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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 26, 2005 New mission for National Guard — aid nascent Afghanistan army By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Members of the Army National Guard from Southern Oregon have begun preparing for a mission to train the Afghan National Army in professional military tactics. Six soldiers from the Ashland-based 1st Battalion of the 186th Infantry of the Oregon National Guard left last week to take a two-week marksman course at Camp Robinson just north of Little Rock, Ark. About 150 battalion members are slated to serve in Afghanistan in the spring, said Maj. Chet Cary of the 1-186. The departure date has not yet been set. The soldiers come from Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Klamath Falls, Medford, Roseburg and surrounding areas. During their 12-month deployment, the battalion will be responsible for providing security and training members of the Afghan army throughout the country, Cary said. Advertisement "There really wasn’t an Afghan army before (the U.S. military) started training them," Cary said. "They were more of warlords. Different areas had their own private militias." About 130 battalion members will serve as a security force in the country. Meanwhile, about 20 others will train Afghan soldiers, he said. "Those people will alternate," he said. Unlike snipers who work in two-man teams, marksmen belong to regular squads of nine, Cary said. The focus of the marksman course at Camp Robinson is techniques to improve accuracy, he said. Leaders from the battalion’s units in Ashland, Grants Pass, Medford and Roseburg selected soldiers for the course, Cary said. The hope is that a trained army will eventually give the Afghan government the ability to keep the country in order without the assistance of U.S. troops, he said. "As soon as the powers that be decide their government can take care of themselves, our government will probably pull us out," Cary said. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4496 or e-mail New mission for National Guard � aid nascent Afghanistan army ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s