CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Countless years of military experience were represented at the Kabul military training center's auditorium as members of coalition forces and the Afghan national army kicked off the 5th annual ANA Sergeants Major of the Army seminar, June 1-2.
The event showcased the current development of the ANA Sergeants Major and First Sergeants course to continue shaping the ANA NCO Corp's understanding of the basic fundamentals of training, and developing an army at war. The event also captured the continuing effort to build confidence in and understanding of NCO business, duties and responsibilities of the NCO, and the importance of systems, standards and Soldier professionalism.
The seminar focused on assisting and mentoring ANA Sergeants Major in understanding the way ahead for their NCO Professional Military Education System, career progression and promotions.
The theme of the seminar was "Year of the Bridmal [NCO]." More than 100 ANA and coalition Sergeants Major attended the event.
During the seminar, ANA Command Sergeants Major showcased examples of precision training for their fighting forces.
"As everybody says, the NCOs are the backbone of the Army, and without the NCOs, the Army would not be able to progress," said ANA 201st Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Zolha Amaza.
The ANA fighting force currently stands at 89,500 troops and is accelerating growth to 134,000 by December of 2011. The ANA has led an average of 56 percent of deliberate operations per week in 2009.
"We and our Afghan partners are involved in the day-to-day growth of the ANA and ANP," said Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur L. Coleman Jr. "They have adapted to the weapons, they have adapted to the up-armored HMMWV [high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle], and they have adapted across the board. I think that they have done a tremendous job."
"Our leadership and training will make the difference," said ANA Sgt. Maj. of the Army Roshan Safi. "We are fighting for our people. We fight for every province."
"The Afghan national army is becoming as well equipped and trained as any modern army in the world," said National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. David Hudson. "Hands-on mentoring is where we... address mentoring to our peers. ANA leadership... owes everything to the men and women they lead. The ANA is an emerging army, they are becoming a very professional army, and the Afghan national police are right behind."
"Coalition soldiers are with us shoulder-to-shoulder fighting the insurgency here in Afghanistan," said Amaza. "As ANA leaders, we owe the Soldiers who are coaching and mentoring us. Thanks to them, we can be successful."