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International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Force and the German Operational Mentor and Liaison Team Six have been training the 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 209th Corps, Afghan national army, at Camp Shaheen since Jan. 4.
The German soldiers have been mentoring their Afghan counterparts in infantry procedures, common operations, patrols, check points, cordon searches and basic shooting skills.
"We are responsible for mentoring the company commander in planning and preparations for operations," said 1st Lt. Sven-Florian Raupach, the mentor of the Afghan company commander. "We are also here to support them with assets they don't have like close air support, fire support and medical evacuation."
The ISAF OMLT program is aimed toward developing the ANA. OMLT's are comprised of 12 to 19 people who embed with ANA battalions, brigades, garrisons and corps headquarters. The teams deploy for at least six months in order to build enduring relationships with the ANA and maximize mentoring effect.
"I think it is a very important program," said Raupach. "The most important factor here is security, and security can only be provided by the ANA, Afghan National Police and the Afghan National Security Forces. They have to be ready and trained to take care of their country on their own, and that's our aim."
An ANA soldier with the 2nd Kandak, 1st brigade, 209th Corps, said he really enjoys working with the German soldiers as part of the ISAF OMLT program.
"Day by day Afghanistan is improving and we are really happy with the German people," said the Afghan soldier. "Right now our Army is new and the Germans are helping us. They are always ready to assist, day or night. They are very good comrades. Afghan and German culture is very similar."
Besides training, the Germans have been living with the ANA and accompanying them on missions. Working together has led to a close and fruitful partnership.
"Its good to get to know them not only as a soldier, but as a human, all soldiers in the world are comrades in some way, so we treat each other with a lot of respect," Raupach added.
| Date Taken: | 02.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.14.2009 14:56 |
| Story ID: | 30034 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 199 |
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