Stepping Out Smartly

By Lt Col P

A very good article in the WaPo on the French units operating near Kabul. (Excellent photos as well; and note please that it's Marines and Legionnaires!)

TAGAB VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN -- Hundreds of French and Afghan troops on Sunday pushed into a hostile valley in eastern Afghanistan where militants launch quick attacks and then disappear into hillside villages. The mission: Secure the area for a planned bypass road around the Afghan capital to move supplies from neighboring Pakistan.
About 700 French troops, joined by 100 Afghan soldiers, moved into the Tagab valley before dawn with more than 100 armored vehicles. U.S. and French attack helicopters roared overhead as insurgent snipers fired from the roofs of houses onto the advancing column of vehicles, according to a reporter for the Associated Press who was traveling with the French troops.

I have not accompanied any French units into combat, but I can say with perfect candor that I have found every French officer here to be absolutely professional, capable, and dedicated to the cause. Bon chasse!

And on a related note, let's make it a Gallic Gun-Day Monday with a nod toward the French FAMAS. I'm going to try to fire one before I leave.

November 15, 2009 10:55 PM Afghanistan ~ Firearms ~ One Team One Fight

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Comments

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 11/16/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

David M · November 16, 2009 07:47 AM

If you get a chance to run the FAMAS, be sure to try it strong side and weak side as well as from the prone with armor on. Pay special attention to the trigger pull.

All of these are traditional weakpoints of bull pups. Dropping an empty mag and drawing fresh one from a chest rig can also be a bit of a hassle if your weapon is still in your shoulder.

chet · November 18, 2009 02:04 PM