NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Organizational Logo.
Active	November 2009–Present
Country	Afghanistan
Role	Training the Afghan National Security Forces
Size	1830 as of November 2009
Headquarters	Kabul
Commanders
Commanding General	LTG William B. Caldwell, IV

The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) operates under a dual-hatted command, with one commander for both the US-led Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan (CSTC-A) and the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan. The mission provides a higher-level training for the Afghan National Army (ANA), including defense colleges and academies, as well as being responsible for doctrine development, and training and advising Afghan National Police (ANP).

Its website at www.ntm-a.com www.ntm-a.com posts a mission statement: NTM-A/CSTC-A, in coordination with NATO Nations and Partners, International Organizations, Donors and NGO's (Non-Government Organizations); supports GIRoA (Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) as it generates and sustains the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces), develops leaders, and establishes enduring institutional capacity in order to enable accountable Afghan-led security."

This will reflect the Afghan Government’s policing priorities and will complement existing training and capacity development programs, including the European Union Police Mission and the work of the International Police Coordination Board.

During the 1960s to the early 1990s, the Afghan army was trained and equipped by the Soviet Union. By 1992 the national army fragmented into regional militias under local warlords. This was followed by the Taliban rule in 1996. After the removal of the Taliban in late 2001, the new Afghan National Army began to be created with the support of US and other NATO countries. Now all training for Afghanistan will be conducted by a single Command.

History

Afghan Minister Wardak signs a NATO treaty in 2009.

At a NATO Summit in Strasbourg-Kehl while celebrating sixty years of peace and security within the Alliance, NATO Allies and partners, announced that they would establish a NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, drawing on NATO’s successful experience training in Iraq, to oversee higher level training for the Afghan National Army while training and mentoring the Afghan National Police.

NTM-A, joined with CSTC-A on November 21, 2009 to create a comprehensive training program for Afghanistan.

On November, 23 2009 NATO obtained commitments from allies for personnel and resources to train, mentor and equip the ANA and ANP.

Current status

The current mission of NTM-A is to oversee higher level training for the Afghan National Army (ANA) and training and mentoring for the Afghan National Police (ANP).
In coordination with Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, to plan and implement authorized and resourced operational capacity building for Afghan National Security Forces, in order to enhance the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's ability to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan.

Training

ANA

Members of the coalition forces in Afghanistan have undertaken different responsibilities in the creation of the ANA. All these various efforts are managed on the Coalition side by NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan (NTM-A), a three-star level multi-national command headquartered in downtown Kabul. On the ANA side, as of July 2006^[update] all training and education in the Army is managed and implemented by the newly-formed Afghan National Army Training Command (ANATC), a two-star command which reports directly to the Chief of the General Staff. All training centers and military schools are under ANATC HQ. The coalition forces are partnered with the ANA to mentor and support formal training through Task Force Phoenix. This program was formalized in April 2003, based near the Kabul Military Training Center coordinating collective and individual training, mentoring, and Coalition Force support.

Each ANA HQ above battalion level has an embedded Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) of NATO trainers and mentors acting as liaisons between ANA and ISAF. The OMLTs co-ordinate operational planning and ensure that the ANA units receive enabling support.^[1]

Individual basic training is conducted primarily by Afghan National Army instructors and staff at ANATC's Kabul Military Training Center, situated on the eastern edge of the capital. The ANA are still supported, however, with various levels of CSTC-A oversight, mentorship, and assistance. The US military assists in the basic and advanced training of enlisted recruits, and also runs the Drill Instructor School which produces new training NCOs for the basic training courses.

A French army advisory team oversees the training of officers for staff and platoon or company command in a combined commissioning/infantry officer training unit called the Officer Training Brigade, also located at Kabul Military Training Center. OTB candidates in the Platoon and Company Command courses are usually older former militia and mujaheddin 'officers' with various levels of military experience.

Soldiers of the 205th Corps in 2005.

The United Kingdom also conducts initial infantry officer training and commissioning at the Officer Candidate School. While OCS is administratively under OTB's control, it is kept functionally separate. OCS candidates are young men with little or no military experience. The British Army also conduct initial and advanced Non-Commissioned Officer training as well in a separate NCO Training Brigade.

The Canadian Forces supervises the Combined Training Exercise portion of initial military training, where trainee soldiers, NCOs, and officers are brought together in field training exercises at the platoon, company and (theoretically) battalion levels to certify them ready for field operations. In the Regional Corps, line ANA battalions have attached Coalition Embedded Training Teams that continue to mentor the battalion's leadership, and advise in the areas of intelligence, communications, fire support, logistics and infantry tactics.

Formal education and professional development is currently conducted at two main ANATC schools, both in Kabul. The National Military Academy of Afghanistan, located near Kabul International Airport, is a four-year military university, which will produce degreed second lieutenants in a variety of military professions. NMAA's first cadet class entered its second academic year in spring 2006. A contingent of US and Turkish military instructors jointly mentor the NMAA faculty and staff. The Command and General Staff College, located in southern Kabul, prepares mid-level ANA officers to serve on brigade and corps staffs. France established the CGSC in early 2004, and a cadre of French Army instructors continues to oversee operations at the school. A National Defense University will also be established at a potential site in northwestern Kabul. Eventually all initial officer training (to include the NMAA) as well as the CGSC will be re-located to the new NDU facility.

ANP

The Afghan National Police (ANP) program is the police part of the ANSF. The ANP will continue growing to an 82,000 police force comprising Border Police, Uniform Police, Afghan Civil Order Police (ANCOP), and Counter Narcotics Police during FY09. In FY 2009 the training requirement shifts from force production to sustainment of the force and professionalization of the force.

This will be accomplished by completing the border police end strength to 18,000 with 1,550 new border police completing basic training. ANCOP will reach its authorized level by training 2,100 new ANCOP policemen.

Basic training for 3,500 new Uniform Police is planned to stop attrition in the ANP. With the force at 82,000 the remaining training capability will be used for professional courses to include a new advanced police course projected to train 3,200 graduates of the basic police training. These courses are required to provide a professional force free from corruption that can enforce the Rule of Law.

Afghan National Police Officer reading in his off time.

Specialized training courses such as: Bayman and Pandshir Model Police, Justice and Corrections program, literacy program, criminal investigation division, counter terrorism program, Border Police training, Domestic violence, Sexual Assault, Professional standards Units, Family Assistance Unit, Trafficking in Persons Program, Senior Leadership English Language, Medic Training, TIP Courses, Tactical Training Program (SWAT), Public Order Program, FTO/PTP, Drivers Training and Records Identification Program. Provides for ANP Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) / Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) initial training. These funds will train 16 eight man teams on IED defeat mechanisms.

The course will be a comprehensive three level training that will be used within the ANP units. The contract will include a complete train the trainer program to stand-up and train all CIED teams within the ANP and a team for the EOD School. Train-the-Trainer approach will allow reduction in mentors beginning in FY10. Combat medic training supports the ongoing operations, continuing development, and future expansion of the ANP Kabul Clinic, 4 Regional Clinics, and various other mini-clinics throughout the ANP area of responsibility.

Provides for attendance and training at the FBI Academy’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Course, Police Partnership Training events and Passport Processing/Customs Training events. Preventive Medicine training sustains the long-term conservation platforms for the operating strength of the ANP. Program will teach personal hygiene and sanitation procedures to reduce the disease rate and potentially increase the daily strength available for operations.

Provides instructors and advisors to support a curriculum that will prepare recruits in specialized areas of law enforcement such as criminal investigation and special weapons and tactics. Includes instructors for the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) National Training Facility at Adraskan. Because of the decades of turmoil in Afghanistan, there is a dearth of trained legal experts and legal staff that can step into the MoI's Legal Advisor department without significant remedial training provided in the program. The Fire Department Training Facility will train up to 450 per year. The Fire Department will need a dedicated training facility in Kabul providing initial, special and sustainment training for the Fire Departments across the country.

This budget item will provide for the construction of this specialized facility and training equipment and practical exercise “burn house” and well as first aid training and associated training aids. Program will, in conjunction with the MoI Staff, develop and publish needed doctrine for the Afghan National Police. These publications will include: policy and procedure manual, First Aid Publication, Fire Department Operations Manual, Criminal Investigation Field Manual, Border Police Operations Manual, Afghanistan National Civil Order Police Operations Manual, a Weapons Training Manual for Fire Arms Instructors, and a Field Training Officers (FTO) Manual.

These projects are to provide needed police doctrine while their production will enable the MoI to develop a fully functional doctrine section. Basic literacy remains a significant issue due to the low literacy rate of the adult. Literacy is required for advancement/promotion beyond Patrolman rank for all ANP organizations; English literacy is vitally important for senior ANP force leadership and bringing ANP organizations up to international standards. Initiates Dari/Pashto and Low Intensity English Literacy programs in each Regional/Zones beginning at Regional Command locations (Jalalabad, Gardez, Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar-e-Sharif).

ANP Training Facilities

Afghan National Police graduates at the German Police Training Center at Mazar-e-Sharif.

Germans German Police Training Center at Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh Province (400 capacity)
Turkey Turkish Police Training Center, Wardak Province (50 capacity)
Czechoslovakia Czech Police Training Center, Logar Province (90 capacity)
Italy Italian Carabinieiri run Adraskan National Training Center, Herat Province (800 capacity)
United Kingdom British run Helmand Police Training Center, Helmand Province (150 capacity)
Canada Canadian run TSS Costall, Kandahar Province (200 capacity)The Canadians also run FOB Walton, Kandahar Province (200 capacity)
New Zealand Kiwi run Crime Scene Investigator school at RTC Bamiyan, Bamiyan Province (72 capacity)
France Gendarmerie initiative to run RLC Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh Province (300 capacity); and Gendarmerie execution by 5 December 2009 for NCO to Officer (OCS) schooling
Netherlands Dutch built, U.S. run TSS Tarin Kwot, Uruzgan Province (150 capacity)

Personnel strength

As of May 2009^[update], total manpower is over 90,000 personnel with 100,000 expected by August 2009.^[2] Facilities and capacity planning efforts are rapidly adjusting to the significant increases in national recruiting efforts to meet manpower needs. A further proposal for expansion to 134,000 was announced in October 2008.^[3] This was modified to a five year goal of 260,000 Afghan troops by President Obama and is supported by the Afghan Defense Ministry.

Operations

A platoon of ANA soldiers at a rescue operation in February 2005.

Following the crash of Kam Air Flight 904 on February 4, 2005, The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) made numerous unsuccessful helicopter rescue operation attempts. But when technology failed, Afghan National Army soldiers searched for the plane. The Ministry of Defense ordered the ANA's Central Corps to assemble a team to attempt a rescue of victims presumed to be alive. The crash site was at an altitude of 11,000 feet (3,400 m) on the peak of the Chaperi Mountain, 20 miles (32 km) east of the Afghan capital of Kabul.^[4]

The Afghan army caught the senior Taliban leader Mullah Mahmood near Khandahar, who was wearing a Burkha. Mahmood was suspected of organizing suicide attacks in Kandahar province.^[5] More than forty-nine Taliban fighters were killed by the Afghan forces in one of the independent operations carried out by the Afghan forces.^[6]

In a rescue operation, the Afghan National Army deployed their Mi-8 helicopters and evacuated flood victims in the Ghorban district of Parwan province. Afghan soldiers safely evacuated 383 families to safer places.^[7]

The Afghan Army has already begun small independent operations^[8] which were expanded to large-scale operations in spring 2009.^[8] One operation included a small retaliation and invasion^[9] and firing at Pakistan in^[10] This incident was fueled by anti-Pakistani tensions in Afghanistan^[9] and the rising animosity between the two nations.^[9] The Afghan army fired rockets on a Pakistani army border post in the Kudakhel area, after the Pakistani army attempted to build a post in Paktika, Afghanistan.^[9]

Future

According to statements made by Col. Thomas McGrath on October 19, 2007 the coalition supporting the build-up of the ANA has seen progress and is pleased with the Afghan performance in recent exercises. Col. McGrath estimated that the ANA should be capable of carrying out independent brigade-size operations by the spring of 2008.^[11]

On December 23, 2007, the CTV and CBC television network reported that Canada's military will supply the Afghan National Army with surplus C7 assault rifles in order to bring the ANA up to NATO equipment standards.^[12]

The Afghan National Army has a contract with International Trucks. It will provide a fleet of 2781 trucks which can be used for transporting personnel, water, petroleum and a recovery truck. The Afghan National Army has already received 374 out of the 2781 trucks.

In August 2008, Robert Gates endorsed expanding the size of the ANA, with the cost ranging between $17–20 billion. The Afghan National Army has an end goal of 300,000 soldiers and an expanded air force but wants to reach 136,000 by the start of the next decade.

Ford pickup trucks have been replaced by 660 tactical ambulance vehicles from the USA.

The Czech Republic and Hungary have announced they will donate advanced air medic choppers to the Army and National Police, as well as more new trucks for border security in the Afghan-Pakistan frontier to defend it from Pakistani Taliban incursions.

On March 19, 2009, American President Barack Obama called for an expansion of the National Army to 260,000 soldiers. The cost would reach $20 billion dollars and would beef up Afghan manpower as well as inject the army with more modern equipment.^[13]

Greece is donating at least 13 M60A3 main battle tanks to help bolster Afghan tank platoons. Greece may increase this number to almost 50 tanks, hoping to impress its NATO allies.^[14]

According to Martin Strmecki, a member of the Defense Policy Board and a former top Pentagon adviser on Afghanistan in a speech to the United States Senate, "the Afghan Army should increase to 250,000 soldiers and the National Police Force should add more than 100,000 officers. Only when Afghan security forces reaches those numbers would they achieve the level necessary for success in counterinsurgency."^[2]

On November 12, 2009, the Chief of the Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk declared the Afghan National Army will not receive the Canadian Leopard 1 like anticipated previously by Abdul Rahim Wardak in 2007. General Walter Natynczyk declared the Afghan National Army maybe has access to surplus supplies and also M-113 recently modernized.^[15]

See also

• Provincial Reconstruction Team

References

1. ^ Nato.int: Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) Programme
2. ^ ^{a b} Shanker, Thom; Schmitt, Eric (March 19, 2009). "U.S. Plans Vastly Expanded Afghan Security Force". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/us/politics/19military.html. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
3. ^ Afghanistan Says International Force Promises to Reduce Civilian Casualties, Steve Herman, Kabul, 05 October 2008
4. ^ U.S. Department of Defense - Afghan National Army Assists in Plane Crash Aftermath, By Sgt. 1st Class Mack Davis, USA Special to American Forces Press Service
5. ^ Afghan National Army captures senior Taliban leader near Kandahar
6. ^ MLive.com: 49 Taliban killed by Afghan forces
7. ^ Black Anthem Military News: Afghan Army helicopters and soldiers assist flood victims
8. ^ ^{a b} http://washingtonindependent.com/31689/afghan-officials-want-war-goals-maintained
9. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1293995.php/Clash_erupts_between_Afghan_Pakistani_forces_over_border_fence
10. ^ 2008.http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1293995.php/Clash_erupts_between_Afghan_Pakistani_forces_over_border_fence
11. ^ Army.mil: Afghan, Coalition Forces Battle Taliban, Narcotics, Emphasize Training
12. ^ CBC Canadian military donates 2,500 rifles to Afghan army
13. ^ BBC NEWS (2009-03-19). "Obama 'mulls Afghan army boost'". BBC NEWS. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7952085.stm. Retrieved 19 March 2009. 
14. ^ murdoc online (2009-04-277). "Afghans getting powerful Greek tanks". murdoc. http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/004878.html. Retrieved 27 April 2009. 
15. ^ Dave Pugliese (2009-11-11). "No Canadian Leopards for the Afghan Army". Ottawa Citizen. http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/archive/2009/11/12/no-canadian-leopard-tanks-for-the-afghan-army-says-natynczyk.aspx. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 

[1]

Further reading

• Antonio Giustozzi, "Shadow Ownership and SSR in Afghanistan," Chap. 11 in Tim Donnais (ed.) Local Ownership and Security Sector Reform, DCAF/Lit Verlag, Zurich/Berlin, 2008 ‘Local Ownership.’
• Antonio Giustozzi, "Auxiliary Force or National Army: Afghanistan ‘ANA’ and the COIN Effort," 2002-2006, Small Wars and Insurgencies, Vol. 18, No.1, 45-67, March 2007
• War, politics and society in Afghanistan, 1978–1992, By Antonio Giustozzi

External links

• Hierarchy of Command Structure
• Government Accountability Office, AFGHANISTAN SECURITY: Efforts to Establish Army and Police Have Made Progress, but Future Plans Need to Be Better Defined GAO-05-575, June 2005
• Photo Gallery (Construction of ANA military bases by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
• Article by Afghan policy analyst