DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 185/10
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Aussie soldiers train new Afghan ‘Tradies’
Another eleven young Afghan men graduated from the Australian run Trade Training School
at Multi National Base – Tarin Kowt on 22 May.
More than 200 young men have now graduated
from the Trade Training School that was
established in 2006.
Commanding Officer of the 1st
Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1), Lieutenant Colonel Jason
Blain, addressed the graduates at the ceremony and said that the Trade Training School was
improving the lives of local Afghans by providing opportunities for further community and
economic development in the area.
“These young men are receiving first class training in trades that are needed in the local
community. The flow-on effect is further employment opportunities and economic growth
for Tarin Kowt and Oruzgan Province,” Lieutenant Colonel Blain said.
The eleven students graduated from a three week tiling course module that is part of a three
month basic construction course that includes basic carpentry, concreting, painting, tiling,
roofing and plumbing.
MTF-1 soldiers Corporal Brett Corrigan and Lance Corporal Warren Stevens coordinate and
run the courses at the Trade Training School.
Corporal Corrigan, who is on his second rotation at the Trade Training School having served
with the 4th Reconstruction Task Force, said that many of the school graduates now maintain
jobs with local government, military and contractors working in Tarin Kowt.
“Most of our graduates get jobs very soon after graduation,” Corporal Corrigan said.
“Recently one of our graduates got a job on the same day he graduated from our course – he
took his certificates up to the US compound, told them he graduated from the school, and was
hired there to do maintenance work,” Corporal Corrigan said.
“Other graduates are now working with Provincial Government departments on public works
projects, including schools, and with construction contractors in and around Tarin Kowt,”
Corporal Corrigan said.
The Trade Training School is supported by AusAID. The Australian Government Agency
provides tool kits for the students and industrial equipment such as wood working machinery.
Media Note: For imagery of the Trade Training School please go to
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
