DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Professionalization in the Afghan Army

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by 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: Update on the Growing Afghan National Army

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on June 30, 2010 at 11:35 am {one comment}

We recently held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commander-Army, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (NTM-A/CSTC-A) on Friday, July 2.

Brig. Gen. Patton provided a current update on the status of the growing Afghan National Army. The Afghan National Army has grown in quality and quantity, with distinct progress in the past few months. Though challenges exist – attrition and retention being a focus – meeting current and future goals is achievable. Key focus areas are professionalization and leader development.

(more…)

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Afghan National Security Force Update

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on March 7, 2010 at 2:17 pm {one comment}

On a recent DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, we interviewed Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commanding General (Programs), Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Brig. Gen. Patton discussed how the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) are moving forward and how U.S. and NATO forces are supporting the ANSF in becoming self-sufficient.

Brig. Gen. Gary Patton has direct oversight of Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) programs and is responsible for generating and sustaining the ANSF by aligning resources to requirements in order to enable Afghan-led security.  Brig Gen Patton integrates infrastructure construction, equipment procurement, training contracts, and sustainment activities.  Additionally, he oversees a multi-billion program of local procurement that is designed to stimulate the development of manufacturing in Afghanistan in such sectors as construction and clothing. Brig Gen Patton oversees the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) process to ensure we commit our resources in an efficient and responsible manner to build an enduring COIN-capable ANSF.

LISTEN to the interview.

READ the Defense.gov story.

To view a transcript of this interview, click here.

View Brig. Gen. Patton’s bio.

Recent Comments

DoDLive on Tumblr

  • photo from Tumblr

    An United States Air Force C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft from the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, conducts flare training off the Ventura County coast. The flares are used as tactical infrared countermeasures to confuse and redirect heat-seeking missiles.

    (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dave Buttner)


  • photo from Tumblr

    Famed Yankees pitcher “Lefty Gomez” once remarked “I’d rather be lucky than good,” but for one Tuskegee Airman, luck and good combined to make him one of the most successful combat pilots of World War II.

    During the summer of 1944, 2nd Lt. Clarence D. “Lucky” Lester was flying the P-51 Mustang over the skies of Italy’s Po Valley providing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers with cover support on their way to attack airfields in southern Germany.

    Lester was assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron, a part of the 332nd Fighter Group, and had earned the nickname “Lucky” “because of all the tight situations from which I had escaped without a scratch or even a bullet hole in my aircraft.”

    Read the story of a flight that helped Lester earn his nickname here.


  • photo from Tumblr

    The only African-American ace of World War II, and a former Tuskegee Airman, went on to have a career in the Air Force, as well as success in the business world.

    Lee A. Archer joined the Army in 1941 with high hopes of becoming a pilot, but was initially denied because of his race. When the Army’s policy changed about a year later, Archer was accepted to the training program for black aviators at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.

    Archer is best known for a day in late 1944 when he was involved in a series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary. Flying a P-51 Mustang fighter, Archer shot down three German fighters. He would go on to add two more German fighters to his credit to become the first and only African-American ace of the war.

    As a civilian, Archer enjoyed even greater success, serving as vice president for urban affairs with General Foods, as CEO of North Street Capital Corp. and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the board of directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business.

    Read the rest of his story here.