoy driving and of
course, how to tactically use our weapon.
By tactical, I mean put “rounds in the threat” under stressful
situations.
There is a sense of calm over
these men as they describe the functioning, aiming, safety and firing of a
weapon that the Military leadership in Kabul would likely rather us not have,
but know we cannot be without. What an odd sight it must seem to Afghans that
those arriving in their Ministries and towns to help and advise them are
arrayed in helmets, body armor and a sidearm at the ready. SEAL Pete and his men taught us a lot about
how to shoot, but more importantly when not to as we are not, or should pretend
to be gun fighters.
The more senior
folks tell us often that our relationships with the Afghans will afford us
better protection, and are far more effective, than a single pistol when
dealing with the warrior culture over there.
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