KABUL – NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan mentors at the Afghan National Army Legal School are currently working with ANA counterparts to place them in the forefront of the school’s training mission.
The training – along with curriculum development – is currently Coalition-led, but the norm will soon be Afghans teaching Afghans. The Afghan instructors have been at the schoolhouse since early August.
“These are our people and we speak the language so we should be the ones to teach other Afghans at this school,” said an Afghan legal instructor at the school, who requested to remain anonymous. “Our hope is that we have a good ANA and we can help make that happen.”
The Afghan instructors are currently working in tandem with the Coalition mentors to develop the curriculum for the new Legal Non-Commissioned officer Course – a four week class for paralegals E-5 through E-8. The course will have 12 ANA paralegals and will begin this month. The course syllabus will composed of topics such as the Afghan Constitution, court martials, Law of Armed Conflict, prosecution and defense, criminal investigation. The legal student will also receive computer training.
“We are working very hard to make this the best training possible,” said the Afghan instructor about developing the curriculum. “It is improving day by day.”
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. David Nuessle, senior NCO legal mentor, said that Afghan instructors will be taking the lead on training and development by the third course.
“What we are trying to do is to have Afghan instructors develop the curriculum on their own,” he said. “This time they just helped out. Next time they’ll do the majority of the work and by the third course they will be able to develop the training and train the ANA student on their own.
“We spent a lot of long days with the Afghan instructors on how to develop a course and they get it,” said Nuessle.
U.S. Navy Lt. Bill Geraty, ANA Legal School instructor and curriculum developer, explained that the Afghan instructors know more about what needs to be done than he does.
“All of the Afghan instructors have extensive knowledge about the Afghan legal system,” he said. “Every day I get better because I am constantly learning from them.”
The Coalition and Afghan instructors were recently paid a visit by the U.S. Armed Forces’ top general officers in the legal career field to witness firsthand the pivotal transformation at the ANA legal schoolhouse. In attendance were U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Harding, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral James Houck and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Clyde “Butch” Tate II.
“What they have achieved here in the short amount of time is very impressive,” said Houck, after being briefed by the Afghan instructors. “My hope is for the ANA to have a full fledge ANA legal school ran by ANA. It will take a little time, but in the end I think they will exceed our expectations.”
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Troy Tyler, Regiment command sergeant major for the Army Judge Advocate General Corp, also echoed the admiral’s sentiments saying, “[The Afghan instructors] are making great progress with the legal school. I think this is the right thing to do [Afghans teaching Afghans], and we will continue giving them our full support to accomplish this.”
Nuessle expressed that the Afghan instructors’ dedication and knowledge on the subject matter clearly proves they are capable and willing to assume the lead for training at the legal school.
“Everything is possible if we work hard and are committed to our job,” said an Afghan instructor. “We will work together to achieve our goals.”
| Date Taken: |
09.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
09.08.2010 05:00 |
| Story ID: |
55881 |
| Location: |
KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: |
82 |
| Downloads: |
13 |
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