Airmen mentor Afghan National Army soldiers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNEWS) --  At the Kabul Military Training Center, Airmen among other U.S.military service members are supporting the Afghan National Army's progress into a full, independent military.

Nineteen Air Force personnel at KMTC contribute to that effort by mentoring ANA soldiers into professional military members.

The KMTC -- the national training location for the ANA -- specializes in training soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers.

Airmen from various career fields are serving one-year assignments to provide daily mentorship at the center that was established May 2, 2002.

Inside of the KMTC supply compound -- an area with multi-colored military shipping containers -- is where Master Sgt. Kenneth Owens can be found mentoring his ANA counterparts.

"We teach the ANA how to order, requisition and receive office supplies, and acquire equipment, fuel, ammunition and weapons," Sergeant Owens said.

The sergeant admitted his job is both very satisfying and challenging.

"One of our challenges is ensuring the ANA is ordering enough supplies to satisfy the growing numbers of personnel at KMTC," Sergeant Owens said. "The satisfying part is just seeing that we can keep up with that pace."

Sergeant Owens is part of a 7-man supply team that consists of three Army and Navy personnel.

"I work with a great crew, and we mentor the entire KMTC supply operation," he said.

Sergeant Owens agrees that mentorship is very important and stated

that "Progress is being made in a big time way." .

At the far corner of a small, cramped personnel office, 1st Lt. Janay Lake progresses with her daily business with an interpreter and an ANA officer.

Lieutenant Lake is an advanced individual training brigade mentor.

In that role, she provides administration support for ANA soldiers after they graduate from basic training. She works closely with her ANA counterpart to coordinate the advanced individual training soldiers will receive.

"The Minister of Defense recently approved a large number of new instructors," Lieutenant Lake said.

With her interpreter's assistance, she discussed this detailed information with ANA Maj. Zobar Shanwary. The major tracks all trainer, instructor and staff information for the ANA's advanced individual training.

"I have to get the information and then have it translated and verified," she said. "When it comes back to me, I then review it and we go from there."

Through the interpreter's translation, Major Shanwary said, "We're very happy for the help and support we've received from the American military."

That support is evident within the Afghan National Army Training and Education Command where personnel, doctrine, logistics and education and training are conducted and taught.

According to Capt. Jaime Carsten, military training adviser for the personnel division, the ANA is enthusiastic about the Air Force's help.

That enthusiasm is harnessed to help them become more independent.

"More than anything, they want us standing beside them. However, our philosophy as a 5-man team is to show them how to do things on their own and encourage them," the captain said.

Besides Captain Carsten, the 5-man team consists of Lt. Col. Garry Blood, team leader; Maj. Stephen Hyland, Doctrine Director Mentor; and Capts. Kenneth Henderson,Supply, and Nicholas Halupka, education director.

Captain Halupka who is in charge of the education section, said the international education programs have gone to a merit-based system.

The international scholarships for education and training are now competition-based, Captain Carsten said.

Captain Halupka said he's gone through a rigorous testing program and set up a plan for the ANA to run the testing program themselves.

"Now, people are tested and selected based on an objective criteria," Captain Halupka said.

In the medical arena, Maj. Barbara Dauerty is the mentor for the personnel medical clinic at the KMTC.

"I work with my ANA counterpart Dr. Obaid Ullah to bring their clinical areas up to speed and establish infrastructure," Major Dauerty said.

She's a physician assistant who also serves as the officer-in-charge of the TMC in Camp Alamo, where the Air Force mentors live.

A few times a week, Major Dauerty meets with Dr. Obaid and their interpreter to discuss issues that may occur.

One of her other primary duties as a PA require her to supervise four medics -- three Air Force members and one Army -- at Camp Alamo.

Making the rounds of Camp Alamo is Senior Master Sgt. Robert Spaulding, where he serves as the garrison NCOIC for services provided, such as a dining facility, TMC, military police center and field engineering office.

In that role, Sergeant Spaulding is the senior enlisted advisor for the 19 assigned Air Force personnel.

On top of being the Camp Alamo garrison NCOIC, he provides the same service for the KMTC.

"There are a lot of good people here," Sergeant Spaulding said about the ANA soldiers.

He further added that during his time at KMTC, the ANA has made good progress.

"We're really doing some great things over here," Sergeant Spaulding said. "There have been pay increases, more resources to get the job done, mobile training teams conducting missions and we're building good relationships."

Sergeant Spaulding said his experience has been great.

"For me, taking care of the personnel here has been extremely rewarding including the Air Force, Navy and Army personnel that I'm responsible for," he added.

That type of care and attention has been instrumental for the Air Force mentors to execute their mission with Afghanistan's 5-year-old Army.

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