General John Allen visits KMTC

Story by Capt. Ian McIntyre

NATO Training Mission -Afghanistan Public Affairs

 

 

 

 

Thomas Alva Edison, the developer of a great many devices that influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the incandescent electric light bulb wrote, “Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration.”

When the Coalition first engaged in training the Afghan National Army (ANA), its focus was on the development of a military that would be capable of taking responsibility for their own nation’s security. As of May 2012, the ANA’s numbers were in excess of 197,000 soldiers. This was largely accomplished through Leadership training, Literacy, and Specialty programs such as those offered at the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC).

“I know this is where the heart beats for the Afghan National Army,” said General John Allen, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the United States Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A). “We will continue to provide support to KMTC for however long we can and for however long it is needed.”

With countries around the world looking at ways to help support Afghanistan beyond 2014 (the projected drawdown date for the Coalition forces), one of areas that they will be focusing on will be to promote regional security and cooperation and build confidence and trust with the international community.

“I wear two hats,” said Gen. Allen. “One is as the Commander of NATO Forces and one is as the U.S. Forces Commander. Our number one priority is to maintain a close relationship with KMTC.”

As with any challenge, it is critical to fully understand it. This involves discussions and interviews with decision makers and industry experts, as well as collecting and analyzing available information. Once the challenges faced are accurately defined, the chances of successfully developing appropriate solutions increase. Some of the key challenges facing the ANA post-2014 include securing sufficient financial support to sustain the ANA following the pull-out of foreign troops, and monitoring how that aid is used in order to avoid any misuse or corruption, both of which have been major hurdles in putting aid projects into practice in the past.

By the end of 2014, when the government of Afghanistan takes full responsibility for its own security, long-term support through international partnerships with Afghanistan will continue. Certainly, the Kabul Conference held in June 2012 outlined the commitment of Afghanistan and its international neighbors and partners to jointly ensure security, stability and development.

“One of my principal long-term concerns is that KMTC is appropriately resourced,” said Gen. Allen. “While we have helped a little, the ANA have done a lot.”

NTM-A is a coalition of 38 troop-contributing nations charged with assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in generating a capable and sustainable Afghan National Security Force ready to take lead of their country’s security by 2014. For more information about NTM-A, visit www.ntm-a.com.

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Category: News - General