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PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Despite an icy breeze blowing across a dirt field, Afghan linguists squared off against Afghan National Army soldiers in a season-ending championship game of cricket, an Afghan pastime. A few weeks later, a post-duty day soccer match took place on the same -and recently snow covered- field.
At a gym a few blocks away, a group of about 20 enlisted ANA soldiers take turns practicing jump kicks during a martial arts class, while other troops lift weights and jump rope.
“We encourage soldiers to exercise in different ways according to their interests,” said 203rd Thunder Corps Garrison ANA Sgt. Maj. Sheengul Saadat.
Running, wrestling, weightlifting, soccer and cricket are some of the choices soldiers at the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Thunder Corps Headquarters on Forward Operating Base Thunder, have when it comes to staying in peak mental and physical shape.
“Every Wednesday, we gather our company and platoon sergeants in a meeting for physical training and sports,” Saadat said.
The ANA physical training program at FOB Thunder isn’t as structured or developed as an American fitness program. Depending on the facilities and equipment available to the brigades, PT programs are only as successful as the soldiers who help develop and participate in the activities.
In order to make sure his soldiers are satisfied with the options, Saadat oversees the program and on a daily basis, asks which soldiers are interested in both teaching and participating in a sport.
“I see soldiers who are interested and introduce them to a coach,” Saadat said. “We are helping them 100 percent.”
ANA Master Sgt. Mustafa Mushtaq is the noncommissioned officer in charge of the physical fitness program. He organizes most of the sports while also trying his best to procure uniforms and equipment.
“I have a special interest in sports and I accepted this position,” said Mushtaq, a seven- year ANA veteran, who previously served as a teacher at the Afghan Ministry of Education.
Standards throughout the entire ANA have not been clearly defined, and the regional commands have different stages of implementing and developing routines for their soldiers. Funding for uniforms and equipment has been a challenge. Logistical issues like weather and operational requirements also hinder the effectiveness of the program.
“We can follow nearly half of the standards,” Mushtaq said. “In the future, we will try to follow them 100 percent.”
Like their American counterparts, Afghan troops are required to do what’s necessary to be combat effective and are willing to do whatever it takes to make the best of their situation.
ANA 2nd Lt. Abdul Wahid Janbez, deputy of information officer at the corps communication branch, started teaching Wushu Shaolin, a Chinese martial art more commonly known as Kung Fu, to ANA soldiers four months ago.
“The motive I had to start this class was because it is very useful to our personnel,” he said.
Janbaz has been practicing Wushu for 13 years. He has competed in numerous championship matches, with a large list of achievements under his belts. Due to lack of funding, he paid for uniforms, gloves and punching bags himself.
“We are in extraordinary circumstances,” he said. “Every soldier should be in peak physical shape, regardless if they are in the infantry or in an administrative job.”
His students are appreciative of the effort.
“It prepares us to do our duty 24-hours a day in a proper way,” said ANA Sgt. Hesamuden Sharifi, one of nearly 40 Wushu students. ”It is also very useful for my physical and mental health.”
The 203rd Corps keeps close ties with the Ministry of Defense and the other corps to compare development of different fitness programs around the country.
“These programs are based off of corps leadership,” Mushtag said. “We have communication and we have the same ideas based on the ministries’ plan.”
Every 15 days, Saadat meets with the platoon and company level sergeants and the coaches from various sporting activities to gauge the progress of the Soldiers throughout the program. In some cases, the Soldiers are required to take a diagnostic exam that is supervised by the senior noncommissioned officers and coaches. Test or not, the soldiers are glad they have the opportunities.
“Our soldiers enjoy the sports, especially Wushu,” Saadat said. “When I go to the gym, I can observe the healthy and athletic soldiers. When we give them the duty to accomplish, they do not make any excuses why they can’t do their jobs. To them, health is happiness.”
For the morning PT formations—much like their American counterparts—the ANA soldiers wake up early. One major difference is that the predominantly Muslim ANA troops are allotted time for ablution, the period of washing hands, feet and face before the ten minute prayer time. The morning formation includes a brief preventative health message. Troops are urged to avoid tobacco, alcohol and hashish, one of the more prevalent substances abused by ANA soldiers.
“We always explain to the soldiers in the morning formation to avoid using narcotics,” Saadat said. “Especially hashish.”
Following the formalities is one hour of exercise, about another hour to shower and eat breakfast, and then the workday begins. Later in the afternoon, many of the soldiers return to the gym, soccer field or attend the Wushu class, where they can work out at their own pace.
Soldiers from the brigades outside of corps headquarters do not have the same opportunities for exercise.
“I am living with an infantry kandak (battalion),” said ANA Sgt. Nasratullah Khaksar, regarding the transient nature of his unit. Khaksar is from 1st Kandak, 203rd Thunder Corps and temporarily training at FOB Thunder. “We do not have taekwondo, sport equipment or a recreation room.”
“When we do not have these facilities, it has a bad effect on our personnel,” said 1st Lt. Esmatullah Azizi, 1st Brigade Liaison Officer at the 203rd Thunder Corps Headquarters. “When we have these facilities, soldiers spend time here and away from narcotics.”
The availability of these facilities is a positive asset to the base.
“When the gyms and recreation room opened, nearly 80 percent of the base started coming to these facilities,” Azizi said.
At the end of the duty day, troops fall back to a recreation room to play foosball, snooker and Ping-Pong. The hall is a place for everyone to let loose, chat, and clear their heads of the days tasks.
“In our free time, we come to the recreation room to keep our minds normal while we are away from our families,” said Khaksar. “We are putting our minds at comfort here.”
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.07.2013 10:15 |
| Story ID: | 100045 |
| Location: | PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 308 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Physical fitness an important part of Afghan army training, by SGT Aaron Ricca, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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