SMA Preston: U.S. Soldiers helping build Iraqi, Afghan armies

ARNEWS ^ | Sgt. Ken Hall

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 3, 2006) – The work of American Soldiers is helping countries like Afghanistan and Iraq recover from years of war and repression, according to the Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston.

Preston has visited forward operating bases across Southwest Asia and the Balkans several times during his tenure, and will visit again this summer and fall. In addition to checking on the welfare of U.S. enlisted Soldiers, Preston will look for continued progress in Iraq and Afghanistan’s emerging enlisted army structure.

In spite of terrorist and insurgent attempts to unseat the stability of each nation, Afghan and Iraqi armies are rebuilding from decades of war as American trainers provide basic discipline, combat, planning and leadership skills to both armies.

“Our Soldiers are implementing standards during training, and are holding the Afghans and Iraqis to the standard,” he said. “That may seem simple, but it's helped both armies tremendously.”

Holding their ground

U.S. Soldiers are helping Afghans and Iraqis create an educational system capable of producing smart, aggressive leaders who are armed with wisdom and critical decision-making skills, Preston said.

Iraqi Army recruits undergo an initial five-week basic training course that includes basic soldiering skills, weapons marksmanship and individual tactics. They later go on to enroll in more specific advanced courses targeted for their respective fields.

“We're training them to ensure that everyone on the battlefield, from the most seasoned generals down to the most junior soldier in the armed forces, is empowered to make decisions,” said Preston. “This is the hallmark of an elite military organization.”

While Afghan and Iraqi citizens join the ranks of their military and security forces every day, Preston reiterates that both forces are a work-in-progress.

“I’ve seen a real ‘warrior ethos’ emerging in their troops,” said Preston.

Training to win

“In the last four years, Afghan troops have been trained by the U.S. Military in virtually every aspect,” says Afghan Sgt. Maj. Roshann Safi, from Kapisa Province near Kabul. Safi is the first-ever Afghan senior enlisted soldier to attend the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.

“This training is very successful and very good because we are building a nation and I feel my training at USASMA will enhance my contributions to that process,” he said.

“My soldiers are very disciplined and well-trained, but we can always improve,” Safi added. “I hope to bring back things that will help my soldiers be better peace keepers and better soldiers so that they can contribute to the building of our nation. Currently, on internal security issues, we are self-sufficient but still rely on U.S. training and equipment. Against outside forces – such as other countries – we will need U.S. support.”

Safi also sees the Afghanistan Army of today and the Afghanistan Army of three or four years ago as “different as the ground is to the sky.”

The current Afghan Army has been re-established through efforts of U.S. and Coalition forces, he said, but prior to the U.S. arrival in 2001, the military in Afghanistan was corrupted by the Taliban and warlords.

“Before, Afghanistan was like a great man who had become ill,” explained Safi. “The U.S. brought him medicine and continues to nourish him. If you give a sick man medicine and nourish him, he will be restored and be able to do great things again.” Safi remarked that with help from the American Soldier trainers the new Afghan NCO Corps is writing and establishing their legacy for future NCOs of the Afghan Army.

One Iraqi soldier says that while he and many of his fellow soldiers have experience from previous years of serving in the Iraqi Army, the U.S. is helping to broaden that experience and build the confidence of Iraqi soldiers.

“Our enlisted training from the American staff is very good and the Americans focus on our training,” said Staff Sgt. Sadeq Apdulla Sultan, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division ‘Justice Brigade.’ “But we need more specialized training. The training battalion needs to develop better training because some of us have experience from the old army and some of us do not, but all Iraqi soldiers learn from the American trainers.”

New nations, new friends

As U.S. and Coalition Forces continue to help re-establish security within Afghanistan and Iraq, new critical allies in the War on Terror are coming into view.

“Once Afghanistan is well again, one day the U.S. and other militaries that helped get Afghanistan on its feet can call on our soldiers and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them and defeat common enemies such as those who oppose peace and freedom,” said Safi.

“We join the new Iraqi Army to fight the insurgents, to protect the civilians and to protect Iraq,” Sultan said. “I want to thank Coalition Forces for their training and the effort they show to improve Iraq, protect Iraqis and to train the new Iraqi Army. We appreciate what they have done for Iraq.”

“Iraqi and Afghan Soldiers are standing, fighting and defeating the insurgents now, which is a huge step in rebuilding their countries,” said Preston, who served as V Corps command sergeant major in Baghdad in 2003. “Now when I visit Iraq I can see marked progress in all areas and that's thanks to the work our men and women do there every day."

(Editor’s note: Additional information provided by Master Sgt. Susanna Harper, Sergeants Major Course, Class 56 PAO, Fort Bliss, Texas, and 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Buchanan, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Tikrit, Iraq.)

[SandRat]

SMA CITES PROGRESS IN WAR ON TERROR AND BUILDING STABLE NATIONS