Release Number 2006-09-05 Defense and Security Highlights, Sept. 14, 2006 CGSC graduates fourth Afghan instructed class Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan Public Affairs serve in command positions within the ANA’s kandaks , Afghanistan – The clash of cymbals from (battalions), brigades and corps, as well as key staff po- the band filled the air, signaling the kickoff of a gradua- sitions within the Ministry of Defense and ANA General tion ceremony for the 105 gradu- Staff. ates of the Command and General Staff College. Students are given 30 hours of general instruction be- This is the CGSC’s fore moving into their specific ninth class, but the Af- area of study. And, while the ghans’ fourth graduating operations course graduated class since taking over the the most students, the CGSC instruction responsibilities commander would like to see from the French. even more receive this train- Fifteen graduated from ing. the finance/administration To Col. Mia Gul, an honor course, 63 from the opera- graduate from the operations tions course and 27 from course, this message rings the intelligence course. true. According to Minister “I completed my four- of Defense, Gen. Abdul month operations course and, Rahim Wardak, this gradu- based on the NATO system, I Courtesy photo ation was another mile- The graduates of CGSC stand at attention as the com- learned how to conduct suc- stone in forming a profes- mander, Lt. Gen. Abdul Razaq Ghorbande, and Minis- cessful operations without sional and well-trained ter of Defense Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak reviews them. facing casualities,” Gul said. ANA. “Now we can lead the operations very positively,” he “You will serve as commanders and members of the added. ANA units. Your jobs are very important,” the general With the ongoing training they are receiving, the ANA said. “Your hard work saves others’ lives.” are getting closer and closer every day to becoming a self- And hard work it was, but 12 of the graduates ex- sustaining force of professionals. This is their force, their ceeded expectations, proving themselves worthy of the country, and they are doing everything they can to better title, “honor graduate.” One such student, Maj. Abdul both. Saboor, was more than happy to share what he saw as a very positive experience. “I studied for two months in the finance and admin- istration department at CGSC,” he said. “I learned new and important things in comparison to what we were doing in the past. We have learned to use a com- puter and speak the English language here. This will really help us when we are back at work,” Saboor added. As the highest level of military education these field grade officers will have, this training prepares them to

Honor graduate Maj. Abdul Saboor receives his gradua- tion certificate from Gen. Wardak. Saboor specialized in finance and administration. Courtesy photo Voices of Afghanistan

What’s the most important thing you learned at Command and General Staff College?

Col. Noor Ahmad, graduate of the Col. Mia Gul, graduate of the Maj. Abdul Saboor, graduate of the intelligence course at CGSC operations course at CGSC finance/administration course at “I have completed my one-month “I completed my four-month CGSC course in the intelligence depart- operations course. Based on the “I studied for two months in the ment at CGSC. I have learned new NATO system, I learned how to finance and administration depart- things. I learned how to operate as conduct successful operations ment at CGSC. I learned new and an intelligence officer in the NATO without facing casualities. Now we important things in comparison to military system. I can deploy it in can lead the operations very what we were doing in the past. We my practical work. This will be positively.” have learned to use a computer and very useful to me and my career.” speak the English language here. This will really help us when we are back at work.”