Afghan National Army Training Command graduates literacy course soldiers

REGIONAL MILITARY TRAINING CENTER - KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

03.08.2012

Story by Tech. Sgt. Renee Crisostomo 

Regional Support, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan / Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - One-hundred ninety Afghan National Army soldiers graduated from an eight-week literacy course at the Regional Military Training Center in Kandahar, Afghanistan, March 8.

The ceremony was held at the training center with ANA staff and coalition advisers in attendance. Among the attendees was U.S. Army National guardsman Capt. Michael Raymond of the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery. Raymond deployed to Afghanistan, May 2011, to be a training and advisory team commander.

“Every Afghan recruit who goes through initial Regional Basic Warrior Training is required to receive 64 hours of literacy training,” said Raymond, a native of Eagan, Minn. “This literacy course is additional training that will enable some of the soldiers to read and write at a higher level.”

“The Afghan National Army needs soldiers who can read and write,” continued Raymond. “A more literate ANA will operate more efficiently and improve on problem-solving techniques.”

Col. Haroon Momand, RMTC commander, addressed the soldiers at the graduation ceremony.

“You’ve spent a lot of time in this training center learning your basic military skills and, now, more advanced literacy skills,” Momand said, “but always continue to learn.”

“I’m sure you’ll be a successful soldier if you behave according to what you were taught here,” Momand added. “Your honor is stronger than the enemy. Success will be yours if you work honestly.”

• Date Taken: 03.08.2012
• Date Posted: 03.10.2012 06:13
• Story ID: 85044
• Location: REGIONAL MILITARY TRAINING CENTER - KANDAHAR, AF