Airmen mentor Afghan National Army soldiers

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

03.23.2007

Courtesy Story

United States Air Forces Central     

By Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan — At the Kabul Military Training Center, several Airmen support the Afghan National Army's progression into a full, independent military.

Nineteen Air Force personnel at KMTC contribute to that effort by mentoring ANA soldiers into professional military members.

The KMTC — the national training location for the ANA — specializes in training soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers.

Airmen from various career fields are serving one-year assignments to provide daily mentorship at the center that was established May 2, 2002.

Inside of the KMTC supply compound — an area resembling a Lego site because of its multi-colored military shipping containers — is where Master Sgt. Kenneth Owens can be found mentoring his ANA counterparts.

"We mentor the ANA on how to order, requisition and receive office supplies, and acquire equipment, fuel, ammunition and weapons," Owens said.

Owens said his job is both very satisfying and challenging.

"One of our challenges is ensuring the ANA is ordering enough supply to satisfy the growing numbers of troops at KMTC," Owens said. "The satisfying part is just seeing that we can keep up with that pace."

Owens is part of a 7-man supply team that consists of three Army and Navy personnel.

"I work with a great crew, and we mentor the entire KMTC supply operation," he said.

Owens keys in on the fact that mentorship is very important.

"Progression is being made in a big time way," he said.

At the far corner of a small, cramped personnel office, 1st Lt. Janay Lake progresses with her daily business with an interpreter and an ANA officer.

Lake is an advanced individual training brigade mentor.

In that role, she provides administration support for ANA soldiers after they graduate from basic training. She works closely with her ANA counterpart to coordinate the advanced individual training soldiers will receive.

"The Minister of Defense recently approved a large number of new instructors," Lake said.

With her interpreter's assistance, she discussed this detailed information with ANA Maj. Zobar Shanwary. The major tracks all trainer, instructor and staff information for the ANA's advanced individual training.

"I have to get the information and then have it translated and verified," she said. "When it comes back to me, I then review it and we go from there."

Through the interpreter's translation, Shanwary said, "We're very happy for the help and support we've received from the American military."

That support is evident within the Afghan National Army Training and Education Command where personnel, doctrine, logistics and education and training are conducted and taught.

According to Capt. Jaime Carsten, military training adviser for the G1 personnel division, the ANA is enthusiastic about the Air Force's help.

That enthusiasm is harnessed to help them become more independent.

"More than anything, they want us standing beside them. However, our philosophy as a 5-man team is to show them how to do things on their own and encourage them," the captain said.

Besides Carsten, the 5-man team consists of Lt. Col. Garry Blood, team leader; Maj. Stephen Hyland, Doctrine Director Mentor; and Capts. Kenneth Henderson, G4 Supply, and Nicholas Halupka, education director.

One of the education department's biggest challenges was its international education programs. Since Halupka has been in charge of that section, the international education programs have gone to a merit-based system.

The international scholarships for education and training are now competition-based, Carsten said.

Halupka said he has gone through a rigorous testing program and set up a plan for them to do it themselves.

"Now, people are tested and selected based on an objective criteria," Halupka said.

In the medical arena, Maj. Barbara Dauerty is the mentor for the troop medical clinic at the KMTC.

"I work with my ANA counterpart Dr. Obaid Ullah to bring their clinical areas up to speed and establish infrastructure," Dauerty said.

She's a physician assistant who also serves as the officer-in-charge of the TMC in Camp Alamo, where the Air Force mentors live.

A few times a week, Dauerty meets with Obaid and their interpreter to discuss issues that may occur.

One of her other main duties as a PA require her to supervise four medics — three Air Force and one Army — at Camp Alamo.

Making the rounds of Camp Alamo is Senior Master Sgt. Robert Spaulding, where he serves as the garrison non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) for services provided, such as a dining facility, TMC, military police center and field engineering office.

In that role, Spaulding is the senior enlisted advisor for the 19 assigned Air Force personnel.

On top of being the Camp Alamo garrison NCOIC, he provides the same service for the KMTC.

"There are a lot of good people here," Spaulding said about the ANA soldiers.

During his time at KMTC, the ANA has made good progress.

"We're really doing some great things over here," Spaulding said. "There have been pay increases, more resources to get the job done, mobile training teams conducting missions and we're building good relationships."

Spaulding said his experience has been great.

"For me, taking care of the troops right here has been extremely rewarding – the Air Force, Navy and Army personnel that I'm responsible for," he added.

That type of care and attention has been instrumental for the Air Force mentors to execute their mission with Afghanistan's 5-year-old army.

• Date Taken: 03.23.2007
• Date Posted: 03.23.2007 11:52
• Story ID: 9594
• Location: KABUL, AF