Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan April 2009 www.cstc-a.com 1 q The Enduring Ledger Incoming Brigades expand embedded trainer capabilities and ANP by MG Richard P. Formica Vol. 3, Issue 4 April 2009 We already knew that the 48th CSTC-A Commanding General Infantry Brigade Combat Team Table of Contents from Georgia would succeed Page 2: CG’s Message Our task in the Combined the 33rd BCT from Illinois in Page 3: CSM’s Message Security Transition Command- August as Task Force Phoenix Page 5: Up Close with General Bismullah Afghanistan is to build IX. The 4,000 new trainers Mohammadi sustainable capacity and will come to us mostly in the Page 6: CSTC-A Two-Brigade Concept capability in the Afghan form of a second BCT: the 4th Page 7: Afghan Training; ETTs and OMLTs Page 8: Counterinsurgency Guidance National Security Forces IBCT from the 82nd Airborne Page 11: Building Relationships with the (ANSF) – both in the Afghan Division of Fort Bragg, North ANSF National Army (ANA) and the Carolina. 4-82nd IBCT will join Page 12: ANSF in Action Afghan National Police (ANP). the 48th IBCT in September. Page 14: Focus on: 278th Signal Company Page 15: Capital Jumpstart: Training ANP We do this through CSTC-A’s With their arrival, we will Page 16: EUPOL Update incredible organizational energy, transition to a two-BCT concept Page 17: APPF Graduation our partnership with many for the provision of CSTC-A’s MG Formica Page 18: Capability Milestones coalition allies, governmental embedded trainers. Page 19: Command & Staff College particularly in the East Page 20: PMTs, VTTs and non-governmental This will be part of a new and South, under General Page 21: ANA Women Soldiers learn CLS stakeholders, and with our approach to how we generate McKiernan’s concept, will Page 22: Warrior of the Month significant resources. and develop the ANSF. These assume new responsibilities to Page 23: ANAAC MedEvac But it is our embedded additional forces will help us provide embedded trainers for Editorial Staff trainers/mentors who have the gradually replace the nearly and partner with ANA units, CSTC-A Commanding General most profound impact on our 1500 trainers in embedded ANP districts and ABP (Afghan Major General Richard P. Formica mission. These mentors build training teams from Fort Riley, Border Police) Kandaks. Command Sergeant Major critical trust with our Afghan Kansas, and return them to Our two-BCT concept, Command Sergeant Major Arthur partners at the Ministries and the Army to fill other pressing combined with the provision L. Coleman Jr. General Staff and down to the assignments. of more coalition OMLTs Public Affairs Director Kandak level in the ANA and In addition, the Afghan and POMLTs, and Special Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kubik to Police districts in the ANP. Regional Security Integration Operations Forces’ mentoring of Public Affairs Deputy Director These Embedded Training Commands (ARSICs) as we and partnering with select units, Navy Lieutenant Kent Laborde Teams (ETTs) and Police know them will go away. Many should substantially improve our NCOIC Mentor Teams (PMTs) –along of the duties they perform will approach to training. This will Petty Officer 1st Class Cliff Williams with Coalition Operational now be accomplished by the two result in increased numbers and Layout and Design Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLTs) BCT headquarters and through more capable ANA and ANP Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Dillard and Police Operational Mentor their subordinate battalion task formations throughout the battle Graphics Liaison Teams (POMLTs) – are forces. space. Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward Vasquez the heartbeat of our mentorship To implement this concept, All of these new and powerful Contributors program. we’ll consolidate the 48th IBCT concepts and assets should Staff Sergeant Sarah Stegman It’s no secret that we’ve in the North, Central and East; enable us to mentor/train all of About the front cover: Photo by Stewart been under-resourced in this 4-82nd IBCT will provide the our fielded ANA units and about Nusbaumer. Soldiers from the Afghan critical capability for years. Our trainers in the South and West. half of the ANP districts by the National Army’s 1st Kandak, 2nd Brigade, predecessors had to spread ANA They’ll establish their mentor end of the year. 201st Corps, receive instruction on their trainers across the Army and relationships with ANA units At the heart of all this change new M-16s from Afghan instructors and the Police – leaving shortages and police districts and with are the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines from ETT 2-7 as part of an initiative of embedded trainers in both the regional commanders in Airmen, Marines and Civilians to equip the ANA with NATO weapons. forces. whose battle space they provide in our ETTs and PMTs. These Marine in foreground is Sergeant Uselton Recently, however, we trainers. and in background is Gunnery Sergeant teams work together to train Both BCTs will be provided Mario Garza. received welcome news. As a and resource ANA, ANP and About the back cover: Photo by Petty result of his strategic review, two additional Colonels and ABP units, building sustainable Officer 2nd Class Paul Dillard. Officers President Obama announced Command Sergeants Major / capacity and capability. from Police District 1 and PMT members the decision to deploy 4,000 Sergeants Major to serve as They “listen to the mountains” from RPAC-K on the busy streets of Kabul. additional trainers to our directors for ANA and ANP in order to establish close, The Enduring Ledger is a monthly mission in Afghanistan. development. These key meaningful relationships with publication of the Department of Defense and This announcement: leaders will provide the vertical their Afghan partners. Our ETTs Combined Security Transition Command- • reflects a significant and integration of all mentors in their Afghanistan (CSTC-A). This publication is and PMTs risk their lives every released monthly by the CSTC-A Public Affairs demonstrable commitment to respective BCTs. They also will day. Office, Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan. In the development of the ANSF provide senior-level interaction It is to these ETTs and PMTs accordance with DoD Instruction 5120.4, this • reaffirms the US with our Afghan partners and that we remain indebted for their DoD magazine is an authorized publication for Government’s commitment to with International Security members of the U.S. military overseas. Contents service and sacrifice. of The Enduring Ledger are not necessarily growth and reform in the ANSF Assistance Force (ISAF) the official view of, or endorsed by the U.S. • opened the door for future Regional Commanders. Yak Team Wahed! government or DoD. growth of the both the ANA Battle space owners – 2 q The Enduring Ledger www.cstc-a.com ANP continue to make great strides by CSM Arthur L. Coleman Jr. But my emphasis is down at the individual police as well as CSTC-A Command Sergeant Major at the teams and districts. As I visited one location a couple I would like to say of weeks ago, I saw that one remarkable change has been in “welcome” to all of our new the area of weapons marksmanship training. This is one clear arrivals: Army, Navy, Air sign of reform. Force, Marines, and Civilians. As we move forward, the police senior enlisted Congratulations to all of you leadership— the Chief NCO of the Afghan National Police, for your selection to this Karim Khan— has taken a personal interest in current command. What an exciting operations as well as focusing on the fight. He has placed time to be assigned to CSTC-A. special emphasis on accountability of not only weapons, but With the focus of war efforts also on other key and essential equipment. This is another clearly shifting towards our clear example of growth not only in the NCO Corps of the mission here, you’re truly in the police, but also across the board. I ask that all of our mentors right place at the right time to continue to lean forward and put emphasis on teaching and CSM Coleman make a difference. coaching, especially in mentoring your counterparts. First I would like to recognize the mentors for the Afghan Another area is managing risk. At each level, there are National Police. What an awesome year of building the certain risks that are acceptable; however, always conduct a Afghan Police, as well as the Afghan Border Patrol. The risk assessment to make sure that the mission fits the risk. Afghan Police in some cases are unsung heroes. On a Last but not least, this is a complex organization, and as day-to-day basis they are becoming more and more the we continue to build the Afghan National Security Forces, cornerstone of the Afghan National Security Forces—making it is important that we continue to build true partnerships improvements in accountability, conducting voter registration with our Afghan counterparts. I ask you to continue to seek operations, and at the same time conducting police reform. opportunities to reinforce Afghan lead roles. photo by Sgt. Jessica R. Dahlberg An Afghan National Police officer checks a vehicle’s undercarriage during a vehicle-search class at the Parwan province’s police headquarters in the Charikar district. www.cstc-a.com 3 q The Enduring Ledger Up close with General Bismullah Mohammadi General Bismullah Mohammadi This is good for the people of was in the 12th grade when the Afghanistan. We are trying our best to Russians invaded Afghanistan. He build upon the relationship between the joined the Mujahadin soon after, Afghan people and the Afghan National serving in diverse capacities until Army, so that they will continue to see the collapse of the Communist it as good.