U.S. Army Embedded Trainers Mentor Afghan Soldiers

Defend America News ^ | Feb 10, 2006 | Capt. Dave Huxsoll

[SandRat]

U.S. Army Maj. Donnie Kelly, embedded training team chief for the Afghan National Army's 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps, trains soldiers on procedures for entering and searching buildings. Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Dave Huxsoll More Photos
U.S. Army Embedded Trainers Mentor Afghan Soldiers
Afghan soldiers of the 2nd Kandak regularly join members of the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, as well as military police stationed at Orgun-E, on missions in the area.
By U.S. Air Force Capt. Dave Huxsoll Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2006 — The professional development of Afghan National Army soldiers doesn’t end when they leave Kabul Military Training Center. Across Afghanistan, wherever Afghan National Army kandaks (battalions) are deployed, whether conducting combat operations alongside coalition forces in the east and south or security and stability operations in the west and north, they do so accompanied by U.S. soldiers — embedded trainers, also known as ETTs. "Our job is to train the leaders and NCOs so that they understand and know how to conduct army business themselves." U.S. Army Maj. Donnie Kelly At Forward Operating Base Orgun-E in Paktika Province, U.S. Army Maj. Donnie Kelly’s team of 11 officers and senior NCOs from Task Force Phoenix train and mentor the men of the 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps. “An ETT’s job is to mentor, train, and advise the [Afghan National Army],” explained Kelly, who is the embedded trainer team chief there. “Our job is to train the leaders and NCOs so that they understand and know how to conduct army business themselves.” “My team has truly been ‘embedded’ with the [Afghan National Army],” Kelly said. “From March until November, we lived on an [Afghan National Army]-only forward operating base. The ETTs were the only U.S. presence on the compound.” In November the unit moved to Orgun-E, where they are co-located with the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, 508th Infantry (Airborne). The embedded trainers there are a mix of Army National Guard and Army Reserve. In civilian life they are police officers, pharmaceutical salesmen, a mortgage broker, a chemist, self-employed business owners, a school teacher, and fire academy instructor. The 2nd Kandak is an infantry unit, with three infantry line companies, a weapons company and a head- quarters company. An additional line company is located at another forward operating base. Two embedded trainers are assigned to each kandak company. They meet with their companies at formation each morning, six days a week, take attendance and then begin training. The training program, which comes from the Afghan Ministry of Defense and is based on U.S. Army doctrine, is driven by Afghan operations and mission requirements. “Generally classes in the morning are taught by the embedded trainers, and classes in the afternoon are taught by the [Afghan National Army],” Kelly said. Kelly typically meets with	the kandak commander after formation to discuss any issues or problems. Throughout the day, the embedded trainers are meeting with and working with their companies. “But one thing to remember,” Kelly added, “no day is a typical day with the [Afghan National Army]. It constantly changes.” Afghan soldiers of the 2nd Kandak regularly join members of the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, as well as military police stationed at Orgun-E, on missions in the area. Afghan National Army members accompany military police on route clearance patrols, they provide security for engineers building roads in the area, and conduct leader engagements where they meet with local mayors, elders and chiefs of police to discuss the security situation and development projects and gather other information. They also assist coalition troops by searching local villages. “We like to have the [Afghan National Army] go on all coalition missions, if at all possible,” Kelly said. “This allows the countrymen of Afghanistan to see members of their army working side by side with coalition forces. It helps contribute to a national sense of pride in their army, and they see their army progressing and succeeding.” This progress was evident Christmas Day last year. Afghan soldiers from the 2nd Kandak were accompanying a military police patrol when an improvised explosive device detonated near one of the U.S. humvees. A brief firefight ensued, but no one was injured in the attack. A quick reaction force of U.S MPs and a company of Afghan soldiers was assembled and arrived on the scene to secure the site and assist in the investigation. The Afghan National Army company, accompanied by their embedded trainer, U.S. Army Capt. Chuck Niblack, provided 360-degree security, searched vehicles and people in the area, and assisted in questioning those on the scene. “We hope to turn more and more operations over to the [Afghan National Army], and this will help strengthen their ability and national perception,” Kelly said. “We’re working to get the [Afghan National Army] to a point where they can do for themselves,” Kelly said. “We have the knowledge and experience and are trying to pass that on to them. We operate out of the mindset that we don’t want to do anything for the [Afghan National Army] that they can do themselves.” Kelly explained that the ETTs take pride in the fact that they are helping make Afghanistan and the Afghan National Army a self-sustaining fighting force. “It’s tough work, but at the end of it all we have made them better,” he said.

[SandRat]

Good things are happening in Afghanistan.

[E.G.C.]

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