ANA training in full operation

News: ANA training in full operation

366th Fighter Wing

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Master Sgt. Carrie Hinson

An Afghan National Army soldier waits with his peers to receive their orders Aug. 11, after graduating from a basic training course at the Afghanistan National Army Regional Military Training Center Southwest on Camp Shorabak located in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. This is the second class that has graduated from this RMTC.

CAMP SHORABAK, Afghanistan -- The Afghanistan National Army Regional Military Training Center Southwest graduated 1,400 basic trainees here Aug. 11.

This is the second class that has graduated from the RMTC. With the first class only graduating 850 Afghanistan National Army soldiers, this is the first time the training center is running at full capacity. This milestone for the RMTC has proved that the ANA has continued development to take charge of their military.

“I’m very proud to serve Afghanistan,” said recent RMTC graduate Pvt. Subhan Mahi. “My dream was to join the ANA. I want to be an inspiration for future ANA soldiers to make Afghanistan better.”

Recruits come from the 34 provinces of Afghanistan and need the permission of the leader of the tribe to join. This lets the ANA know that these recruits are good and are able to serve Afghanistan.

“It gives the recruits a chance to get to know the other cultures of Afghanistan,” said Col. Shah Wali Zazai, RMTC commander. “When a soldier serves in another province he will be able to perform his duties better.”

Out of the 1,400 soldiers the top 200 will go on to attend the RMTC’s Team Leadership Course to become noncommissioned officers. Literacy has aided many of these trainees in their selection to become an NCO. Mahi is one of those graduates.

“This is the first time I have received a certificate from the ANA,” says Mahi. “I called my family, told them I have my certificate and I graduated basic training. They are very happy for me and I’m very happy and proud of myself.”

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