CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Eighteen Afghan National Army soldiers from the 215th Corps graduated from the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest’s Generator Mechanic Course aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Sept. 15.

The week-long course taught the ANA troops basics of generator safety, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, interior and exterior wiring, and basic operations.

“This was the first generator training any of them have ever had,” said Sgt. Ricardo Jones, an electric equipment repair specialist and an instructor of the course, who is a native of North Charleston, S.C. “It’s a lot of knowledge crammed into one week. But, I’m more than confident that they are walking away with the basic common knowledge of working with generators.”

Special iterations of the course have been taught due to the ANA’s reliance on generators. Generators power everything from ANA medical facilities to their means of communication, Jones explained.

“They’re just like us,” he said. “They need power for [air conditioner] units and their chow halls too.”

While the course focused on teaching ANA soldiers how to operate generators for their day-to-day military tasks, the Afghan troops said they are also grateful for the lessons they learned which they can apply to their lives out of uniform.

“I learned a lot in the course,” said soldier Ajmal Roufi, the course honor graduate, who serves with the Combat Logistics Team, 215th Corps, and is a native of Parwani province. “We learned to support our unit and to use teamwork.

Roufi continued that he can apply his new knowledge to house chores or possibly even helping to fix a vehicle.

“I can use this skill now here at work or at home,” he explained.

Upon graduation, the soldiers were moved to Camp Shorabak, where they are based out of, to begin utilizing their new trade.