CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan -- A critical component of every nation's national security is the ability to recruit and train people into competent soldiers to foster a self-sustaining military force.
The Regional Military Training Center - North, or RMTC-N, under the Afghan National Army Training Command, is hosting the first Train the Instructor class, charged with training Afghan National Army, or ANA, military instructors as the nation moves toward an independent military and peacekeeping force. The inaugural class graduates May 17, 2011.
The Combined Training Advisory Group, based out of Kabul, sent a team of two Afghan master instructors to teach ANA students with the assistance of Detachment 62, 95th Division mentors.
"The purpose of the course is to develop quality instructors through an ANA standardized instructor training program," said Lt. Col. Francis Carr, RMTC-N director. "The product is a specialized instructor that is critical to build a self-generating ANA."
The course provides the common foundation for all instructors across the ANA and uses a similar curriculum to the U. S. Army instructor course.
The training focuses on the basic instructional technique, such as lesson structure, practice lessons, evaluated lessons and general instructor knowledge such as ANA values, noncommissioned officer creed, duties, responsibilities, accountability, standards, stewardship and inspections; and more importantly how to deliver the information.
The class is taught by ANA master instructors, under the guidance of U.S. military mentors. This ensures a basic level of quality instructor and will help standardize the country's budding military nationwide as the self-sustaining force develops.
"Quality control is vital to the continued development and advancement of the ANA instructor," Carr said. "It is used to maintain standards, stewardship and accountability across the instructor cadre. ANA personnel must know their responsibilities and understand the importance of their position."
As with any training program, new instructors will eventually be needed to replace the current ones as they move forward with their careers.
The train the instructor class will identify the top graduates and train them further. Those students will attend the Master Skills Instructor Course and learn to teach the classes they just attended.
All this will occur under the direct oversight of the Remote Basic Warrior Training mentor team.
Through this program, the ANA instructors learn to take control of their recruitment and training process. This helps them develop a sense of pride and the ability to see the long-term benefits of a self-sustaining force.
"We've seen a lot of motivation from this first class," said Staff Sgt. Robert O'Hair, a Train the Instructor course mentor. "They certainly understand the importance of the mission here and that they will directly shape the future of their military."
"The master instructors proved willing and able to answer all questions raised by the students with the help of the Coalition forces advisors," he said. "They demonstrated the professionalism and respect required by today's modern ANA instructors."
The class will soon graduate 20 students, and another is scheduled to begin in early July. The course is just one more example of coalition efforts to support the development of the Afghan National Security Forces capacity and capability as they progress toward taking the lead for security across the country by the end of 2014.
Related Links:
NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan
STAND-TO!: NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
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