Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 31, 2006
Afghanistan National Security Forces
Afghan National Army
The United States has led the international effort to train and equip the Afghan National Army. U.S. efforts have resulted in the training of approximately 26,900 troops (14,500 of whom are combat troops) and the establishment of five regional commands: Kabul, Gardez, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e Sharif.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense and the United States have worked closely on a program designed to train Ministry officials and General Staff to manage and lead the Afghan defense establishment. Reforms focus on developing an ethnically balanced organization and professional staff whocan effectively provide strategic direction, policy, resources and coordination of Afghan military institutions.
The Afghanistan National Army has been effective in bringing greater security to the Afghan people. Many units are supporting Coalition forces in combat operations. Assisted by U.S. Embedded Training Teams (ETTs), they have helped quell factional fighting, battled insurgents alongside U.S. troops and ensured security for the country’s successful presidential and parliamentary elections. As a partner in regional security operations, Afghan troops assisted in Pakistan after the devastating 2005 earthquake.
Afghan National Police
The United States has been working in partnership with Germany in training the Afghan National Police. Germany is training senior police leadership at the Kabul police academy. The U.S. is providing basic training courses at a central training facility in Kabul and seven Regional Training Centers in other provinces.
More than 57,000 members of the National Police, Highway Police, and Border Police have completed basic training programs at U.S. facilities. Over 12,000 have also completed more advanced training courses in specialized areas such as firearms, crowd control, investigative techniques, and domestic violence. All National Police are expected to complete basic training by mid-2006; Highway Police will all complete training in mid-2008. In the past year, the U.S. has enhanced the Afghan National Police training program with mentors, embedding over 200 trainers and advisors around the country.
As part of a major pay and rank reform program, the U.S. and international partners are helping the Afghan National Police leadership to build a merit-based leadership and discipline structure to assure that the Police become widely-respected public servants and officers of a society based on the rule of law.
2006/114
Released on January 31, 2006
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