Soldiers with the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Combined Task Force Spartan), are working hard with the Afghan security forces stationed in Zharay and Maiwand Districts of Kandahar province, to help develop their fledging Army and Police Corps.
While there are a lot of challenges the security forces face, such as logistics, training, and organizational skills, all the battalions within CTF Spartan work daily to train the Soldiers and Police of Zharay and Maiwand districts, as well helping to facilitate the Afghan-based supply system to help provide the supplies they need.
"We help them out in their operations, we work with them to ensure they are getting equipment," said Col. Robert Rudolph of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's Stability Transition Team. "They are doing pretty good for a unit that was put together just over a year ago, in some cases they are doing really well. In some cases, there is room for improvement."
Spartan Soldiers are partnered with soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, an Afghan Army corps headquartered in Kandahar province. The brigade stood up in June, 2010, and is responsible for security throughout the southern province.
To ensure the Afghans are getting the training and supplies they need to effectively strengthen their forces, Australian Brig. Gen. Christopher Field, the Regional Command South Deputy Commanding General for Force Development, who is responsible for overseeing the mentorship and growth of Afghan security forces, visited the Afghan National Police District Headquarters at the Zharay District Center, Oct. 12, and also met with 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps soldiers.
"He is in charge of making sure the (Afghan National Security Forces) get what they need in training and equipment," said Rudolph. "He came to visit with the key leaders in the ANP and the ANA here in the 3rd Brigade (area of operations)."
While at the ANP Headquarters in Zharay district, Brig. Gen. Field met with the District Chief of Police, Masum Kahn. Kahn gave Brig. Gen. Field a tour of his facilities and spoke of the training his officers go through, the challenges they face and the progress they have made. The headquarters building was opened in June, and is fitted with offices, sleeping areas, a kitchen and a prison.
After meeting with Kahn, Brig. Gen. Field met with Brig. Gen. Ghulam Murtaza, Commander of the 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps. After the two generals had spoken about the Afghan soldiers, the group moved to Forward Operating Base Azizullah.
While Brig. Gen. Field was at FOB Azizullah, he participated in a graduation ceremony for newly-minted Afghan Army noncommissioned officers. At the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Field, Afghan security forces and CTF Spartan leaders presented the graduates with certificates, and some were given medals for exceptional work.
The group then toured the FOB's Afghan Army areas so Brig. Gen. Field could see how they were living. The NCO graduates also demonstrated several organizational and tactical strategies they learned from the NCO Academy. Some of the honor graduates then briefed their Soldiers on a sand table prior to a mission.
After the demonstration, Col. Patrick D. Frank, Commander of TF Spartan and Lt. Col. Taylor, commander of 4th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment, briefed Brig. Gen. Field about the successes of working with the Afghan security forces, and the areas that need improvement.
"He came out to make an assessment and met with the key individuals that are operating out here, looking at their strengths and weaknesses seeing how he can influence improvement by providing support and guidance," said Rudolph.
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