LAGHMAN, Afghanistan (Nov. 23, 2013) -- The concepts of "Training and Exercise" were on everyone's mind as a round of applause began to build from more than 60 Afghan National Army soldiers from across the 201st ANA Corps, marking the beginning to a noncommissioned officer conference held at Forward Operating Base Gamberi's Shura Center, Nov. 20, 2013.
The conference was held to discuss the importance of the NCO in the 201st ANA Corps.
"The NCO is closest to the soldier," said 1st. Sgt. Mohammad Hamdard, senior enlisted advisor, 201st Corps Headquarters Military Police Company. "Also, no one is doing the work and job or has the responsibility that the NCO has for the soldier."
The event focused on finding ways to improve the education level and capability of the soldiers in the 201st Corps as well as the role the NCO plays in the soldier's training and development.
"Events like this give high morale for NCOs and soldiers and their task force," said Command Sgt. Maj. Abu Talib, senior enlisted advisor, 201st ANA Corps. "They realize that there is someone to take care of [the soldiers]; our army is small and it's good that we hold this type of seminar."
The seminar began with encouraging words from the 201st ANA Corps commander, highlighting the importance of NCOs, especially key NCO positions at the ground unit level.
"The first sergeant is the bridge between the [unit's] NCOs and the officer," said Maj. Gen. Waziri, commander, 201st ANA Corps.
One soldier present, Din Mohammad, is a recent ANA Basic Training graduate and has not been assigned to his specific unit yet.
"I like that each brigade got up and spoke about their mission and training," said Din Mohammad, "I may be going to 2nd Brigade and it's good to see what they are doing."
Lt. Col. Michael Acord, deputy commanding officer, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, attended the conference and provided sentiments from his experience working with NCOs in the U.S. Army.
"The NCO corps really shows how the [Afghan] army is evolving and becoming more professional," said Acord. "Once we get beyond [a mindset] of centralized leadership and officers running everything, the organization can function and sustain itself over time, so if people get out of the army… others can step up in their absence."
Some participants thought giving the junior soldiers an opportunity to see and hear the corps' most senior NCO and the brigade's senior NCOs speak is a strong motivating factor.
"This event is important and encouraging for the soldier and NCO, if you are working hard you can get these positions," said 1st. Sgt. Hamdard. "If these soldiers work hard one day they will be holding this seminar."
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