MOT Special Training

During the last two days our training has slowly picked up speed. All of the new MOT and PO personnel are present since tuesday, and so our training has concentrated on the issues that are exclusive for the MOTs, such as the team weapons and open intelligence. Yesterday we were introduced to the Sako TRG 42 sniper rifle, the Police Reminton pump-action shotgun, and the Heckler & Koch 40mm grenade pistol. In addition, we took a quick look at the MOTs' other equipment, and continued practising our interviewing techniques.

Today we had a live fire excercise at the shooting range, which included all of the aforementioned weapons plus two different types of flash-bang grenades. The weather was hot. In the afternoon, we practised with two less-than-lethal weapons: the collapsible baton, or ASP, and the pepper spray, or OC, as it's also known. Lessons learned: The TRG 42 is a quite deadly weapon at any range up to 600 metres, even when the shooter has had no specialist training. OC, or oleresin capsicum, is not deadly, but incapasitates virtually anyone in less than 3 seconds.


Police Remington


Mehrzweckpistole

The next commander of the Finnish contingent in Afghanistan has taken part in all the training this week. I find this excellent, as it gives him an opportunity to learn what his troops know. It also gives us a chance to get to know him properly.

There is an underlying anxiety about the security situation in Afghanistan among the soldiers here. Remarkably, it is propably even a little stronger with the instructors, which is no surprise, as they all have first-hand experience from the area. But we discuss issues around this topic openly, and all agree on the importance of the mission ahead of us. There is no trace of fear, or if there is, there is just enough of it to boost our motivation. Without exception, everyone is, or so it seems to me, happy to be going.