DoDLive | Tag Archive | Afghan National Army

Bloggers Roundtable Recap: Sept. 20-24

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by glenn.selby on September 24, 2010 at 4:00 pm {no comments}

During the week of Sept. 20, DoDLive held two Bloggers Roundtables and one Army Bloggers Roundtables. Listed below is a recap of those roundtables:

Army Bloggers Roundtable: Army Operations Concept – Army Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Col. Mark Elfendahl, chief, Joint and Army Concepts Division and Dr. Robert Toguchi, senior concept developer, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, on Monday, Sept. 20.

They discussed the recently released Army Operating Concept (AOC), 2016-2028, and how the Army will apply available resources to overcome adaptive enemies and accomplish challenging missions for the current fight and future uncertainty.

Interview audio, and print transcript.
(more…)

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: NTM-A Female Officer Candidate Course

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by Administrator on September 17, 2010 at 1:12 pm {no comments}

We recently held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Capt. Janis Lullen and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Kristin J. Norton, 95th Training Division, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/ Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

They discussed the first graduating class of the female officer candidate course for the Afghan National Army (ANA) and their efforts training these future ANA officers.

The 20-week inaugural female officer candidate course began May 2 and is scheduled to graduate Sept. 23.

In this course innate leadership abilities are developed as the female officer candidates learn how to function as effective officers within the Afghan National Army. Following the first eight weeks, the candidates transition to specialty training in Logistics and Finance before being commissioned as second lieutenants in the ANA.

Listen to the interview.

Read the transcript.

Read the Defense.gov story: “Afghan Women Earn Army Commissions.”

Joining us on the call were Andrew Lubin, of the Military Observer; Gail Harris, of the Foreign Policy Association; Troy Steward, of Bouhammer.com; John Doyle, of 4Gwar; and Jonathan Gurwitz, of the San Antonio Express-News.

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Professionalization in the Afghan Army

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by Administrator on September 7, 2010 at 10:00 am {no comments}

Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commander-Army, NTM-A/CSTC-A. Photo courtesy of NTM-A/CSTC-A.

We recently held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commander-Army, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/ Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Patton discussed improving professionalization across the Afghan National Army.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense is working with NATO coalition forces from Deputy Command – Army (DCOM-A) to achieve the goal of developing a highly professionalized Afghan National Army.

These issues are being addressed through leadership schools, instructor development courses and branch specific schools such as infantry and future plans for logistics, cook, transportation, engineer and maintenance schools.

DCOM-A is responsible for training Afghan recruits, teaching them how to become their country’s future soldiers and leadership. This mission is the way forward so that Afghans can defend their own country, leading to coalition forces heading home.

Listen to the interview.

Read the transcript.

Read the Defense.gov story: “Trainer Sees Positive Trends in Afghan Army.”

Joining us on the call were John Doyle, of 4Gwar; Andrew Lubin, of the Military Observer; Anand Choudhuri, of Registan; and J.D. Leipold, of Army News Service.

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Coalition Forces Build Afghan Engingeering Capabilities

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by Administrator on August 10, 2010 at 1:30 pm {no comments}

Lt. Col. Steven LaCasse, Infrastructure Training Advisory Group Director. Photo courtesy of NTM-A

Col. Mike Wehr, U.S. Army CJ-Engineer Director. Photo courtesy of NTM-A

We recently held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Mike Wehr, Combined Joint Engineer director and Lt. Col. Steven LaCasse, Infrastructure Training Advisory Group (ITAG) director, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, on Monday, Aug. 16.

Col. Wehr and Lt. Col. LaCasse discussed how ITAG engineers are striving to enable transition of the operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to sustain the Afghan National Security Forces well into the future.

The majority of enduring facilities for the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police to date are scheduled for construction over the next three to four years, equating to $5.3 billion dollars budgeted in fiscal year 2010 and 2011. This reflects the accelerated growth up to 171,600 army troops and 134,000 police. As the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, engineer team incorporates more Afghan solutions to accomplish the construction, the team is also setting conditions for the transition of facilities and infrastructure to the Afghans.

(more…)

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Professionalization of ANA NCO Corps

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by glenn.selby on July 16, 2010 at 3:25 pm {no comments}

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Michael Logan

We recently held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Michael Logan, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan on Tuesday, July 20, 2010.

Sgt. Maj. Logan discussed the solid results in the growth of the Afghan National Army the last seven months. Along with growth objectives being met or exceeded, they have seen a growth in the quality of the Afghan army soldier. Conversely, the Afghan National Army is focusing on the growth and development of its non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps, the Afghan Army’s backbone.

The Afghan Army training and professionalization has improved drastically. For example, two courses have been added to the Afghan National Army NCO education system to bridge the NCO gap: the four-week Team Leader Course and the 12-week “1U” Direct Entry Course. Additionally, battlefield promotions (to NCO rank) for deserving soldiers is another initiative.

Listen to the interview.

Read the transcript.

Read the Defense.gov story: “Better NCO Training Boosts Afghan Army’s Capabilities”

Joining us on the call were Gail Harris, of Gail Force: Security and Defense Issues Today; and Lance Bacon, of Army Times.