Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan February 2009
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Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan February 2009 www.cstc-a.com Focus on NCOs1 q The Enduring Ledger Building sustainable capacity and capability by MG Richard P. Formica component in the ANSF. Vol. 3, Issue 2 February 2009 CSTC-A Commanding We will do this in true Table of Contents General partnership with the ANA Our CSTC-A task is to and ANP—and with our Page 2: CG’s Message partner with the Ministry coalition partners. And of Defense and Ministry Page 3: CSM: The Year of the NCO as we do, we are ever of Interior to build Page 4: Q & A with Sergeant Major grateful for the service sustainable capacity and and contributions of the of the ANA Rashon Safi capability for the Afghan Page 5: ANA Bridmal Academy Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, National Security Forces— grows during The Year of the NCO Marines and Civilians the Afghan National Army of CSTC-A—and we are Page 6: Provincial development and the Afghan National added to FDD program mindful of the sacrifices of Police. your Families at home. Page 7: Airmen train Afghan officers This year we plan to on command control Thanks so much for sustain the momentum MG Formica Page 8: National Military Academy of what you do and for being Afghanistan hosts 1st graduation in building the ANA— One: Ensuring who you are. Page 10: Around CSTC-A: the month building it to 134,000 disciplined execution of Hooah! Yak Team Wahed! in photos by December 2011. This three key systems: Page 12: National Military Hospital is accelerated by two •Personnel Management opens new blood bank years from the approved •Logistics Page 13: STX Challenges ANA program. •Financial Management officers during a week of scenarios We will simultaneously Two: Sustaining the Page 14: New Hued Kheyl Clinic add focus on the ANP. institutional training base opens doors to community Working closely with the in the Army and continuing Page 15: Warrior of the Month; Focus Minister of Interior, we on Log ETT to develop one for the will support his efforts police. to reform the ANP while Three: Emphasizing the Editorial Staff improving accountability. role of Non-Commissioned CSTC-A Commanding General: At some point we will Officers. If we are to truly Major General Richard P. Formica review the ANP program— build sustainable capacity Public Affairs director: and in coordination and capability, the ranks Lieutenant Colonel Christian Kubik with the Government of the ANSF must be filled Acting Public Affairs director: of the Islamic Republic with professional, qualified Commander Jeffrey Bender of Afghanistan and our and disciplined NCOs Public Affairs deputy director: coalition partners, will who provide the necessary Navy Lieutenant Kent Laborde determine if and by how first-line leadership and photo by Royal Army Sergeant Editor/layout/staff writers: Andy Cole much the ANP should grow backbone in Army units Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin An NCO of the Afghan and over what time period. and police districts. Petty Officer 1st Class Cliff Williams National Police provides To build sustainable In the U.S. Army we security on Highway One, Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Baruwa capacity and capability in acknowledge that NCOs the route linking Helmand Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Dillard the ANSF, we will focus on run our Army—so we look Province to Kandahar Petty Officer 2nd Class Ed Vasquez three areas: to help develop this critical Air Force Staff Sergeant Sarah Stegman Petty Officer 3rd Class Tim Newborn The Enduring Ledger is a monthly publication of the Department of Defense and About the front cover: photo by Canadian Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A). This publication Army Master Corporal Robert Bottrill, is released monthly by the CSTC-A Public Affairs Office, Camp Eggers, Kabul, courtesy of The Crown, Canadian Department Afghanistan. In accordance with DoD Instruction 5120.4, this DoD magazine is an of National Defence. An Afghan National authorized publication for members of the U.S. military overseas. Contents of The Army NCO conducts an outdoor class with Enduring Ledger are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by the U.S. ANA Soldiers at the Kabul Military Training government or DoD. Center (KMTC) facility. Mission statement: The Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan in About the back cover: A selection of photos conjunction with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), from around CSTC-A, the ANP and the ANA of NCOs as they train, mentor and go about the International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan (ISAF) and the international their daily jobs. This issue of the Enduring community, and nested with the US Forces - Afghanistan Commander’s intent, plans, Ledger celebrates NCOs and all that they do programs and implements the generation and development of the Afghan National for their parent organizations. Security Forces (ANSF) in order to enable GIRoA to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan. 2 q The Enduring Ledger www.cstc-a.com The Year of the Non-Commisioned Officer by CSM Arthur L. Coleman Jr. CSTC-A Command Sergeant Major across the board where CSTC-A along with the ANSF have As we celebrate The U.S. Army’s made tremendous progress with the first-ever Afghan National Year of the Non-Commissioned Police Command Sergeant Major, the first Afghan National Officer, I would like to thank our Army Safety Sergeant Major, the opening of the first Afghan Afghan counterparts and celebrate Sergeants Major Academy and First Sergeants Course. These this historical and remarkable courses are important to the future of the ANSF and will help occasion. The Combined Security develop and prepare senior Non-Commissioned Officers to Transition Command - Afghanistan assume a position of greater responsibility. and the Afghan National Security As you can see, we’ve come a long way and we still have CSM Coleman Forces (ANSF) have several things a long way to go, but as a team we’re making steady progress in common. toward developing our Non-Commissioned Officers as well as The most common things that stand out are that both want our senior Non-Commissioned Officers. I would also like to peace, both want a professional military and both would agree thank all of our mentors. This would not be possible without that to obtain those qualities, you must have professionally their dedication and hard work, as well as their ability to developed Non-Commissioned Officers. We often say that teach, coach and mentor. I would like to welcome all of our the Non-Commissioned Officer is the “backbone of the newly arrived Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilian Army.” As we continue to fight a two-front war, that saying contractors to this wonderful command. still proves to be true. A professional military is one that is Last but not least, we have a wonderful tool for capturing educated, well trained, and well disciplined. The Afghan missed opportunities during training. It is known as the After Army, Afghan Air Corps and the Afghan Police are showing Action Review (AAR). I ask each of you to take every available tremendous progress every day in moving toward these goals. opportunity to attend an AAR training event. This will help As you read this month’s The Enduring Ledger, you can see improve, as well as enhance our ability to fight and win. official U.S. military photo An Afghan National Police Non-Commissioned Officer pays close attention during a lecture. The ANP is more than 80,000 members strong with an authorized force of 82,000 to bring peace and security to Afghanistan. www.cstc-a.com 3 q The Enduring Ledger Q & A with Sergeant Major of the ANA Rashon Sergeant Major of the Afghan the ranks E-9 and E-8 and we at the small-unit level and National Army Rashon Safi is have the schools. The literacy will be narrowed down until the first man to hold that title program is going very well and each Corps submits a single within the ANA. NCOs are learning to write. applicant to a board that NCOs are now being certified will meet at the June Army Q: What NCO in their rank, as well. Seminar. characteristics are you trying We have progress in another I will be president of the to develop and enhance area as well. Right now I have board, and we will judge the through training? the J-1 personnel sergeant applicants on physical fitness, major and the J-3 operations knowledge of military history, A: Right now we are working sergeant major who are my weapons familiarity, first aid, on the NCOs’ development advisors when I have to military justice, leadership, in Afghanistan. A Non- make a decision. We have a risk management, uniform and Commissioned Officer should Sergeant Major of the ANA safety sergeant major for the overall appearance. lead by example, should be Rashon Safi Afghan National Army to honest to the constitution and will know what they are doing. work on safety, and we have Q: What does being an NCO country of Afghanistan, and For the next year we are a training sergeant major to mean to you? should obey a lawful order. We working on cycle discipline. concentrate on training. The are taking that and teaching it That is, we are working on Non-Commissioned Officers in A: Non-Commissioned at the NCO schools. These are how we can send soldiers into the ANA are doing great, and Officers lead by example the things that make a Non- the combat theater, and then they are joined at the hip with with their soldiers and their Commissioned Officer a good how we can pull them back to the officers of the ANA.