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By Staff Sgt. Bruce Cobbeldick,
HQ ISAF Public Affairs Office
KABUL, Afghanistan – Senior enlisted leaders from the Afghan National Army and coalition forces met in Kabul, March 10, to share information with each other at ISAF headquarters.
The senior enlisted leader for ISAF, Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas R. Capel, made opening statements to a room filled with Operation Enduring Freedom’s top noncommissioned officers, geared to bringing leaders together and discussing the road ahead.
“I urge everyone here to network and rely upon each other,” Capel said. “I know that I can go to any of you and you will help get the job done.”
Capel said that it’s important for noncommissioned leaders to come together and break bread with each other and get to know one another. Capel said he is not afraid to pick up the phone and ask any of his fellow sergeants major and senior enlisted leaders for help and assistance.
The meeting included three Afghan sergeants major including the Afghan sergeant major of the army.
The Afghan army’s top enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. Safi Roshan, said the improvements in the Afghan Noncommissioned Officers Academy have had a big impact on the Afghan army, due to its productivity.
“We are taking the noncommissioned officer corps to the next level,” Roshan said.
”It is a great honor and privilege to work with Command Sgt. Maj. Capel, because he has been a mentor and a friend,” Roshan said. “He is a great warrior and I have learned a lot from him and I have brought two sergeants major here with me from the Afghan army, and they are excited to be learning from this group of warriors that have been assembled here.”
Along with Roshan, the event included Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard T. Small, the Supreme Headquarter Allied Powers Europe senior enlisted adviser, who said that Roshan’s words are often eloquent, and praised Roshan for being a leader during a time of war, but at a time when his nation is just beginning to establish itself, and building an army from the ground up.
“When senior enlisted leaders come together and hear the sincere words from [Command] Sgt. Maj. Roshan, his words are passionate,” Small said. “It comes across that we have shared values and shared desires. We are indebted to have the opportunity to serve beside you, [Command] Sgt. Maj. Roshan.”
Small shared testimonies about Command Sgt. Maj. Capel with the Afghan and coalition forces leaders emphasizing how ISAF is in very good hands with Capel.
“There is nothing more important in NATO than ISAF. We’ve lobbied hard for Afghanistan to help ensure we follow through, as we have been working hard for the past 12 years. I can’t imagine a better leader to have the heart of a soldier than Command Sgt. Maj. Capel. That is why we, at SHAPE, know ISAF is in superb hands,” he said.
Small continued, pointing out how much experience and diversity was in the room.
“As I look at all the flags on the sleeves in this room, I see that it is all about international commitment. We have learned so many lessons as a coalition. It is a privilege to me to be here among you. I too will be doing a lot of listening and learning. I am excited to hear all the leaders here speak.”
The first in a series of symposiums, the meeting concluded with Small stating on behalf of NATO and SHAPE, he wished to thank Command Sgt. Maj. Capel for his leadership in inviting the top enlisted leaders to come together and said he thinks this is a great opportunity to leverage the knowledge and wisdom that is present for the symposium.
“No nation goes to war unilaterally,” Small said. “No nation goes to war easily. We’re all here for a reason. There are so many lessons we have learned as a coalition. Now, it’s really about our continued resolve and seeing this through. Our coming together here like this, as a coalition, with NATO and key nations present to work effectively beside our fellow Afghan leaders, is important and valuable as we transition and set the conditions for the ANSF to take over the security of their nation and defeat the insurgents who have had a suffocating grip on this nation. ”Small assured Afghan’s top enlisted leader that there is resolve to follow through and continue to support, train and assist the ANSF in the future.
| Date Taken: | 03.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2013 05:02 |
| Story ID: | 103374 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Senior enlisted Afghan, coalition leaders share insights, by SFC Bruce Cobbeldick, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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