Eight Years: Worth the Wait

Print Post

“This is the most significant document to come to the Afghan National Army in 40 years…once signed I will teach it to the Army”. ~General Sher Mohammad Karimi, Chief of the Afghan Army

After nearly 12 months of ‘shoulder to shoulder’ efforts within a joint Afghan/Coalition Force Steering Committee, the Ministry of Defense Directive of Organization and Functions Manual has been produced. What might sound bland at first, is anything but…This Steering Committee led by MG Payenda (Assistant Minister of Defense for Strategy and Policy), MG Habib (Executive Officer to the Chief of the General Staff), and BGen Neasmith (The Coalition Forces Assistant Commanding General-Afghan National Army Development) worked tirelessly for a year by meeting twice weekly with a small group of professionals and translators to formulate an enduring document. A document that once implemented will further elevate the independent and self reliant nature of the Afghan National Army (ANA). This nearly 400 page transitional document codifies the roles, responsibilities, and systemic cross coordination required for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the General Staff (GS). For the first time, the ministry and general staff have clarity in their organization, roles and responsibilities and most importantly, the means which to hold leaders accountable.

This historic document will be essential to seamless and successful security transition of responsibility from the Coalition Forces to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The ANA has never had a document to explain how to run their ministry and general staff. Many Afghan senior leaders have been asking for this document for more than 8 years and they are elated that they have been able to formulate such a professional manual. Implementation of the manual will be fundamental to the future transition of the MoD and ANA. The manual has been approved by the Afghan High Defense Council and the Minister of Defense. It has been presented to General Petraeus (COM ISAF), and awaits the signature of President Karzai as the Commander-in Chief of the Afghan armed forces in order to further codify it, speed implementation, and enhance transition and the self-sufficiency of the ANA.

Category: Blog - Afghan National Army