Training for Afghanistan

[marct]

Through out the Kandahar Region AWCC or Roshan cell phone coverage is shotty at best. Even when your in a coverage area there are frequent problems connecting and in many areas the Taliban force the cell phone towers to be turned off or are willing to destroy them via RPG attacks.

Good points; they are also completely insecure.

[mhusband]

Good points; they are also completely insecure.

I doubt that the TB are listening in on your cell phone but it's always a possibility.

On the flip side of that... It would be a VERY good idea to invest in ICOM radios for your units. The TB operate by using them in the clear because they think you're not paying attention.

[davidbfpo]

I doubt that the TB are listening in on your cell phone but it's always a possibility. On the flip side of that... It would be a VERY good idea to invest in ICOM radios for your units. The TB operate by using them in the clear because they think you're not paying attention.

According to this ICOM radios are standard issue and presumably the Taliban know that now: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/5...ghanistan.html

davidbfpo

[mhusband]

For the US it's not standard issue (we had to beg borrow and pay for one out of what ever operational budget we could find). However, I know teams that have had terps banter back and forth with TB on ICOM's.

Typically before TB attack there is increased traffic on their radio's. It's how they coordinate almost everything.

[marct]

I had a chance last night to talk with one of the people from DLI. Very initial discussion, but it sounds like they will be willing to privide some of their language training materials - they have what they call a Head Start program - to you for free in the 2-3 k worth of CD range. We talked mainly about Pashtu, but they also have Dari. They may also be willing to provide you with a mobile training team, possibly for when you come to Canada. All of this would be free.

Cheers,

Marc