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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan (February 4, 2008) -
Afghan workers recently learned skills that will make them more
marketable in their country's expanding construction industry,
thanks to U.S. Army engineers from Task Force Pacemaker.
Army 1st Lt. Grayson Pranin and Sgt. 1st Class Clay Wait,
Support Platoon, 585th Engineer Company, from Fort Lewis, Wash.,
led a workshop Jan. 21-28 that increased the construction knowledge
of 50 unskilled and partially skilled Afghans nominated by the
provincial government and Afghan contractors.
The seven-day course consisted of lectures in job safety, tools
and their proper uses, as well as basic carpentry. The event
culminated with a competition, with the students divided into
groups of 10 and each group building a tool shed. At the end of the
course, the students received the tools they used during their
classes and a certificate of training.
Asadullah, 18, a workshop participant, said he has some
experience in carpentry and mixing concrete, and the class taught
him American standards of mixing concrete and placing rebar on a
cement pad. He was recognized as an excellent student in his group
and was rewarded by being able to keep the tool shed his group
built. He plans to turn the shed into a carpenter shop for his
local community.
"I think that this skill labor workshop is important for the
development of Afghanistan," said Qassem, 22, another student at
the workshop. "It was amazing to build the tool shed, especially
the trusses on the roof."
This was the task force's second workshop this year. The course
includes meals, tools and materials financed through U.S.
Commander's Emergency Response Program funds.
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