Afghan National Army holds Senior Security Shura focused on logistics
Story by US Army Capt. Monika Comeaux
Deputy Command – Support Operations, Public Affairs Officer
NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan
Senior military and logistics leaders from the Afghan National Army, with some help from Regional Support Command – Capital and Deputy Command of Support Operations mentors, gathered for a logistics Shura Sept. 29 at one of the national-level logistics warehouses known as ‘Depot 0’ in Kabul.
The purpose of the Shura was to inform ANA commanders on the capabilities of the national level logistics system and to provide a forum for discussion on national logistics processes and priorities.
Afghan Minister of Defense Bismillah Khan Muhammadi addressed participants of the Afghan National Army Senior Security Shura Sept. 29 at Depot 0, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Senior logistics leaders of the ANA came together to discuss logistics processes, accomplishments and challengers. The Afghan Interior Minister and senior International Security Assistance Forces personnel also attended the conference to obtain better visibility on the state of the ANA logistics systems. Once the conference was complete, participants had a guided tour of Depot 0, to show them where some of the supplies originate from at the national level. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO)
Among the invitees were all ANA Corps commanders and senior logistics managers, as well as the Afghan Interior Minister and senior leaders from the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) headquarters.
“The message we are trying to get across here is all the progress we have made in logistics for the ANA,” said US Navy Capt. William B. Mattimore, logistics command advisor from RSC – Capital. “They have come a long way. This is an opportunity to show the rest of the ANA, the chain of command and the ministers, how far we have come, and how efficient these warehouses are.” Mattimore sees clear progress in ANA logistics development and thought it was very important to bring Afghan leaders together and organize this senior logistics conference.
“We have been building the ANA, increasing our numbers, it is now time that we focus on quality, not quantity,” said the Assistant Defense Minister for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Lt. Gen. Abdul Hamid Mohebullah through an interpreter during his opening remarks. “In order to provide security and peace for our people, we have to get the right logistics at the right place, at the right time”, he said.
The 203rdAfghan National Army Corps Commander, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Yaftali, provided an update on their maintenance readiness, stating that 80 percent of their Ford Rangers are operational. Several things are going well within his corps, he said, however there is a shortage of some Class II (clothing) items, more specifically boots. They have 21,000 personnel assigned, but only have 3000 boots to issue to his soldiers; therefore, his corps needs more boots.
Other commanders raised the issue of the lack of Tashkil (authorization table for personnel and equipment) authorized transportation assets, the need for more living areas or containers, or not receiving an annual logistics plan from higher headquarters.
Senior Afghan National Army leaders listen attentively during the ANA’s Senior Security Shura focusing on ANA logistics on Sept. 29 at Depot 0, Kabul, Afghanistan. Organizers invited all ANA corps commanders and corps G4s (senior logisticians), the Afghan Minister of Defense and Interior as well as senior International Security Assistance Forces senior leaders and logistics leaders. The topic discussed included the state of ANA logistics, challenges and accomplishments and also touched on some new processes that will be shortly introduced, like a simpler and more expedient way of processing the MOD14 forms used to order supplies. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO)
Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Hotak, Army Support Command commander, briefed about the roles and responsibilities of ASC. Some of the subordinate ANA commanders are still not fully aware of this relatively new department in the Ministry of Defense, said Hotak. He further explained about the Regional Logistics Support Commands, which provide support to the ANA corps in their individual areas of operation, however fall under ASC command. Hotak also explained how the RLSCs support the ANA corps focusing on three major areas, which are materiel management, supply distribution and maintenance support.
One of the updates provided during the conference came from the Logistics and Materiel Readiness chief, Maj. Gen. Abdullah, who explained in detail about how the MOD14 ordering form process will be expedited and simplified in the near future. The main change being that the form will require the signatures of fewer managers between the unit where the order is placed and the regional or national depots where the order is filled. This topic attracted quite a few questions from the Afghan invitees, and it also attracted the interest of Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Muhammadi, who supported making the process shorter and more effective.
Attendees left the conference with plenty of handout materials and laminated smart cards that contained quick reference charts on logistics processes, to include the simplified MOD14 processing.
Upon completion of the conference, organizers took the participants on a walking tour of one of the national-level warehouses, to show them the Class IX (spare and repair parts) warehouse, explain the shipping process and allow the ANA leaders an opportunity to ask questions. The MOI plans to organize follow on conferences at least once a quarter, as it was stated during the event. Because of the discussions during the conference, Lt. Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi, the chief of staff of the Afghan Army called a second session on the following day for all commanders and logistics chiefs (G4s) to further discuss the logistics issues of the ANA.
NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, is a coalition of 38 troop contributing nations 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
Category: News - Logistics, News - News
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